James Tormé: Celebrate the Greats

Steve Murray | July 25, 2016

James Tormé

Celebrate the Greats

Feinstein’s at the Nikko, San Francisco, CA, July 21, 2016

Reviewed by Steve Murray for Cabaret Scenes

James-Torme-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212 James Tormé is a new breed of modern singer, straddling the line between classic jazz and contemporary pop. He loves Michael Jackson and incorporates R&B and soul into his style, as well as carrying forth the vocal stylings of his father, the legendary Mel Tormé.

With musical director/pianist Chris Cadenhead, local players Daniel Fabricant on bass and David Rokeach on drums, Tormé breezed through an eclectic selection of material that would make his father proud. “Too Close for Comfort” (Jerry Bock/Larry Holofcener/George David Weiss) is straight off Mel’s 1960 LP Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley, including a sparkling arrangement by Mel’s pianist/arranger Marty Paich. Cole Porter’s “Love for Sale,” the title tune from James’ last CD, is a heavy swing with some nice scat. Both illustrate Tormé’s love for the Great American Songbook. His voice is similar to his famous father’s, less velvet, more sharkskin.

He shined on a beautiful cover of “Yesterday’s Wine,” a ballad penned by singer/songwriter Earl Okin. Celebrating the greats, Tormé sank his teeth into “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” the 1931 composition by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Irving Mills. He gave a great vocal on “There’s a Lull in My Life” (Harry Revel/Mack Gordon), a big hit for Nat King Cole.

Tormé is cool and hip onstage, with charm and charisma to spare. He’s assimilated an encyclopedia of influences from his father’s heyday from Sinatra to Fitzgerald to Bennett and the aforementioned Cole. You can’t really go wrong with that kind of pedigree.

Tags: American Songbook, Broadway, Broadway Musicals, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, CD, Celebrate the Greats, Chris Cadenhead, Clubs, Cole Porter, Composers, Daniel Fabricant, David Rokeach, Duke Ellington, Earl Okin, Ella Fitzgerald, Feinstein's at the Nikko, Frank Sinatra, George David Weiss, Great American Songbook, Harry Revel, Irving Mill, It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got that Swing, James Tormé, Jazz, Jazz Singers, Jazz Vocalists, Jerry Bock, Larry Holofcener, Love for Sale, lyricists, Mack Gordon, Marty Paich, Mel Tormé, Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley, Michael Jackson, Musicals, Musicians, Nat King Cole, Nightclubs, Popular Song, Revues, San Francisco, Show Tunes, Sinatra, Singers, Songbook, Standards, Steve Murray, Supper Clubs, There’s a Lull In My Life, Tony Bennett, Too Close for Comfort, Venues, Vocalists, Yesterday’s Wine