More of the Music of Mel Torme

Mel Torme Albums We’ve Reviewed

More Reviews of Century Direct to Disc Records

This is a Century Direct-to-Disc featuring Mel Torme fronting the Buddy Rich Big Band. And it’s a pretty big band with four trumpets, three trombones, five saxes and a tuba! One of the best tracks is “Here’s That Rainy Day”, with guest soloist Phil Woods. The beginning is just Mel and Phil, a duet of sorts, with a lovely sense of melancholy.

However, both men seem tired and the session doesn’t swing much.

Or could it be that they’re playing it safe, afraid to make a mistake and then have to start the live-to-disc session over from the top?

Hard to know, but that’s the problem with direct to disc recordings — avoiding mistakes, even engineering ones, can suck the life right out of the music.

TRACK LISTING

When I Found You 
Here’s That Rainy Day 
Blues in the Night 
Bluesette 
You Are the Sunshine of My Life 
I Won’t Last a Day Without You 
Lady Be Good