Stardust – 1990
Mel Torme
Superb ballad singing by one of the giants
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Mel Torme (1925-99) had a beautiful voice, was a superior scat-singer (inspired by Ella Fitzgerald), and was equally skilled on swinging material and ballads.
After a full career that began when he was just 4, Torme did some of his finest work in the 1980s and early ‘90s when he was recording consistently exciting jazz albums for the Concord label.
In fact, one could argue that Torme was just about the only singer to improve during his sixties, really gaining a complete control over his voice.
That control is very much in evidence during this timeless version of “Star Dust” from 1990 with altoist Frank Wess.
-Scott Yanow
Stan Getz