Love For Sale – 1979
Mel Torme
Some remarkable scat singing
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Mel Torme could sing ballads with great warmth and endless breaths, and he often uplifted swing standards.
But when it came to scat-singing, few were on his level.
Ella Fitzgerald was an inspiration but Torme also had his own approach to scatting as he shows on this remarkable performance from 1979 in a small group with drummer Buddy Rich, performing on the Merv Griffin Show.
During this tour-de-force, Torme at various points imitates the sound of Rich’s drumming, displaying his vocal virtuosity while swinging hard.
Even Buddy Rich was impressed.
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald