When Sunny Gets Blue - Mel Torme Piano & Vocal

[JamKar1]

The standard of this standard. Miss you Mr. Torme.

[MPatrylo]

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting and talking with Mel at Marty's in NYC back in the early 80's. His kind and gentle character is matched only by the purity of his voice and his moving interpretation of the songs he sang.

[mariobavafan]

Mel, an incredible genius. We were lucky to hear and see him in our lifetime.

[sandyberman]

I would have loved it even MORE if they TUNED the piano!!

[boomwaddis]

I think I found the prototype for Harry Connick Jr. right here.

[DarwinsFriend]

Damn, Mel was good.

[honeybee7700]

what a beautiful performance

[jsphotos]

Sublime! Another "untouchable" song by Torme can be found by searching "I'll Be Seeing You - Mel Torme and George Shearing " on youtube. What a class act he was; his class lives on!

[pranktheroyal]

He does some nice cycle of fifths changes on the second chorus ('pretty dreams will rise up...')

[JayAdlerComment]

Mel Torme, Jazz singer, arranger , composer had a talent that was incomparable. He wrote the Christmas Song sung by everybody's favorite, Nate King Cole. Mel Torme could put syncopation right into his voice, amazing. I hear he just walked into a studio or radio station a long time ago in Ohio and the hired him on the spot $35/week.

[JayAdlerComment]

The Velvet Fog, Mel Torme was a class act. He was came in with his clarinet.from my home town NYC but he might as well scene. He used to appear on a regular basis at a smallclub on the East Side and few day later Woody Allen came in for his clarinet band. Bobby Short was entertaining down the way. And then Mel Torme wrote The Christmas Song, recorded by the incomparable Nat King Cole. Mel Torme was a pianist, vocalist, song writer and arranger. Simply put,he was the real deal. RIP

[stevevandien]

I might very well be a moldy fig. But do we have ANY contemporary American pop singers who can sing and INTERPRET this repetoire so well?

[len344]

@stevevandien Don't even mention contemporary pop singers in the same breath as this great vocalist and many other past greats. Today's singers couldn't perform at all without 12 backup singers and an echo chamber to disguise their mediocrity.

Torme was truly one of the greats.

[StephanieBorgani]

@len344 agreed...

[stevevandien]

Makes me cry.  I love Torme:) --

[MALP1231]

My FAVORITE male vocalist, of many wonderful vocalists. He never lost his timbre or range, unlike Sinatra, whose voice deteriorated as he aged. Every time I hear Mel sing, it is like being transported to Heaven. Is it any wonder that he was given the title: "The Velvet Fog"?....although I have read that Mel did not like the term. Thank you very much for posting this lovely rendition.

[stevevandien]

@MALP1231 Not only that, but didn't Mel get BETTER over the years? I believe his voice became fuller, richer and warmer during his last two decades. Yet he retained his range and technical facility -- seems to me that he also acquired additional vocal colors, which enhanced his interpretations. Bottom line, a GREAT singer:) --

[JazzyFreathy]

There are two versions of this great great song that stand clear of the rest. Mel Torme is absolutely a Rolls Royce singer with temendous expressive ability. I'd rate Sarah Vaughans version alongside this. But there's the thing - how do you choose between two? I'm happy wrestling with that dilemma - I get to listen to them both more! Utter brilliance.

[MALP1231]

@JazzyFreathy I concur! Have you ever heard the Divine Miss Sarah sing "Dreamsville"? She is one of my favorite female singers.

[69apollo13]

Great version of this song...probably the best.

[northernoir]

A true musician with a lovely voice.

Another great has left us.Sad.Not many left.

[northernoir]

A true musician with a lovely voice.

Another great has left us.Sad.They're aren't many left.

[purplesop]

Kudos to whoever fixed the "blip" after "and hold her near" that was on this version. It even ended up on a CD that I have, but you managed to smooth it out here. Thanks!

[shrlchovan]

wonderful rendition.................. They don't make them like Mel anymore

[ready4peace]

wow!!! so glad I stumbled upon this gem. I love this song and Mel Torme captures the lyrics perfectly.... nice subtle solo piano work too....... thanks so much

[lovejazz42]

Like nobody else. My favorite rendition of this great tune.

[skipper8257]

@lovejazz42

I'll take Johnny Mathis on this tune anytime.

[acfinney1]

@skipper8257 The African queen???? Lol.

[MAMRetro]

Damn that's the best rendition I've heard of this song. What a unique singer Mel was.

[MALP1231]

The velvet fog. Mel is my favorite male singer. Such a beautiful voice, which, unlike Sinatra, never declined with age. His timbre, style, arrangements, and delivery were impeccable. I cried when he passed.

[jsphotos]

A fantastic talent! Torme was also a very introspective and intelligent musician - he knew jazz history, cold; he played the drums; he re-introduced many standards that had been lost. Give a listen to his work with jazz piano legend George Shearing - start with "I'll Be Seeing You". Fabulous!

[sugarfreemars]

Beautiful

[nejazzguy]

he is one of the best, singing this tune

[JMOLIVES]

Mel earned respect among jazz musicans, not only for his beautiful voice , but also for his wonderful musicianship and swing.

[amunra71]

Such miraculousness 

[kalpubinc]

Mel, a master of crooning! He used his mezza voce which gave him his velvity sound and his longevity in singing. His phrasing was impeccable; a peer amongst his peers, he was right up there with the best, Ella, Frank, Tony Bennett. This song is one of the most difficult to sing in the romantic repertoire, full of reverie, images, sensuality, and a "teary eye". What a marvellous rendition!

[tonywsmith2]

@kalpubinc

Right up there with non-musicians, Ella, Frank, and Tony Bennett? Are you joking?

[yhn1inc]

@kalpubinc Indeed. Great tone and perfect notes. Well done. :)

[redsilver87]

@yhn1inc Never heard him on piano , too , that was very well performed altogether

[zieoblow]

What an amazing guy, incredible. Gave me goose bumps..........

[tcampbell1111]

Wow! I've been listening to every version of this tune I can find, as I'm working up my own arrangement.. Mr Torme performs the definitive version right here. What a soulful performance, what sensitive nuances! Terrific! Thanks so much for putting this up. A real gem.

[gladdad101]

@tcampbell1111 Yes he is just great, but try hearing the late/great Kenny Rankin on utube and let me know what you think! Plze

[DUGGER1947]

@gladdad101 I heard the Kenny Ranking version for the first time last night.  I've now played it about 20 times. It's incredible! As is his version of the Beatles song "Blackbird." It's amazing how much he can make his voice resemble a jazz saxophone.

[SALLEMJAZZ]

@DUGGER1947 I agree

[TinaLaMartina]

thanks a lot for sharing this amazing song

[McGravity1]

@jazzmoods  Agreed!

[kevinherbert]

Mel delivers...every time......

[christianbychoice1]

Great composer , arranger and drummer.. The Great composer of The Christmas Song..

Thanks you to the great Mel Torme..

[JubalCalif]

Yowzers! Have always loved this song.  And the late great Mel was marvelous at interpretating such tunes. Heaven to listen to! THANK YOU very much for posting it! CHEERS! :-)

[salamisalamibaloney]

Thanks for providing this song. Mighty nice.

[budiarso]

calling him a singer would be an insult. he's so much more than that. he's a master of the art of singing, of vocalizing mere words into something that is so much more than just words.

[49kasey]

@budiarso Not to mention a very decent drummer, and as you can see here, a pianist. He also was a songwriter (The Christmas Song and others).

[donnajazz]

@budiarso

That''s true!!!!

[Rimskyfarby]

Beautifully communicated...a real gem

[MALP1231]

My favorite male singer, without a doubt! And there are many greats; but the "velvet fog" is tops. A beautiful, pure, and smooth timbre.

[gladdad101]

I adored Mel and love his son Steve too! I also love this song a lot...if you have not heard this song by Kenny Rankin, please give it a try here on FB and let me know what you think!

[fatimalarios1]

I love Mel Torme's voice..he's a genius. Wish there were more videos of him live. Thnx for posting! =)

[ThatsMrMoronToYou]

I saw him in Minneapolis in the late '80s. It was a private performance for old man Carlson at the Radisson downtown. There were about fifty people in the audience, and our table was ten feet from him. After the concert he said no autographs, but my buddy said "How about one for the younger crowd?" To which he said: "Walk with me." and gave my pal his signature. His wife was from Minnesota.

[gladdad101]

Best Jazz singer E V E R

[aaqaaqaaqaaqaaqaaqaa]

wow, what a true talent

[chicagovocalist]

Sensational!