Mel Torme - Reunion (And he Marty Paich Dek-Tette)

Reunion & The Marty Paich Dek-Tette

By Mel Torme

Very Good Condition

In the 1950s, Mel Tormé recorded several memorable LPs on which he was joined by arranger Marty Paich and his Dek-tette (an all-star ten-piece band). For this long-overdue reunion, Paich utilized an 11-piece outfit (not counting two percussionists), adding a second trombone and a baritone to the original instrumentation while dropping the French horn. The results are quite enjoyable, with Tormé, remarkably still improving with age, in peak form on such songs as "Sweet Georgia Brown," "More than You Know," and several medleys, including one of bossa nova tunes and a combination of "For Whom the Bell Tolls" and Chick Corea's "Spain." The singer even attempts a couple of Steely Dan tunes with less success, since they are not that flexible; and Tormé seems to be in good spirits throughout this enjoyable set.

Mel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dektette – Reunion is a 1988 album by the American jazz singer Mel Tormé, accompanied by a big band arranged and led by Marty Paich. It was recorded over three days at Ocean Way Studios, on Sunset at Gower in Hollywood. Alan Sides served as engineer, and Charles Barber as assistant to Marty Paich.