Customer Reviews

Complete Concord Recordings

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Mel Torme is was one of the best voices in music. He was blessed not only with a beautiful instrument, but he knew how to use it in ways no other has been able to understand or achieve. Many of the albums I've heard we're arranged with great production including strings, horns, and backup singers. This collection shows his ability to be one of the best jazz singers out there. The small ensemble allows him the freedom to bend the rules and create great improvisations along with his trademark scats. Great musicians along with a great voice make this Concord Collection a must have.

All the Torme Shearing sides in one classic package. Not overdone just a reflection on the great combination of George and Mel. Ballads, Hip Songs, Humour, some classical overtones and marvelous piano and voice jazz. It certainly swings but also makes you laugh and cry. It's almost worth the price for the 7th CD - a collection of alternate or unissued takes. An album in itself.

The pairing of Mel Tormé with George Shearing was one of the most brilliant affairs in jazz. Only the legendary combinations of Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, and that of Oscar Peterson with Milt Jackson are in the same class.
Tormé & Shearing recorded 6 albums together and all were either nominated for, or won a Grammy Award. "An Evening with.....". "Top Drawer", "An evening at Charly's", "An elegant evening", "A vintage year" and "Do World War II" are all stunning, swinging, and wonderfull examples of taste and class.
Well this,- must have -, box brings you all, PLUS a complete bonus extra cd.
Maybe you think: these were "left-overs", well they are NOT.
The bonus-cd is of the same Olympic level as the other 6 and that makes this box a treasure and a collector's item as well.
All lovers of good music should have a copy and I am looking forward to a DVD of these giants.
In 1989 they toured Europe and their fabulous concert in Berlin was broadcasted, and I really hope that somebody will release that complete concert on both DVD and CD!
Maybe there is more material of this legendary couple, from other concerts ?
Well please people of the musicindustry, do yourself and us a favour and bring all out!
In the meantime we will have to do with this 7-cd box, and enjoy it over and over again.
Buy it while you can !

Arnold van Kampen, writer, jazz critic in the Netherlands.

I just wrapped up writing a review for another Torme set and figured that while I was at it, I might as well sing my praises for this wonderful set brought to us by Concord Records.

When people tell me, "Well, Torme was too sweet and too boring for me. He's just an 'ok' pop singer," I bring this set out and show them one of the all time great vocalists in his prime with one of the greatest jazz pianist; Mr. George Shearing.

They share an almost telepathic link; they play off of each other and have such a joy working with each other. These albums are pure jazz. Torme can spit out a phrase like almost no one could and Shearing has only Tatum and Peterson and Bill Evans to bow down to.

The seventh disc of alternate takes is also of great interest with more wonderful music.

Just buy this already. You won't regret it.

Really, jazz and popular song have never come together so well. Shearing is tasteful, Tormé equally so.

It doesn't get any better than this. If you're looking for some lovely versions of some old standards, look no further.

While these songs are deliciously easy on the ears, don't think of classifying this as 'Easy Listening'--that overworked term invokes images of hack singers with toupees and garish tuxedos. The musicianship of both Torme and Shearing informs this collection, with tasty but understated interpretations of a bunch of fine songs.

Torme's velvety voice may be a bit of an acquired taste, but look beyond it and listen to what he's doing with it. He's one of those rare vocalists who is also a fine musician and knows what to do with his instrument. Listen, for instance, to his phrasing and tone control on one of my favorite songs, "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square". That is musicianship. That track alone is worth the price of the collection.

And you get an unexpected bonus: Shearing himself sings the intro to his classic 'Lullaby of Birdland'.

The friendship and mutual respect of these two masters is on display here. They are at the peak of their powers here, and this collection does them justice.

Simply a wonderful pairing of two musical geniuses.

IN MY OPINION, THIS BOX SET & BABS' ARE TIED FOR THE BEST BOX SET FOR OPPOSITE REASONS. STREISAND'S IMPRSSIVE BOX SET HAS A LOT OF TRACKS THAT WERE NEVER ON YOUR LPS & SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THIS BOX SET OF TORME/SHEARING IS ALL THAT THEY DID TOGETHER FOR CONCORD THAT WAS RELEASED & THEN SOME. THIS GEM HAS NOT ONE BAD TRACK! NOW GO OUT & GET THIS PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE GREATEST JAZZ & POP MALE BALLADEER OF THE LAST CENTURY. THE OTHER ORME: EYDIE G WAS THE BEST FEMALE!