First half Ellington, Second half Basie - Big Band all the way.

James Tormé’s ‘I DIG THE DUKE, I DIG THE COUNT’ show is the stunning reincarnation of Verve Records’ 1962 Mel Tormé / Johnny Mandel Big Band LP of the same name. It gives the multi award-winning singer a chance to infuse his own colors, textures and influences into this historic music.

In an all-Ellington first half, the 2nd generation jazz star shows extraordinary jazz instincts on “I’m Gonna Go Fishin’ ”, “Take The A-Train”, “I Like The Sunrise”, “Don’t Get Around Much Any More” (à la The Judy Garland Show), and the haunting “Reminiscing In Tempo” (featured on James’ own debut LP Love For Sale), a song James’ father Mel co-wrote with the Duke himself. “I won my first music award singing that one, so it’s sort of special to me”, says James. Before tying up the first half with the very whimsical “Just A Sittin’ And A Rockin’ ” the youngest Tormé puts the legendary jazz icon into perspective by unfurling a few inside-stories about Duke Ellington that are both touching and funny).

The second half, exclusively featuring songs associated with Count Basie, elevates the proceedings into an even higher gear. As if cleared for take-off, Tormé blasts through the high energy “Down For Double”, pulls great emotion (and irony) out of “I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town” and “Blue And Sentimental” then uses every inch of his buttery vocal tone to caress “In The Evening (When The Sun Goes Down)” and “Oh What A Night For Love”, rounding the concert off with a scat singing exhibition that few on the planet could match on “Sent For You Yesterday”.

One of the truly great voices of a new generation, James seems to carry off the entire evening’s proceedings effortlessly - a quality that is found only in the very best entertainers. This unique, historic big band show not only showcases the peak of modern day jazz-singing, it also represents the very zenith of musical sophistication in the form of the Johnny Mandel arrangements (exclusively available to James throuigh his family archives).

With names like Ellington, Basie and Tormé in its title, Dig The Duke, Dig the Count is guaranteed to appeal to music lovers everywhere.

FIRST HALF — DUKE ELLINGTON

I’M GONNA GO FISHIN’

DON’T GET AROUND MUCH

ANYMORE

I LIKE THE SUNRISE

TAKE THE A-TRAIN

REMINISCING IN TEMPO

JUST A SITTING AND A ROCKIN’

SECOND HALF — COUNT BASIE

DOWN FOR DOUBLE

I’M GONNA MOVE TO THE

OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN

BLUE AND SENTIMENTAL

OH WHAT A NIGHT FOR LOVE

IN THE EVENING (WHEN THE SUN

GOES DOWN)

SENT FOR YOU YESTERDAY