FIRST HALF — DUKE ELLINGTON, SECOND HALF — COUNT BASIE

James Tormé’s ‘I DIG THE DUKE, I DIG THE COUNT’ is a stunning rebirth of his father Mel Tormé’s 1962 Verve record of the same name, arranged by the great Johnny Mandel. The full evening program, which presents the twelve songs in the order of the original album, provides a canvas for the multi award-winning singer to inject his own energy and influences into the music, creating brand-newcolors, textures, and moods.

In the all-Ellington first half, Tormé shows his extraordinary deftnessfor all things jazz 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. Admits Tormé, “It’s the first song I ever won a music award for, so it’s sort of sacred to me”. He then ties up the first half with the whimsical “Just A Sittin’ And A Rockin’ ”. In between songs, the charismatic young singer unfurls a few ‘inside stories’ about Ellington ‘the man’: some touching, some hilarious.

The second half, all songs associated with Count Basie, elevates the proceedings into high 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 singingexhibition that few on the planet could begin to match on “Sent For You Yesterday (And Here You Come Today)”.

One of the truly great voices of a new generation, James Tormé carries off the entire evening’s proceedings with an effortlessness that is found only in the very best of entertainers. This unique, historical show demonstrates the very peak of singing skill, and the very zenith of musical sophistication and class in the form of the Johnny Mandel arrangements. And with names like Ellington, Basie and Tormé in its title, it’s guaranteed to have a wide appeal to musiclovers 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 (AND

HERE YOU COME TODAY)