JAMES TORMÉ - TORMÉ FOR THE HOLIDAYS
“A vocalist who is an evolution of Hollywood’s greatest era, James Tormé is also known for his epic holiday concerts. His holiday Pops symphony concerts and small group holiday concerts have been put on with top level orchestras and venues worldwide. Filled with swinging, sophisticated versions of America’s favorite holiday songs (arranged by legends – his own father Mel, John Williams etc.), James performs these shows to packed concert halls yearly. “
Tormé’s family friendly holiday show showcases the multi-award- winning vocalist’s sublime singing capabilities against a unique backdrop: the music from a veritable who’s who of legendary arrangers, from John Williams to Angela Morely, Bob Krogstad, to James’ own father Mel Tormé, John Altman and more. The program even includes unique new verses and intro sections on several of the biggest wintertime classics previously gifted to Mel Tormé by the original songwriters (Sammy Kahn, Johnny Mercer etc.). These musical rarities cannot be heard anywhere else.
Beautifully crafted Broadway-style medleys and rich, grand versions of “Sleigh Ride”, “The Christmas Waltz”, “Winter Wonderland”, “Silver Bells”, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and many more are paired with James’ honey-chocolatey voice to create pure holiday magic. Keeping the audience’s attention like only a great entertainer can, James glues the whole occasion together with asides and bits of Hollywood folklore that are both touching and funny.
Nearing the show’s end, Tormé satisfies the crowd’s anticipation: he tells the story of the July 1945 afternoon when his father Mel and music partner Bob Wells famously wrote the world’s no.1 holiday song “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on An Open Fire)”, bequeathing it to close friend Nat ‘King’ Cole later that same day. James shares the song’s unlikely story, then sings the perennial himself. The audience is swept up in a wave of nostalgic emotion — a fitting climax to a holiday event that truly has it all.
This show can be done with or without numbers by a symphony chorus (or ballet company) added to it.
Example Set List
First Half
Christmas à la Valse
Christmas Ring the Bells
Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Christmas Medley 1
(Jingle Bells/Winter Wonderland/Santa Claus is Coming to Town)
The Christmas Feeling
Sleigh Ride
Christmas Waltz
Good Kind Wenceslas
Reineke Sing-a-long
It Don't Mean A Thing (if it Ain’t Got That Swing)
Second Half
Christmas on Broadway
Bugler’s Holiday
Glow Worm
Just Look Around/Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(Alfred Burt Featurette)
Caroling Caroling
Some Children See Him
We'll Dress The House
It Happened In Sun Valley
Silver Bells
Christmas Medley 2
(Happy Holidays/Let's Start The NY Right/What Are You Doing NYE?)
Encore - The Christmas Song/Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire
Additional Song 1 - Christmastime is Here
Additional Song 2 – We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Sing-a-long)
