Color ME JAzz (The Tormé WAY)

True jazz singers love being given the freedom to hand-pick the songs to fit a moment in time. Color Me Jazz allows James to do just that, following his natural instincts to deliver a personal, true-to-life jazz experience that’s different every time.

*Can be performed with jazz trio, quartet or quintet.

DIG THE DUKE, DIG THE COUNT

First half Ellington, second half Basie. Big band all the way.

A stunning big band reinvention of Mel Tormé’s legendary 1961 Verve LP , arranged by the great Johnny Mandel, Dig the Duke, Dig the Count is comprised of twelve songs from the album in their original order, plus a few other Basie/Ellington surprises. It’s the perfect canvas for James to inject his own instincts and style, as he pulls new colors, textures, and moods out of this collection of Basie and Ellington classics that cannot be heard anywhere else.

HOLIDAY POPS / TORMÉ FOR THE HOLIDAYS

A symphonic jazz masterpiece, filled with swinging, sophisticated versions of America’s favorite winter classics (arranged by legends – his own father Mel, John Williams and more), James’ Tormé for the Holidays! (aka A Very Tormé Christmas) concerts garner both praise and packed crowds year after year.

As the show builds to its climax, James fulfills a long-held family ritual: telling the story of, then singing his father Mel and Bob Wells’ “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)”, the song that was gifted to Nat ‘King’ Cole in 1945, before becoming his biggest hit.

*Available in Full symphony, big band or smaller configurations.

THE BIRTH OF THE WEST COAST

James salutes the music that defined California’s West Coast Jazz, (aka ‘Cool Jazz’) sound, while uncovering new magic from that indelible chapter in jazz history.

From Nat ‘King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Anita O’Day, Chet Baker, Lou Rawls, Miles Davis and Peggy Lee, to James’ own father Mel, Birth Of The West Coast shines light on a myriad of legendary singers and arrangers, putting these great artists into perspective.

*Can be performed with Big Band, Dek-tette jazz group (with 8 horns), Little Big Band (with 6 horns) or smaller formats, including jazz quintet, quartet and trio.

THE SOUND OF MARTY PAICH

James Tormé celebrates the genius of iconic West Coast jazz arranger, Marty Paich.

From the legendary vocal albums he arranged for singers Mel Tormé and Ella Fitzgerald, to those he recorded with Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Anita O’Day, Sammy Davis Jr. and Aretha Franklin — to his piano playing with Stan Getz, Art Pepper, Stan Kenton, Shorty Rogers and countless others, iconic arranger Marty Paich proved time after time that he could access staggering levels of creativity.

Utilizing his unique access to the arrangements from the Tormé and Paich archives, James salutes the wizardry, both vocal and instrumental, of the man they called “The Picasso of jazz” in this one of a kind full-length program.

Can be performed with jazz ’Dek-tette’ (an 8-horn little big band), or smaller formats, including jazz quintet, quartet and trio.