Name: Mel Tormé with SSBB & Alice Grace
Start: 2025-09-14T14:00:00+01:00
Location: The Exchange, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 2, United Kingdom

$Mel Torm\u00e9 with SSBB & Alice Grace$

Michael Lamb’s Strictly Smokin’ Big Band presents a special evening celebrating 100 years of Mel Tormé, featuring Alice Grace on vocals. The band will perform Tormé’s ‘Olé Tormé’ album in full, originally recorded with Billy May, using new transcriptions by Stuart McLean-Fowler.
Expect an evening of rich big band sounds, Latin influences, and classic swing as we pay tribute to one of jazz’s greatest voices.

Tickets available:
• Show and Food – A delicous hot meat sandwich will be served to you before the performance
• Show Only - Simply enjoy the show

Mel Tormé, known as 'The Velvet Fog' was one of jazz’s greatest vocalists, renowned for his smooth tone, impeccable phrasing, and effortless swing. Born in 1925, he was also a composer, arranger, drummer, and actor, leaving a lasting legacy in jazz and popular music. His career spanned over six decades, during which he worked with some of the finest musicians and arrangers of his time.

One of his most vibrant albums, Olé Tormé (1959), saw him team up with legendary arranger Billy May. Known for his work with Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Ella Fitzgerald, May brought his signature bold and brassy orchestrations to the project. The album was a departure from Tormé’s usual ballads and swing numbers, blending Latin rhythms with his trademark jazz phrasing. From fiery mambos to lively cha-chas, Olé Tormé remains one of his most exciting and unique recordings.

Every track will be performed in original album order: At the Crossroads (Malagueña), Frenesi, Adios, Baia, Six Lessons From Madame La Tonga, Rosita My Love, South of the Border, Nina, Cuban Love Song, Perfidy, The Rhumba Jumps, Maya Con Dies.

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band will bring this album to life in full, using transcriptions by Stuart McLean-Fowler, with Alice Grace on vocals. This performance celebrates Tormé’s centenary by honouring one of his most dynamic works, showcasing the energy, rhythm, and rich orchestration that made the album so special. Whether you're a devoted jazz fan or discovering Tormé for the first time, this is a fantastic opportunity to experience his music in a live setting.