Mel Torme w/ John Colianni - "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square", 1994

[@trojanowl]

I have never heard a better blending of voice and piano. Ever.

[@alfredomontane578]

EL MÁS GRANDE DE TODOS...JUNTO CON NAT COLE ,LOS AMOS DEL FRASEO Y HAY QUE ESCUCHARLO CON SU GRUPO VOCAL "THE MEL TONES"...ES FORMIDABLE,UN ARTISTA ÚNICO.

[@thomas1140]

My all time favourite Mel Torme - How can a jazz singer's voice remain SO pure & controlled here at the age of 69 when so many top vocalists "lose it" after 20 years, especially after performing in many hundreds of smoke-filled venues. Guess Mel was an exception - pure musician. r.i.p. - Thanks ever so much for posting.

[@catfish336699]

this ladies & gentlemen is what talent is all about. thanks mel.

[@jazzbirdbecky]

What a voice he had, so perfect and rich. Love and admire Mr. Mel Torme.

[@doc-zy9ux]

Nobody sings this beautiful song better.

[@KarenJohnsonKJPR]

My brother, John Colianni, on piano - Mel appreciated just how much he contributed to each and every performance. What a pleasure that John is my baby brother.

[@tomkelly5495]

Actually Mel Torme played with quite a few great pianists Mike Renzi , John Campbell and of course your brother Who if I may say so is complimented Torme in the best sense of the word .

[@Henry-vu5sg]

The piano makes the performamce.

[@Henry-vu5sg]

He's so great. Wish I could play the piano like that.

[@tomkelly4336]

@@Henry-vu5sg Actually I liked George Shearing with Mel the best, two sides of the same coin.

[@Henry-vu5sg]

@@tomkelly4336 A bit thoughtless Tom given we a replying to a (loving) post from John Coliani's sister. Both players are out of this world. Think of the happiness they must have given out in a lifetime.... (Sighs)

[@bennyjazzful]

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From a mad keen 75yo Aussie fan. GOD--What an incredible voice & a performer. Mel will always be remembered.

[@nickpalmer3076]

Love This song.Great performance.

[@patrickdesilva8899]

Thanks to KZbin and people like U for sharing good music that people all around the world can still listen to good music.Grew up listening to Nat King Cole,Artie Shaw,Frank Sinatra,Andy Williams and can still listen to great artists and musicians.Thanks again!!!

[@larrybrandes304]

From a singer/ musician point of view, this remains the most perfect performance that I have ever had the pleasure, for many years, I never tire of listening to the master singer.

[@Wordchipper]

My favorite love song. No question....Torme does a wonderful interpretation of a fabulous lyric and the pianist is fabulous!

[@artkuller9268]

Beautiful, and what a pianist!

[@tiffsaver]

*OMG!!* Just listen to the vocal mastery of a legend... BREATHTAKING.

[@michaelbarnett8314]

This is quite simply the best version of this song I have ever heard.

[@cornelispeters5612]

I was só lucky to have seen and heard him live twice , and i even have an autograph of him , he really was one of the best singers that had èver lived. There are those that are móre than just singers , they are storytellers , they are mucicians , and Mel was really one of them. Absolutely fàntastick.

[@Trudy896]

I just love this man's singing. His singing make you want to be in Love; think about being in a beautiful Christmas setting; In a quaint little country towne; Strolling through a beautiful passage in a remote coutryside in Scottland or Ireland with small stone and mud houses with lovely flower gardens running up to the front doors. A small country American towne with old white wood houses with porches.

[@Trudy896]

Just Beautiful that's all.

[@Trudy896]

Real Music and Real Singing!!

[@ferociousgumby]

I miss him so, so much! I came to full appreciation of his artistry rather late, but did have a chance to hear him perform live in Vancouver. I've been trying to find a "best" version of this, and now I think this is the ONLY version.

[@billholdensaunt4086]

uncle mel! love you so much! the best of the best and untouchable even in today's climate! donny osborne at the brushes and the zildjians! (my former client). mel was just so darn good! gone but never 2 be forgotten! love it and thx 4 this post!

[@ss032010310103]

This is absolutely stunning

[@tomstrutt6754]

God!!, how I miss the days when popular musicians had talent and artistry instead of flash and hype. This fabulous performance made my heart ache. Mel was always far to good to be widely appreciated.

[@Trudy896]

What a beautiful voice. I wish I could hear and enjoy really good singing like this today. It was beautiful with beautiful lyrics and made you fall in love even when you had no one to fall in love with. No vulgarity or sex undertones, but just beautiful Love Songs. I miss them all.

[@pamtebelman2321]

Makes you wonder what happened. I think big money, and trying to maintain one's popularity by sacrificing the honesty and excellence of the music you love and respect led to the mediocrity of the present day vulgar and uninteresting popular music scene. The advent of the Beatles did n't help much and took this lovely art and turned it into entertainment. The pitfalls of compromise and big money are deep and many. Mel didn't seem to fall into that trap and maintained the integrity in his music and in fact seemed to get even better as he aged. What an incredible talent!

[@edwardmallon8679]

Pam Tebelman Well said, couldn’t agree more

[@bennyjazzful]

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From a mad keen 73yo Aussie fan. Amazing vocals from a supreme master,Mel Torme.

[@mikebamber8150]

The greatest talent in the history of song--bar none! ! -

[@kenallanphillips]

Completely agree!

[@SunSound7]

Breathtaking sublime mastery. Thank you.

[@Trudy896]

I just love Mels' singing. He sings with such ease and magnificence!! I too am thankful for KZbin!!!

[@1FrankFan]

An older Mel, but he sings the sh*t out of the song...beautiful!!!!!!!!!

[@catfish336699]

a great example of why many think he was the best at his craft. the diction, phrasing & control were incomparable. mel torme was a gift to the world of music.

[@winonahinkel4160]

Why in the world do they not write and sing beautiful music like that today? All I hear is noise!

[@theshedsinger658]

breathtaking, absolutely golden

[@kenallanphillips]

Fantastic. The very best of voices. So inspired by this man!

[@UltimateJazzyQuintet]

BY the opening and the final of the song, some things remain lasting in the dome for every attending heart to have sang with him the beauty adorable...Stay in peace where you are Mel Tormé..

[@sciencefictiondesignjackie5533]

Best singer.

[@amazmace]

I love this! A Mel fan since I was a kid. Thank you for sharing this.

[@kuleventil]

Mel Torme was a true genious!

[@davidmiller4078]

Oh boy i love this song and i love Mel Torme his repoire with his pianist is on the highest level and he was 69 here ? What breath control and diction awesome performance they just dont seem to make em like that these days ?

[@brendamccarthy1718]

Superb what else can you say about this man.

[@bashfulbrother]

It's funny, but true. Once this man put his signature on a song, no one else could ever do it better. He was just an outstandingly talented singer and actor.

[@jasonplatt2228]

I'm really glad you noted his acting skills. I remember seeing him act when he was very young and being amazed at his acting. It was very different to me from what you normally see in actors' style and I was so in awe. It was his personality, honesty, and inventiveness that he brought to his singing that he also brought to his acting. He not only was a jazz singer; but one of the few, if not only, jazz actors. I wish I could remember what show I saw him in because I would love to watch it again!

[@peacenikkie]

Never really appreciated him until I saw this video. Mel was, indeed, one of the greats! Thank you for this...the top of the list of my favourite songs!~0;-)

[@charlesbarry6730]

The perfect accompanist. Reminds me of Tony Bennett and Bill Evans

[@lffit]

This is just superb; Thank you!

[@AngusTCat]

This is just magic.

[@pamtebelman2321]

Absolutely amazing.

[@veronicabailey2244]

Bob and I saw him w/ George Shearing in Washington DC years ago...wonderful evening.

[@kathrynmcmorrow7170]

MEL TORME and JOE WILLIAMS, were both simply incredible IMHO.

[@shouldbecomegood839]

Timeless preformance!

[@vivianabrusotti2396]

Maravilloso!!!

[@kenallanphillips]

Amazing Voice!!!!

[@nochemusical]

Magic...perfection...JAZZ SINGER...

[@davidwhyberd7612]

Mel was not only a really great ballad singer, but was also one of the greatest jazz singers. He could improvise around a melody like Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughn. "Love for sale" with Buddy Rich, is one of he most exciting scat singing performances that I have ever heard.

[@1FrankFan]

GREAT song...Great singer...what else is there to say?

[@catsondacoast]

Genius! Thanks :)

[@steveknows62]

What can one say? Truly magnificient

[@Christopher8008]

The only thing more perfect is hearing Mel sing this with George at the piano...

[@jazzshowroom2877]

You'd prefer George to me? Aww...did the best I could. Oh well.

[@Christopher8008]

@@jazzshowroom2877 You did a fantastic job. No offense intended. Much respect! Cheers!

[@eduardowilk8202]

Delicious version

[@AntonioBustillos]

Excelente voz!

[@kohashiguchi1454]

Torme's own son said the stroke took his fathers talent when it was at its peak. I agree completely.

[@SusanHauglandLVB]

Allen started it... my favorite Mel.

[@cawleym1]

Thank God for KZbin...I mean that.

[@nezkeys79]

great! 3:14 to the end my fave part. btw that piano player is awesome

[@jasonstacyHSC]

At his age...he sounds 30 or 40 years younger than he is.

[@resdalhogal3]

Best version of this song. And that’s saying a lot since Nat and Frank made killer versions too.

[@51Rog]

AKA The Velvet Fog. How marvellous!

[@11hoosier11]

No one can sing so softly and yet with power....I am not a musician, would someone put words in my mouth to describe what I mean? Does "Velvet Fog" do it?

[@richierich291266]

Magnificent. What an artist. Pianist ain't bad either!

[@PianoDigitalScores]

Here's where you can find the sheet music for John Colianni's piano accompaniment: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWXalXtsZdmAaq8

[@gregmeiners2900]

I agree

[@dougwright3126]

Wow

[@JanHough]

I'd love to know who the bass player is. Beautifully played-intonation and timing.

[@r.c.a.7570]

Dreamy

[@lelonfurr4583]

!!!

[@caroltaylor3414]

So how come he can hold the mic so far away and we can hear him perfectly, but these days the singers practically eat the mic... you can't even see much of their face? Were the mics so much better years ago? Are the bands so much louder these days that the singers have to hold the mics close to be heard?

[@traceyberesford6246]

he sure loves to use his hands when he performs

[@bashfulbrother]

That is something all trained vocalists are taught to do. You visualize the note and reach out and grab it. Laugh all you want, but it works. Watch Sinatra, Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, just to name a few. They all do it. I love to watch Ella when she scats. Her hands are just flying when she is really into the music.

[@oucutie1]

Yes, it’s called expression!

[@nzrdb6]

Who would be the closest talent to Mel nowadays?

[@oucutie1]

alex campbell In all fairness after thinking and thinking........couldn’t think of anyone!

[@kevinwilder4515]

That Voice . Just Smooth like silk!!