**606 Club Special** James Tormé's "Love Songs Project"

This multi-award-winning singer certainly comes with jazz royalty in his pedigree. The son of the iconic jazz vocalist (and 3 time Grammy-Award Winning) legend Mel Torme and English actress Janette Scott (making him Thora Hird's grandson!), James has done something that is never easy in those circumstances, established himself as a powerful talent in his own right. Based out of LA, California, James has steadily garnered universal praise, and achieved considerable success, as a vocalist who manages to blend the classic jazz canon and approach (as typified by his late father) with more contemporary songs and influences and at the same time infuse newer songs with a timeless, classic, sensibility. As a youngster he spent time with many of the greats, including the likes of Bing Crosby, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, Buddy Rich, Ella Fitzgerald and Cleo Laine, absorbing a great deal from that experience. He attributes as much of his ability as a performer to the "process of osmosis” as he does to his own show-business background, saying, “There's no question, I absorbed a lot from my dad, and his peers.” This is clear as soon as you hear his singing style, which draws from the “old school”, but with a modern styling that makes it very current. And to make the point he was the recipient of the Chuck Niles Jazz Music Award in 2007 and Grand Prize Winner and Lennon Award Winner for the jazz category in the 2009 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. And you don't get those unless you're good…very good. Tonight James will be performing the first of just three exclusive performances his new "Love Songs Project" (and the only one in London) which he describes as "a celebration of the greatest love songs ever written, on the heels of my engagement to the love of my life". So expect some classic romantic standards, plus James has promised us a sneak preview of songs from his new album all rendered with a panache and sophistication that mark him out as something quite special. Appearing with James tonight will, unsurprisingly, be a UK band of the highest calibre, including the brilliant Brandon Allen (Sat 17th) on sax, one of the most in demand musicians on the UK scene Ross Stanley on piano and a rhythm section of Tim Thornton-bass and Martyn Kaine-drums. With classic Hollywood good looks and a talent to match it is fair to say James is a unique musical bridge between the "old world" and the "new school" and absolutely not to be missed. And watch out for a Surprise Guest to make the night just that bit more special!

“...an extraordinary singer with immense resources... his phrasing ...audacious and brilliant” London Jazz News; "If you get a chance to see James Tormé you should beg, borrow, even steal a ticket" Jazz FM; “James Tormé...smooth and cool.” NY Post; “...Tormé’s incomparable vocal gifts and showmanship made for a rare musical experience.” Indianapolis Performing Arts Examiner; "the best male jazz singer to come along in 20 years" Chuck Mitchell, Verve Records President; “There’s really nothing in town that quite matches up to what Tormé is doing right now.” Proxart Magazine