Concord's Instant Party series selects the most exuberant performances from the repertoire of their many good candidates -- Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, and now Mel Tormé. Tormé recorded loads of great material for Concord during the last 15 years of his career, much of it in the vein for a good cocktail party. Featuring a lot of material in the concert setting where Tormé excelled, the compilation opens with a hilariously self-effacing "I'm Hip" ("I'm so hip I read People magazine") and a similarly amusing "Give Me the Simple Life." Not all of the inclusions encapsulate the concept; "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm," "Aren't You Glad You're You," and "The Carioca" are light enough but not effusive enough. Still, it's a cheap and effective introduction to the magic Mel Tormé created during his AARP years. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
Jerry Toth (Sax (Alto)), Warren Luening (Trumpet), George Shearing (Scat), Rob Hughes (Trombone (Bass)), Don Thompson Quartet (Bass), Brian Leonard (Percussion), Guido Basso (Trumpet), John MacLeod (Flugelhorn), Ken Peplowski (Sax (Tenor)), Jack Sheldon (Trumpet), Dave McMurdo (Trombone), Bob Leonard (Flute), Rob McConnell (Trombone (Valve)), Seth Presant (Mastering), Jerry Johnson (Trombone), Pete Jolly (Piano), Arnie Chycoski (Flugelhorn), John Von Ohlen (Drums), George Shearing (Piano), Dave Restivo (Piano), Gary Foster (Sax (Alto)), Alex Dean (Flute), Neil Swainson (Bass), Kurt Sievert (Art Direction), Bob Livingston (Trombone), Pete Jolly (Keyboards), Donny Osborne (Drums), Danielle Brancazio (Package Design), Rick Wilkins (Sax (Tenor)), Alex Dean (Clarinet), Moe Koffman (Clarinet), Allen Farnham (Piano), Kevin Turcotte (Trumpet), Bob Leonard (Sax (Baritone)), Chuck Berghofer (Bass), Abbey Anna (Art Direction), Rob McConnell (Arranger), Moe Koffman (Flute), Jerry Fuller (Drums), George Stimpson (French Horn), Reg Schwager (Guitar), Robert Leonard (Sax (Baritone)), John "Woog" Johnson (Clarinet), Gary Pattison (French Horn), Ed Bickert (Guitar), Rick Wilkins (Clarinet), Eugene Amaro (Sax (Tenor)), Mel Tormé (Vocals), Alastair Kay (Trombone), Dan Barrett Quintet (Trombone), Bob Leonard (Clarinet (Bass)), Arnie Chycoski (Trumpet), John MacLeod (Trumpet), Nick Phillips (Compilation Producer), Bob Leonard (Clarinet), Guido Basso (Flugelhorn), Marty Paich (Arranger), Bob Efford (Sax (Baritone)), Kurt Sievert (Production Coordination), Marty Paich (Conductor), Lew McReary (Trombone), Steve Wallace (Bass), Alex Dean (Sax (Tenor)), Ted Warren (Drums), James MacDonald (French Horn), Moe Koffman (Sax (Alto)), Kevin Turcotte (Flugelhorn), Dave Woods (Trumpet), Ernie Pattison (Trombone (Bass)), John "Woog" Johnson (Sax (Alto)), Rob McConnell (Conductor), John "Woog" Johnson (Flute), Ian McDougall (Trombone), Jim Self (Tuba), Jimmy Dale (Piano), Jeff Hamilton (Drums), Brian Torff (Bass), Erich Traugott (Trumpet), Bob Enevoldsen (Trombone (Valve)), Steve McDade (Trumpet), Dave Woods (Violin), Jim Vivian (Bass), Guido Basso (Harmonica)
