" Just Friends" Mel Torme Swings With The Boss Brass. In 1932, John Klenner, a German born, classicly rained musician wrote a song that is still played, especially by jazz musicians and singers. The lyrics were provided by Sam Lewis and their short, intensive nature are well-matched with the rhythmic thrust of the melody.
In this version, Melt Torme teams up with 21 piece Canadian jazz band created and master minded by Rob McConnell. McConnell was a spirited and inventive valve trombonist who was slated to replace Bob Brookmeyer in Gerry Mulligan's Quartet. Other considerations prevailed and McConnell built up a very extensive book of original songs and highly imaginative arrangement of jazz and popular song standards. McConnell's hard-driving arrangement, played by the cream of Toronto's jazz musicians, creates a dynamic interplay between the band and Torme whose timing, articulation and improvisational flights of fancy are compelling. McConnell's valve trombone solo is very reflective of the man himself, dynamic, cranky and humorous all at once. The recording has a free-flowing feel of a small group so well-rehearsed and integrated are the singer and the musicians.Other things to listen to are the tight, unison section playing, some exuberant scat singing with Torme and McConnell trading solos and the tempo slows to a strolling tempo only to finish in a bravura, up-tempo finale. Torme and The Boss Brass made two records together showcasing the remarkable collaboration of a singer, an arranger/trombonist and McConnell's own band of dedicated musicians.
LINK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhFW2Rj1qR0
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