Personnel: Stevie Wonder (vocals, harmonica); Dean Parks, Michael Hart Thompson , Michael Landau, Ramon Stagnaro (guitar); Dan Higgins (flute); Randy Waldman (piano, keyboards); Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Paulinho DeCosta, Rafael Padilla (percussion); Jochem van der Saag (programming).
Recording information: Andrea Bocelli Studio, Tuscany, Italy; Chartmaker Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Record Plant, Hollywood, CA; Sony Studios, Culver City, CA; Westlake Audio, Hollywood, CA.
Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's cross-over success was firmly solidified long before the 2006 release of AMORE, and here, the singer casts an even wider net. Bocelli's voice is tailor-made for sensual romantic balladry, and naturally those songs abound. However, while past outings were marked by dramatic, though fairly straightforward orchestration and a crisp studio gloss, AMORE finds Bocelli utilizing a more diverse musical palette, including Spanish guitars, accordion, harmonica (courtesy of Stevie Wonder), saxophone (Kenny G), and--watch out--pop music's favorite nasty girl, Christina Aguilera.
With superstar producer David Foster at the helm, the Tuscan-born singer selects a collection of pop standards from the ages and from around the world, including "Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)," "Somos Novios (It's Impossible)," and "Solamente Una Vez." And while Bocelli's voice may be best suited for classical music and light opera, he handles these songs with the passion, skill, and grace fans have come to expect from him. AMORE is a brilliant move for Bocelli: the songs are targeted to a wider group of listeners and yet they have something for his original fans as well--in a word, his voice.
Even as "the fourth tenor" has become one of the world's most popular and renowned classical and operatic singers, Andrea Bocelli has been teasing pop fans over the years by recording brilliant duets with the likes of Celine Dion and Sarah Brightman. Who better to helm the Tuscan-born vocal giant's first pure pop album than David Foster, who has made foreign language singing all the rage by introducing the world to Josh Groban? Amore features songs from various musical eras, from the 1920s through the '80s, which Bocelli sings in his native Italian, Spanish, and French. He launches the collection with beautiful Spanish on the tender, soaring ballad "Amapola" and a graceful "Besame Mucho" before introducing his facility for French with the lush, film score-like "Les Feuilles Mortes," which becomes "Autumn Leaves." Foster then unleashes a successful Santana-styled duet approach on the singer, pairing him with Kenny G ("Mi Manchi"), a delightfully torchy Christina Aguilera (on "Somos Novios," which became "It's Impossible") and Stevie Wonder (who adds vocals and harmonica to "Canzoni Stonate"). Purists may balk at such tandems, but pop fans will be enchanted, and Foster handles the productions of these tracks with admirable restraint. Though he covers artists ranging from Edith Piaf to Luis Miguel and Frank Sinatra, the most engaging reworking is a sweet take on "Can't Help Falling in Love," which was recorded live at Lake Las Vegas. In typical Foster's tug-the-heartstrings fashion, the disc closes with Italian and English versions of the inspirational ballad "Because We Believe," but for the most part, this magical effort fully realizes its aim to become a trendsetter for romantic pop in the 2000s. ~ Jonathan Widran
REVIEWS:
Entertainment Weekly (p.133) - "[The songs] feel relatively unforced, soothing the soul without yanking the heartstrings." -- Grade: B-