Michael Buble It's Time CD

Personnel: Michael Bublé (vocals); Nelly Furtado (vocals); Brian Green, Brian Green (guitar, acoustic guitar); Heitor Teixeira Pereira, John Chiodini, Anthony Wilson (guitar); Brandon Jenner (acoustic guitar); Jeff Clayton , Keith Fiddmont (alto saxophone); Rickey Woodard, Charles Owens (tenor saxophone); Lee Callet (baritone saxophone); Gilbert Castellanos, Sal Cracchiolo, Kyle Palmer (trumpet); George Bohannon, Ira Nepus (trombone); Bill Reichenbach Jr. (bass trombone); David Foster (piano, keyboards); Tamir Hendelman (piano); Brian Bromberg (bass guitar); Frank Capp, Jeff Hamilton (drums); Neil Devor (programming); Dean Parks (guitar); Michael Thompson (electric guitar); Dan Higgins (flute, saxophone); Jochem van der Saag (harmonica, organ, programming); Chris Botti (trumpet); Randy Waldman, Alan Chang (piano); David Tull, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Rafael Padilla (percussion); Debbie Timuss (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Humberto Gatica; Al Schmitt.
Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Chartmaker Studios; Henson Recording; Paramount Studios, Hollywood, CA; Record Plant; Signet Sound; Village Recorder, West Los Angeles, CA; Warner Bros. Sound Stage.
Photographer: Olaf Heine.
Arrangers: David Foster; John Clayton, Jr.; William Ross ; Don Sebesky; Jeremy Lubbock; Jerry Hey; Bill Holman.
Although it took more than a year of concerts and promotional appearances, Michael Bublé's 2003 debut disc of swinging pop standards finally ascended the Billboard album chart and landed at number 47. That peak may not seem impressive at first, but in a musical world dominated by rap or the latest flavor of alternative rock, Bublé's upper chart appearance was a real accomplishment and it sparked a renewed interest in music associated with great vocalists like Frank Sinatra. With his second studio disc, It's Time, Bublé builds upon the musical foundation he laid with his debut and demonstrates that he is much more than a flavor-of-the-month celebrity. Like his debut, It's Time mines the rich history of pop music as Bublé applies his own technique to classic standards and incorporates his Rat Pack sound into modern pop songs. Other pop vocal giants have made attempts to reinterpret the pop songs of their day with appalling results (Mel Tormé's version of "Sunshine Superman" comes to mind), but Bublé has the knack for selecting the right songs that he can properly transform into edible works that avoid a cheesy aftertaste. Having a standard like "A Foggy Day (In London Town)" share space with the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" may seem like a lounge lizard joke waiting to happen, but the arrangements (most courtesy of producer David Foster) and performances are seamless. Therefore, the quiet groove of "I've Got You Under My Skin" can sit comfortable next to Bublé's smoky version of Leon Russell's "Song for You," featuring Chris Botti on trumpet. Perhaps it is due to this formula working so well that Bublé has incorporated more of his unique takes on modern pop than on his debut. He even ventures into R&B territory with older hits like "Try a Little Tenderness" and "How Sweet It Is," all the while giving these songs a retro freshness that breathes new life into these gems. Pop starlet Nelly Furtado sounds lovely and elegant in the duet "Quando, Quando, Quando," while Bublé ends the disc with a beautiful reading of Stevie Wonder's "You and I." Another positive step forward is the inclusion of the lovely original tune "Home," a somewhat autobiographical "too long on the road" song co-written by Bublé. The success of this ballad provides yet another direction that he can explore and expand upon. Throughout the disc Bublé emits the feeling that he loves these songs and truly enjoys what he is doing. He sounds pure of voice and pure of heart. Those are rare commodities in the recorded world and they, along with Bublé's talent and vision, help to make It's Time a wonderful listening experience. ~ Aaron Latham
MichaelJazzTimes (p.134) - "[T]errifically relaxed, genuinely hip..."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.101) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[H]e's talented and he knows his stuff. He even creates something of his own on the original country-ish ballad 'Home' and the super-charged swing arrangement of 'Can't Buy Me Love'."