Zucchero is Adelmo Fornaciari, an Italian superstar who has been making
pop and blues-style music for 25 years. He grew up next to an
American who introduced him to artists like Aretha Franklin, Ray
Charles, Marvin Gaye, and many Stax recording artists—he fell in love
with the music. He began his musical career playing organ for the
church where he lived, but soon began experimenting with other
instruments and joined a band. When the singer had to miss a gig,
the group had Zucchero fill in. After that, he became the
singer. His voice wasn’t exactly what the recording studios had
in mind, so it took a while before he was signed, but after that his
success came steadily. Throughout his career he’s had the
privilege of playing with some stars of popular music—many duets.
This album is a compilation of some of the special performances in that
vein that is in some ways similar to the Santana releases of late using
a variety of artists to complement the sound of the lead artist and
encompassing a variety of styles. In preparation for the album,
Zucchero re-produced, re-arranged, re-mixed, and even re-sang some of
the material. The whole process took two years, but what results
is an excellent compilation of music.
From the first track the listener can hear that this record is
something special. The power and beauty of the first track works
unlike what you’d expect—it was recorded only two months before John
Lee Hooker’s passing. Some artists might have difficulty adapting
from artists like Sheryl Crow to Miles Davis to Pavarotti, but not
Zucchero. Each track takes something from the guest and makes the
performance sound unique and highly listenable. Track one and
seven are some of my favorites, but with this much good material every
listener is likely to have a few favorites. For those unfamiliar
with Zucchero this CD is a perfect introduction and should make a fan
out them. The recording quality is excellent. It’s a keeper!
Songs included are: I Lay Down w/ John Lee Hooker; Blue w/ Sheryl
Crow; Pure Love w/ Dolores O’Riordan; Baila Morena w/ Mana; Dune Mosse
w/ Miles Davis; Muoio Per Te w/ Sting; Everybody’s Got to Learn
Sometime w/ Vanessa Carlton; Like The Sun—From Out of Nowhere w/ Macy
Gray and Jeff Beck; A Wonderful World w/ Eric Clapton; Hey Man—Sing A
Song w/ B.B. King; Cosi Celeste w/ Cheb Mami; Seza Una Donna—Without A
Woman w/ Paul Young; Diavolo In Me—A Devil In Me w/ Solomon Burke;
Miserere w/ Luciano Pavarotti and Andrea Bocelli.
-Brian Bloom
