(LONDON, ON) Digital Journal — Like fashion and design, music trends are constantly evolving, changing and recycling themselves over and over again. The most recent type of music to be reinvented is jazz; the last couple of years have given way to an influx of new, young musicians eager to claim the title of The Next Frank Sinatra or Ray Charles, or both. These musicians find inspiration in those late, great stars and adapt the music, the styles and the personas to today’s audiences.
Some artists, like Norah Jones, Diana Krall and Alicia Keys, have established themselves as not only some of the hottest jazz chanteuses of today, but also damn fine songwriters. Some of the male vocalists in this “new jazz” category include Harry Connick Jr., Matt Dusk and Michael Bublé, who all — at one point or another — have been labelled as Sinatra-wannabes or impersonators.
After seeing both Dusk and Bublé perform live, I can see obvious similarities to Sinatra (I haven’t seen Connick Jr. live). However, there are also distinct and deliberate differences. Yes, they both sing Sinatra, but when Bublé filled every seat at the John Labatt Centre in London, ON, at a recent concert, it became notably obvious that Bublé was a cut above the rest.
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| When Michael Bublé performs, he radiates and sends vibrations through the thousands that flock to see him. |
What sets Michael Bublé apart from others is not necessarily his vocal training or his songs — Bublé only has one original track on his most recent album — but rather the manner in which he presents himself to any crowd or audience; he doesn’t seem to have an “act”. When the 29-year-old sang Sinatra’s Come Fly With Me, he didn’t simply mimic the late Blue Eyes’ mannerisms and familiarities. Instead, he made tiny melodic changes, all the while staying very true to himself and his character.
I made a similar comment last year after Matt Dusk’s release party for his album Two Shots, in that, he had the Sinatra look, the boyish charm, and the swooning singing quality that fans adore. But the one thing he was missing was an ounce of himself.
Bublé, on the other hand, is himself before anyone else — a concept that many new artists give up under pressure from big labels.
To liven up his act even more, Bublé really works the crowd. At his most recent concert, where ticket stubs blatantly stated “no recording devices, cameras, etc”, Bublé helped to break every rule; in addition to posing for hundreds of cameras in the stadium, he gave a closer view to those seated farther back by running through the seats, hugging and dancing with fans all along the way. He cracked jokes, shot a tennis ball into the crowd with his very own hockey stick, and invited the audience to come and dance by the stage.
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| Aside from his commentary, working the crowd is something singer Michael Bublé does best. |
Even microphone feedback couldn’t stir this guy: While being interrupted during one of his favourite ballads, Try a Little Tenderness, Bublé changed the lyrics to “There’s feedback in this song, the feedback is all wrong,” sending the crowd into roaring laughter and cheers.
With many dates completely sold out for the remainder of Bublé’s third album tour, it makes one think how an old style like this can be reinvented successfully. For Bublé and his new album It’s Time, it looks as though personal touches to Sinatra mannerisms might be the secret to his success. Bublé has evolved and changed a style familiar to millions, and has done so with grace, character and charisma. In fact, it’s easy to forget that Bublé has an international following because none of the glitz seems to have gone to his head. He’s modest.
“I don’t want to make a big deal of this, but I’m just a schmuck from a little town called Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, and I’m so proud to be a Canadian,” he said near the end of his recent London performance.
When Bublé performs, he radiates and sends vibrations through the thousands that flock to see him. It may be attributed to his star-quality, his collaboration with multi-Grammy winner David Foster, his satiny voice, or his lightly tousled hair and good looks. Whatever the reason, Michael Bublé’s modernized jazz is a style that will continue to woo a variety of generations, and keep legends like Sinatra living for years to come.
