Katherine Jenkins’ new album Believe is out in the UK on October 26. You can hear it all week on Telegraph.co.uk ahead of its release.
Released by Warner Bros., it is produced by David Foster, who is credited with a role in the success of Josh Groban and Michael Buble.
Foster has also worked with some of the biggest voices in pop music, such as Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand.
“Last year when the opportunity to work with David came up, for me it was a dream come true,” said Jenkins.
“I’ve always loved his style, what he brings to the music, and it’s been an absolutely amazing experience working with him. This is the album I’ve always dreamt of making”.
The album also features a duet with award-winning tenor Andrea Bocelli.
‘I Believe’, arranged by Foster himself, is a tender operatic ballad which unites Jenkins and Bocelli on record for the first time.
In addition to the October 26 release of the ‘Believe’ album, Jenkins will embark on an 11 date UK arena tour in March 2010.
Wales News
Sep 18 2009 by Robin Turner, Western Mail
SOPRANO Katherine Jenkins looks set for her big break in the US, thanks to a television Christmas special.
The Neath star is to sing a duet with tenor Andrea Bocelli in his festive show on the PBS network.
The show, which will also feature Mary J Blige, Natalie Cole and The Muppets, looks set to bring the 29-year-old to a big American audience, with PBS boasting 65 million viewers.
Although Jenkins has insisted she does not want to move from the UK, it will certainly boost sales of her new album, Believe, the first she has recorded in the US.
The Welsh diva had a huge ovation from the 5,000-strong crowd at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre this week where the Christmas show was recorded in front of a live audience.
Bocelli picked Jenkins to sing the ballad I Believe after being impressed with her when they duetted during the 2007 Strictly Come Dancing final.
The singer, due to arrive back in Britain at Heathrow Airport today in time for her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing tomorrow night, was clearly thrilled by her quick visit to Hollywood.
She enthused on her website yesterday: “I’m here on a whistle stop tour – I arrived on Sunday and I go home on Thursday.
“I’m here to perform a TV concert with David Foster and Andrea Bocelli for a PBS Christmas special.
“It’s being filmed at the Kodak theatre… where the Oscars are held! You should see the set, it’s incredible! There are Christmas trees and fake snow, it looks like a magical Christmas in Hollywood!”
She added: “As soon as I get back to the UK I have to prepare for my performance on Strictly Come Dancing this Saturday!
“I’m a massive fan of the show and had so much fun performing on it with Andrea Bocelli in 2007, so I’m really pleased to be involved again.
“I’ll be singing ‘I Believe’ from my new album, but instead of singing it as a duet with Andrea (as I do on the album), I’ll be singing it solo. I can’t wait to see all the dancers in their fabulous outfits!”
Celebrity-watchers believe the Christmas special could well be Katherine’s big break in the US.
Beverley Watts, editor of the online version of Celebrity magazine Now, said: “She has a new management team who are said to be very keen for her to cross the Atlantic.
“Katherine has told us she has no intention of moving to the US on a permanent basis but she’ll need to spend a decent amount of time there to make it work.
“And Bocelli is, of course, massive in America and with the right choice of music, Katherine could now crack it in the US and of course she’s a stunning girl.”
And Elaine Penn, deputy showbiz editor of TV Quick magazine, added: “Katherine Jenkins is already a huge name in the UK, due to her enormous talent. And to be asked to record a duet in the States with Andrea Bocelli is high praise indeed as he’s an international star, recognised the world over and huge in the US.
“Appearing alongside him on PBS could be just the exposure Katherine needs to make it there – after all, the station is said to be America’s ‘most trusted national institution’.”
Producer David Foster is now steering Jenkins’ US career. He said: “Katherine’s voice is right up there with the best. On the Christmas TV special with Andrea she both looked and sounded beautiful.”
Although the star has signalled her intention to break into the American market, moving permanently to the States is something she has said she is keen to avoid.
In a recent interview with Now magazine, she asserted: “I have no intention of moving to America.
“I have a house in London and all my family in Wales. I love it in the US but I am definitely not going to move there.”
Worldwide Superstar Andrea Bocelli Set to Release His First-Ever Holiday CD,
My Christmas
Produced By The Grammy-Award Winning David Foster, Available November 3rd On
Sugar/Decca
NEW YORK, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Millions will rejoice this holiday season
with the much-anticipated release of Andrea Bocelli’s My Christmas. The
first-ever Christmas recording from Andrea is a heart-warming collection of
songs destined to become a holiday classic for years to come. Produced by the
legendary David Foster, the CD features the singer’s unmistakable soaring
vocals, alongside duets with special guests to be announced soon. My
Christmas will be released on Sugar/Decca on November 3rd.
My Christmas is the ultimate holiday recording from Andrea Bocelli, who sings
traditional carols and favorites in English, with a few selections also
featuring Italian and German. The lush, beautiful arrangements are evident
throughout; highlights include “White Christmas,” “Oh Holy Night,” “Santa
Claus is Coming to Town,” “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” “The Christmas
Song,” and “What Child Is This” among others.
“I have long dreamed of recording a holiday album that captures the beautiful
traditions of the holiday season. Every year these songs have brought
incredible joy to my family and I, and it is my hope to give back that same
joy by making this album,” commented Bocelli. My Christmas will also be a
major component of a PBS Great Performances special to air on Public
Television this December. The program will present both Andrea Bocelli and
David Foster together in a stellar Christmas program, to be filmed on
September 15th at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.
Additionally on the live front, Andrea is slated to perform three historic
classical concerts for the first time ever at New York City’s famed Carnegie
Hall on September 8th, 9th and 11th. A series of very special Christmas
concerts are slated for December; confirmed dates include November 28th at
Bank Atlantic Center in Ft Lauderdale, December 3rd at Air Canada Center in
Toronto, December 5th at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, NJ, December
12th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and December 13th at the Honda Center in
Anaheim.
An iconic figure in music who has sold over 60 million albums to date, Bocelli
continues to defy categorization, age barriers and labels of all kinds. In
concert or on the opera stage, he has worked with everyone from Luciano
Pavarotti and Placido Domingo to Bono. His memorable television appearances
on such events including The Grammy Awards, mentoring contestants on American
Idol, and the Official Ceremonies of past Olympic Games have propelled Andrea
Bocelli to a global household name.
BURBANK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Due to unprecedented demand, Reprise Records has sped up the manufacturing of Michael Bublé’s highly anticipated “Crazy Love” CD, (his first in over two years) and it will now be released on Friday, October 9th, four days earlier than previously scheduled, it was announced today by his record label.
Bublé, a multi-Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter has sold over 22 million CDs worldwide which clearly brought the fan demand for his latest release, produced by David Foster, Bob Rock and Humberto Gatica to a dizzying level. The Canadian singer’s previous CD, “Call Me Irresponsible” was a Number One album in 15 countries. His 2005 CD “It’s Time” charted for two solid years. Bublé has also co-written and performed two Number One singles “Everything” and “Home.”
“Haven’t Met You Yet,” a Bublé penned first single from “Crazy Love” has just been released at radio. A video for the single is scheduled to be filmed within the next two weeks. “Crazy Love” includes Bublé’s always unique spin on classics from “Cry Me A River,” to “Georgia On My Mind” along with the Van Morrison classic, “Crazy Love.” Bublé is also expected to make several major TV appearances in conjunction with the CD’s release.
Canadian singer Michael Bublé is releasing his first album featuring original material since 2007, his label announced this week. Entitled “Crazy Love,” after a 1970 Van Morrison tune of the same name, the album is due Oct. 13 on 143/Reprise Records.
Bublé recorded “Crazy Love” in New York and Vancouver and co-wrote both of album’s two original songs — “Hold On” and “Haven’t Met You Yet,” which is the lead single and debuts at radio on Aug. 31. The remaining 11 tracks include covers of “Cry Me A River,” “Georgia On My Mind” and “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes),” which features Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
“I dug way deeper and was more introspective on this one,” Bublé said in a statement. “Basically, I sang the truth — made each song autobiographical — and you can definitely hear the difference.”
“Crazy Love” was produced by David Foster, Bob Rock and Humberto Gatica, and Bublé says it was recorded more organically than his past records. “The musicians and I all sat in the room, recorded it right from the floor and we let the sounds all come together and bleed into one another. It’s not contrived. Not too perfect. It just feels really good,” he explains.
Bublé’s last studio album, 2007’s “Call Me Irresponsible,” reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and has sold 1.9 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Here is the track list for “Crazy Love”:
“Cry Me A River”
“All Of Me”
“Georgia On My Mind”
“Crazy Love”
“Haven’t Met You Yet”
“All I Do Is Dream Of You”
“Hold On”
“Heartache Tonight”
You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You”
“Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)”
“At This Moment”
“Stardust”
“Whatever It Takes” (bonus track)
Certain voices stand like monuments upon the landscape of 20th century pop, defining the architecture of their times, sheltering the dreams of millions and inspiring the climbing careers of countless imitators. Whitney Houston owns one of those voices.
When she was at her best, nothing could match her huge, clean, cool mezzo-soprano — not Madonna’s canny chirp, not Bono’s stone church wail nor Bruce Springsteen’s ramshackle growl. No, it was Houston who best embodied the feminine but gym-toned, black-inspired but aspirationally post-racial sound of global crossover pop. Like a Trump skyscraper, Houston the singer was as showily dominant as corporate capitalism itself.
Then, like many a glorious edifice, Houston’s voice fell into disrepair. Drug abuse and a rocky marriage to New Jack jerk Bobby Brown made her a tabloid staple. More tragically (for listeners, at least), her excesses trashed her instrument, which age and normal wear and tear would have imperiled anyway.
The pain and, frankly, disgust that so many pop fans felt during Houston’s decline was caused not so much by her personal distress as by her seemingly careless treatment of the national treasure that happened to reside within her.
“I Look to You,” the singer’s comeback after nearly a decade of ignominy, is a costly renovation overseen by her mentor, Clive Davis, and enacted by the best craftspeople money can buy, including the producers Akon, Stargate and Nate “Danja” Hills and the songwriters Diane Warren and Alicia Keys. It’s not unsuccessful: This is a habitable set of songs. But there’s a limit to what Houston can accomplish, and operating within limits becomes the album’s overriding theme.
This happens beneath the music’s surface, which balances inspirational balladry with bubblicious club pop, as Houston’s music always has done. Houston’s songwriters and producers provide her with top-notch tools; she wields them cautiously and almost humbly, never falling because she never reaches too high.
The best giant ballad is the Warren-penned, David Foster-produced “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength,” an exhibition of battle scars that’s richer for the weary, injury-protecting quality of Houston’s vocal. If she does earn the Grammy she’s virtually been promised for a song from this set, it should be for this one.
R. Kelly’s contributions — the megachurchy title track and “Salute,” a sort of rewrite of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” — are less convincing, mostly because Houston can’t muster the giant ego that’s made similar songs golden for Kells himself.
On most of the album, platinum beats overshadow any vocal pyrotechnics, and Houston interacts with her backing tracks with the muscle memory of a dance-floor veteran. It’s rewarding when she really settles into her rougher midlife tone, especially on the Danja-produced “Nothin’ But Love,” perhaps the most pugnacious thank-you note ever recorded.
When she aims for sweet, as in the hooky “Worth It,” or spirited, as on the disco-fab climax of the Leon Russell cover “A Song for You,” she gets there with effort.
But should we begrudge the fact that Whitney Houston now has to work at singing? It’s all to her credit. What’s hard to give up is the dream of painless perfection that the young Houston represented, back in the yuppie era, when her voice sounded like the easy money that was flowing everywhere. Of course, that didn’t turn out so well for anyone else, either.
Though “I Look to You” doesn’t soar like the old days, it’s fine to hear Houston working on her own recovery plan.
First Single - The Bublé Penned “Haven’t Met You Yet” Hits Radio on Monday, August 31st
BURBANK, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–“Crazy Love,” Michael Bublé’s first CD in two and a half years featuring two original songs along with his always original take on 11 standards from various eras is scheduled to be released this Fall, October 13th, it was confirmed today by 143/Reprise Records.
The multi-Grammy winning artist hunkered down in recording studios in LA, Brooklyn, New York and his hometown of Vancouver for the last six months to make his “ultimate record about the inevitable roller coaster ride of relationships.” The first single, “Haven’t Met You Yet,” written by Bublé (with Alan Chang and Amy Foster) is scheduled to be released to radio on August 31st. Additional tunes on the album include “Cry Me A River,” “You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You,” “Georgia On My Mind” and “Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)” which was performed with Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings. The title song is a cover of the Van Morrison gem “Crazy Love.” The CD closes out with a haunting version of “Stardust” which is performed with the a cappella group Naturally 7. The album was produced by David Foster, Bob Rock and Humberto Gatica.
“I started this record knowing I was going to record it differently than my previous ones. I dug way deeper and was more introspective on this one. Basically, I sang the truth - made each song autobiographical - and you can definitely hear the difference. I went back to the way my idols made their records. I wanted an organic feel - so people could feel like they were in the studio with me. The musicians and I all sat in the room, recorded it right from the floor and we let the sounds all come together and bleed into one another. It’s not contrived. Not too perfect. It just feels really good,” commented Bublé on the recording process for “Crazy Love.”
Singer and songwriter Michael Bublé has sold over 22 million CDs worldwide. His previous CD, the Grammy winning “Call Me Irresponsible” (2007) was a number one album in over 15 countries. His 2005 CD “It’s Time” holds the record as the longest running title to remain on the Billboard Traditional Jazz charts - a full two years. It sat in the Number One position for over 80 weeks. He has had two Number One singles, “Everything” and “Home,” which was also a Number One hit for Blake Shelton on the Country charts.
MICHAEL BUBLÉ “CRAZY LOVE” TRACKLISTING:
Cry Me A River
All Of Me
Georgia On My Mind
Crazy Love
Haven’t Met You Yet*
All I Do Is Dream Of You
Hold On*
Heartache Tonight
You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
Baby (You’ve Got What It Takes)
At This Moment
Stardust
Whatever It Takes (bonus track)
NEW YORK - (Business Wire) Famed musical showman, producer and songwriter David Foster and some of his talented friends will be embarking on a 10-city tour of “David Foster and Friends” starting in Chicago on October 21st, including stops in New York, Boston, LA, Vancouver, Miami and other markets, it was confirmed today by Warner Bros. Records. In addition to such artists as Philip Bailey from the chart-topping Earth, Wind and Fire, Oprah protégé Charice, Chicago’s Peter Cetera and American Idol’s Michael Johns, fans can expect surprise visits at every show.
Foster, who has an unparalleled four-decade career producing, writing, discovering and nurturing some of the greatest talents in music, has added a special event to the “Foster and Friends Show” - a HIT MAN Talent Search for emerging artists that will take place in each city. Talent in each market will compete to be the next mega-artist by submitting video performances to NAMEDROP.COM. Following the pre-selection, radio and TV stations in their markets will air the selected video/audio clips and viewers/listeners will vote for the two finalists via station websites. The two finalists get to perform with Foster in front of a live audience during the Foster and Friends Concert. The audience and Foster will choose the final winner, who will be flown to Vancouver on November 8th for a final showdown in Foster’s home town.
With one of Hollywood’s most impressive phone books, Foster has yet to reveal which guests might visit him on stage during the tour. “Cher and Donny Osmond both surprised me in Las Vegas so I think people won’t be disappointed. I can certainly say each show will be very special and loads of fun. You never know what’s going to happen with this much talent on stage,” commented Foster who performed two sold out shows at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas recently.
Foster, a 15-time Grammy winner whose PBS Great Performances Special, “David Foster and Friends” was the highest pledged PBS show in history, will perform with his friends some of the hits that have paved the way for the many artists that he has worked with over the years, including Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Michael Bublé, Andrea Bocelli, Chaka Khan, Madonna, Chicago and The Corrs. Foster recently produced Seal’s critically acclaimed, “Soul” CD, Michael Bublé’s upcoming “Crazy Love” CD and a cut on Whitney Houston’s new CD. He is also in the studio with Oprah discovery Charice, who received five standing ovations during her recent performance in Las Vegas. David Foster’s current DVD/CD “Foster and Friends” is available on 143/Reprise Records.
Tour dates are as follows:
21-Oct Chicago, IL Wed Rosemont Theatre
23-Oct New York, NY Fri WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden
24-Oct Newark, NJ Sat Prudential Center
25-Oct Boston, MA Sun Agganis Arena
28-Oct Atlanta, GA Wed Fox Theatre
30-Oct Tampa, FL Fri St. Pete Times Forum
1-Nov Hollywood, FL Sun Hard Rock Live
5-Nov Los Angeles, CA Thur Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal City Walk
6-Nov San Jose, CA Fri HP Pavilion
8-Nov Vancouver, BC Sun General Motors Place
David Foster produced the song “Eternity” on Lionel Richie’s new album “Just Go”. The beautiful ballad was previously released on the “Yes We Can” official album.
Contante & Sonante ’s new release “Fly Away - the Songs of David Foster”, is now available for the japanese market including some changes in the tracklist.
Fly Away / The Songs of David Foster is produced and arranged by Tomi Malm and the concept has been to bring new life to some of the brighter gems in David Foster´s immense catalogue. Featuring a spectacular cast of vocalists, including Bill Champlin, Jeff Pescetto, Cecily Gardner, Robbie Dupree, Bill LaBounty, Joe Pizzulo, Ole Borud, Bill Cantos, Arnold McCuller, Frank Adahl, Lisa Lovbrand, and the unforgettable Warren Wiebe, backed-up by an elite group of studio musicians, including David Foster himself, Jay Graydon, John Robinson, Michael Landau, Paul Jackson Jr, Nathan East, Abe Laboriel, Neil Stubenhaus, Dan Warner, Jeremy Lubbock, Tollak Ollestad, Ramon Stagnaro, Brandon Fields and many others, this is a once-in-a-lifetime record that will not fail to live up to the expectations of the most demanding Foster fans.
In advance of the release of the full-length album, Contante & Sonante released a limited edition 3-song EP previewing two of the album’s songs, “In The Stone” and “No Explanation”, plus a BONUS TRACK,”After All”, performed by the soulful Leslie Smith, which is available only on this EP release.
CD track listing:
1. Prelude (Tomi Malm –feat. D. Foster)
2. In The Stone (Bill Champlin)
3. No Explanation (Bill LaBounty)
4. Jojo (Arnold McCuller)
5. The Colour Of My Love (Frank Adahl)
6. Heart To Heart (Jeff Pescetto)
7. Fly Away (Robbie Dupree)
8. Look What You’ve Done To Me (Cecily Gardner –feat D. Foster)
9. Through The Fire (Ole Borud)
10. The Best Of Me (Lisa Lovbrand)
11. Nothin’ You Can Do About It (Frank Adahl)
12. Whatever We Imagine (Bill Cantos)
13. When Will The World Be Like Lovers (J. Pescetto, R. Dupree, B. Cantos, A. McCuller, J. Pizzulo and F. Adahl)
14. Live Each Day (Warren Wiebe)
The Japanese version (out on May 20th by JVC/Victor) includes different tracks than the EU release. Adahl’s “Colour of My Love” is replaced by Courtney Blooding’s version, feat. Robbie Buchanan and Ole Borud’s version on “Through The Fire” is done by Joe Pizzulo. Additionally there’ll be a bonus track, “For Just a Moment -theme from St. Elmo’s Fire” sung by Danish Bjarne Langhoff.
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