release date: May 14, 2004
format: digital
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Luciano Luisi & Zucchero
label: Polydor - nationality: Italy
10th studio album by Zucchero following 2½ years after Shake (May 2001) is simply released under his shortened moniker 'Zucchero'. In terms of new material, this is not a traditional album of brand new compositions and on the other hand it's no real compilation either. It's the revisit to Zucchero's back catalog featuring guest artists and with new musical arrangements, and NOT produced by Corrado Rustici, which already makes it a different release. Rustici is credited as producer on two tracks, Mousse T., Simon Climie and Toby Baker all on one track respectively. The album contains 18 tracks and 18 "guest stars" all of which perform "duets" (Miles Davis is the only guest artist as instrumental artist). In track order, the featuring guests are: Miles Davis, Sting, Vanessa Carlton, Mousse T., Macy Gray, Maná, John Lee Hooker, Sheryl Crow, Dolores O'Riordan, Eric Clapton, Tom Jones, B.B. King, Ronan Keating, Cheb Mami, Solomon Burke, Paul Young, Brian May, and Luciano Pavarotti & Andrea Bocelli.
The album is pretty good, even if you happen to know the original tracks because these are new interpretations, except "Senza una donna" (feat. Paul Young), which is as good as it comes in the old familiar version.
Zucchero & Co. does not stir up Zucchero's image but basically, once again, show the international star he has grown into. Over the past decade and more, he has performed with established artists all over the world and he has become Italy's biggest national and international rock star, so in that respect the album only documents his star quality. And in his discography the album marks a fine contribution as a new musical perspective without introducing a stylistic revolution.
All in all a fine album.
