When I Fall in Love - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
This is not the typical example of an artist from another genre jumping on the crowded standards-and-ballads bandwagon. When I Fall in Love instead represents an instrumental stylist busting out of a box to find a much more suitable platform for his craft. These tracks are the fruits of an obvious labor of love for everyone from the featured musicians to the arrangers to the engineers. The arrangers, particularly Billy Childs and Gil Goldstein, give Botti's trumpet a broad-brushed orchestral backdrop that allows him to emerge from the swirling strings and bouncy horns with bold strokes of creative improvising. Some tracks are obvious nods to Gil Evans and the lush arrangements of 1970s CTI recordings. Even the guest vocalists, Sting and Paula Cole, let his trumpet sing first before their respective cues on "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets" and "What'll I Do." The only blemish here is the obvious attempt at smooth jazz airplay with Sade's "No Ordinary Love." --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews: Read 100 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Slow Burn October 13, 2004
113 out of 119 found this review helpful

The best way to describe what I hear when I listen to Chris Botti is a slow burn. The whole cd simmers with soft but intense sensuality. This is my favorite kind of music: exceptional melodies, respected and true to their origin but uniquely interpreted by extraordinary combinations of understated but undeniable arrangements. The traditional orchestral sounds are sophisticated and fresh creating a tapestry of genuine, gentle jazz sounds (try "My Romance" to understand what I mean). These standards he chose to include are truly some of my most favorite melodies of all time and he gives each song so much controlled passion it's delectable. The combinations of bass and trumpet for "What'll I Do?" could not be more perfect. "Let's Fall in Love," is swinging and true to Big Band reverence but Chris's interpretation is strikingly original. Sting's "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets" is the single to release with it's lush, latin mood. The unaffected vocals of Paula Cole are a well chosen compliment to Botti's exceptional talent as is the keyboard genius of pianist Billy Childs.

Listen for Chris's spectacular jazz trumpet in guest appearances on other cd's (for example on Renee Olstead's new cd) as well.

If you thought "Thousand Kisses Deep" was one of the best cd's last year (I did too) wait until you hear this one! Chris was just getting warmed up. This is the cd that maximizes all of his talent. The entire production is fabulous. One of my favorite top 5 releases of '04.

4 out of 5 stars

Lush and romantic (i.e., make-out music) September 28, 2004
78 out of 92 found this review helpful

This isn't the most fantastic jazz-trumpet-standards CD I've ever heard - that distinction belongs to something like Clifford Brown With Strings - but it's still a real solid effort from Chris Botti. His tones on these songs are as clear and pure as a mountain spring, and the song selection is well designed for those who want to get "in the mood for love." I like the fact that there's a mix of traditional standards and more modern romantic songs. Thus Sting's "No Ordinary Love" appears right after "What'll I Do?" and so on. I think Botti has been unfairly labeled as a "Smooth Jazz" artist (a now ultra-bland subgenre that no self-respecting musician wants to be a part of - although they'll gladly take the sales...). Certainly on this album his backing is more likely to satisfy classic jazz fans - no funky rhythm section and synthesized dance beats, just an orchestra, big band or acoustic ensemble. And his straight-out horn blowing on songs such "Let's Fall In Love" (cool jazz riffs) should earn him a measure of respect.

5 out of 5 stars

Botti and LSO make a great combo! October 1, 2004
25 out of 28 found this review helpful

After his "A Thousand Kisses Deep" CD, Botti has tried something new...or rather, older. Gone is the drum programming that regularly shows up in contemporary jazz these days (but drum programming is not a bad thing IMO), and Chris goes for a more "old school" jazz sound. With tracks like "Let's Fall in Love" and "Make Someone Happy", I feel like I should be in a dark lounge having a cocktail, with the playful and upbeat bass against Botti's trumpet. Sort of Diana Krall-ish.

Paula Cole scores a goal with her vocals on "What'll I Do". Nice tuneage, too. Cole also performs on "How Love Should Be".

It's nice to hear Sting on "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets", but damn, I don't know French ;).

But my favorite thing about this CD, other than Botti's trumpet, is the London Session Orchestra. As the sticker on the CD says, "Every great romance needs a soundtrack", and the LSO provides that "soundtrack" type feeling (y'know, those stickers on the cover..."13 tracks, including...") and it's just lovely, as evidenced by "My Romance", "Cinema Paradiso", "Time to Say Goodbye" and "Someone to Watch Over Me".

Speaking of "Someone to Watch Over Me", it's easily my favorite tune on the disc. Botti's last note sent a shiver down my spine. You go, boy!

The only tune that didn't knock my socks off on the disc; Botti's cover of Sade's "No Ordinary Love". I love the original tune, but for some reason, it just didn't grab me like the rest of the CD did.

That's ok, though. I'm biased, and I love Botti's stuff, and this is no exception. I also give Chris credit for trying something different from his previous material.

Will contemporary jazz lovers enjoy it? Hard to tell. But they'll be missing out on some great music. I advise they just be ready for something unlike "Thousand Kisses Deep" or "Night Sessions", but to take in the lush mood Botti sets here.

5 out of 5 stars

The boy has CHOPS! October 11, 2004
24 out of 28 found this review helpful

I have enjoyed Chris' other recordings -- "Slowing Down THe World" is my personal favorite -- and his other work with other artists. With this cd I can't help but get the feeling that Botti wanted to exercise his "musical muscle". He can simply flat out play. He's got the chops.

I hope people will sit down and listen to it and not dismiss it as the usual "smooth jazz" shlock that has clogged the airwaves these days. WHEN I FALL IN LOVE is soo much more than that!
THere are no slick and cool beats accompanying CHris. (except for his verson of ORDINARY LOVE -- which is ok) THis is beautiful, and lush and as "straight ahead" jazz as you're going to hear these days. Smooth jazz stations may not know what to do with this cd.

All of these jazz standards get Chris full and beautiful tone ... his expression is flawless. The best tune on the cd is ONE FOR MY BABY. I can feel the vibe of the smokey bar, and the dirty bar glasses, and the familiar ring of "last call!" After hearing that one I was speechless. You just don't hear beauty like that anymore. CHris' version of TIME TO SAY GOODBYE reminds you that angels can play the trumpet.

If you're looking for a lush and romantic collection of jazz standards be sure to include this in your collection. Chris Botti will break your heart and then mend it with this cd.

2 out of 5 stars

When I Fall Asleep March 1, 2005
24 out of 35 found this review helpful

In the end it's all about music. We can argue for months and months about smooth jazz vs traditional jazz, about Chris vs. Wynton or Sandoval and it will be very hard, if not impossible to get to an agreement. I honestly have been completely unimpressed with this CD from they day I bought it. The overall experience as an album is so inconsistent and plain boring that it has failed to get my attention despite many attempts to do it.

Here is why this album fails short from my perspective:

1- If you want to enjoy good trumpet playing with interesting dynamics, range and passionate execution, look elsewhere (Isn't Mr. Botti a trumpet player after all?). Chris does a good job at creating beautiful music, but does so by taking almost no risks -- just take beautiful songs and provide an overly orchestrated musical production to make it sound nice.
2- If you are looking for integrity in the selection of the standards, look elsewhere. The album has a very inconsistent selection of tracks,and in many, many cases Mr. Botti's interpretation does not add much to the classics. For example, Cinema Paradiso comes across smooth, but isn't this a virtue of Morricone's classic?. Mr. Botti adds very little to make the interpretation of the classics a remarkable one. If there is no value add other than a nice production of the classics -- then how is this different from the many other CDs that follow this simple recipe for commercial sucess?
3- The addition of Sade's No Ordinary Love is a disaster by itself. Mr Botti's interpretation is so cheesy and boring that it represents a fatal flaw by itself, damaging the credibility of the whole album.
4- The album has a few good tracks and in my opinion, in this case its much better to buy the good tracks separately as the album itself offers very little value add. If you want to follow this I recommend to purchase: "What'll do", "La Belle Dame Sans Regret" and "When I Fall in Love".

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