[.ca] Italia [CD+DVD]

From Amazon.com:
If Dean Martin had lived to hear Chris Botti's spin on "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," the song he recorded with characteristic suavity in 1957, crooning might have given way to swooning--like the other 11 tracks on Italia, Botti's tribute to Italy, it's long on lushness and suffused with the genre-busting sweep that's made the trumpeter a household name. Botti's interpretative gift, as displayed on earlier discs such as 2004's When I Fall in Love, is a life-giving thing: What once was charming becomes captivating, and what once was standard becomes respectfully rebuilt for inter-generational appreciation. Italia casts its spell over compositions that yield to him especially well--"Deborah's Theme" from "Once Upon a Time in America" and "Gabriel's Oboe" from "The Mission" get new richness, and "Ave Maria" melts the heart anew. The Paula Cole turn on "The Very Thought of You" scores for its understated vocal, but the newly composed title track, with Andrea Bocelli, may be the album's most gripping; it's a double dose of sophistication shot up with vision and grace. -Tammy La Gorce

Mood Music:
This was fabulous. I am now a Botti fan. This is a great CD to give for a Christmas present as it appeals to everyone, no matter their taste in music. I personally have found it to be perfect background music for ahem...getting in the mood.

• Once Upon a Time in America/Deborah's Theme
• Italia
• Venice
• Very Thought of You
• Mission/Gabriel's Oboe
• I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
• Caruso
• Way You Look Tonight
• It Never Entered My Mind
• Ave Maria
• Estaté
• Turandot/Nessun Dorma