Joe Barbieri: Respiro

Joe Barbieri

Possessing an elegant and romantic sophistication reminiscent of Michael Bublé, the music of Italian vocalist Joe Barbieri should find a ready audience in the North American market. In recent years, Barbieri's musical popularity has been rising fast in Italy, winning over a legion of fans. Barbieri's new album Respiro was recorded in Naples in an apartment used by Vittorio de Sica for scenes from two of his most important films - Matrimonio all'italiana and L'Oro di Napoli. Given the cinematic quality of Barbieri's songs, this detail is more than a mere anecdote. The album features selections from Barbieri's two original studio albums and its musical flavors run the gamut from smooth jazz to bossa nova to Italian pop. Backed by a stellar team of side men, Respiro exemplifies the best of cocktail jazz (flavored with a dash of world music) and its gentle ebb and flow are nothing short of intoxicating.

Price: $19.98