Buble Show is Filled With Talent and Style

By Preston Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Mar. 3–GRAND PRAIRIE — The spirit of the Rat Pack is alive and well in the body of Michael Buble.

Quick with a joke, nimble at covering jazz standards and possessed of a stylish flair that would make Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra stand up and cheer, Buble consistently wowed a sold-out audience Sunday night at Nokia Theatre.

His brisk, 105-minute set fit like an impeccably tailored suit, all crisp edges and devastating cool; Buble’s sound heavily favors jazz, but he doesn’t shy away from reaching out to pop, soft rock and even the blues. Some of the most engaging moments — covers of Willie Nelson’s Always on My Mind or Nina Simone’s scorching Feeling Good — revealed a true performer, rather than simply a charismatic vocalist.

It’s an important distinction to make, because flashy video screens and amped-up choreography are what pass for genuine audience-artist chemistry these days. Buble’s charm and gentle handling of a very vocal, passionate crowd (hopping down from the stage midset to pose for photographs, for instance) was as impressive as his soaring, muscular takes on staples like Sinatra’s I’ve Got the World on a String or Peggy Lee’s Fever.

Backed by an explosive, nuanced horn octet and a five-piece band, Buble effortlessly moved between moods upbeat and solemn; the evening’s set list leaned most heavily on his latest album, Call Me Irresponsible and revealed the 32-year-old Canadian crooner’s tentative forays into full-blown pop balladry (current single Lost), straying from the fizzy, cocktail-hour vibe that has been his bread and butter to date.

This review wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Buble’s sensational opening act, Naturally 7. This New York City-based a cappella septet was nothing short of amazing; with various members creating eerie vocal copies of a bass guitar, drum kit, electric guitar and DJ turntables, the group rendered Phil Collins’ In the Air Tonight as I’ve never heard it before. An organic wonder — hey, Buble himself called ‘em “un-stinkin’-believable” — they are one of the most unique acts to hit North Texas in some time.

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