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Charito: Heal The World

By C. Michael Bailey
June 23, 2011
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Track review of "I’ll Be There"

Michael Jackson tribute discs are inevitable. Every stripe will be conceived and performed, from the sublime to the truly frightening. Chiming in at the front of the former line is Charito's excellent Heal The World. The Japan-based singer is best known for her successful string of recordings begun in the early 1990s. Her singing is plush and near perfect, well-suited for a contemporary repertoire like the Michael Jackson songbook. Produced by Harvey Mason, who also plays drums, Heal The World may define the idea of adult contemporary (jazz) vocals.

Charito's philosophy in approaching Jackson's music is to do so respectfully and with class. She imbues the Jackson Five classic "I'll Be There" with copious amounts of both. Using only a rhythm section and no solo instruments, Charito brings her pitch-perfect voice front and center, singing with a sweetness honoring the original in a way that makes this disc a true celebration of a talent that will be remembered long after his death. For its intentions, Heal The World may be the most perfect vocal recording of the year.

Track Listing

Rock With You; Man In The Mirror; Human Nature; Remember The Time; He's Out Of My Life; I Can't Help It; I'll Be There; Never Can Say Goodbye; Ease On Down The Road; Heal The World.

Personnel

Charito

vocals

Charito: vocals; Jeff Babko: keyboards (1, 9); Micheal Rufff: keyboards, synthesizers, keyboard bass, background vocals (2-8, 10), clavinet (1); Hubert Laws: flute (6); Chuck Manning: tenor saxophone (2, 3); Nils Langren: trombone (6); Brian Bromberg: acoustic bass (1, 3, 7, 9); Jimmy Johnson: bass (2, 10); Abe Laboriel: bass (4, 6); Harvey Mason: drums, vibes (1), percussion (2, 4, 5, 8); background vocals (9); Walter Rodriguez: percussion (6); Jeff Caldwell: background vocals (3, 6).

Album information

Title: Heal The World | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Zoho Music

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