Erin Boheme is an American jazz and traditional pop singer. Ms. Boheme released her debut cd, What Love Is, in 2006 for the Concord Jazz label when she was just twenty years old. What Love Is was a tasteful collection of mostly romantic ballads, both originals and covers, that put the spotlight on Boheme’s delicate and soulful voice. The young singer delivered some heartfelt, impressive performances throughout the record. An A-list of gifted musicians/arrangers and producers were included. Some of the music giants included Mike Melvoin, Vinnie Colaiuta, Tom Scott, Billy Childs, Brian Bromberg and David Foster who played some bluesy acoustic piano on “Make You Happy” and “Let Me Make The Most Of A Beautiful Thing.”

Among the producers of What Love Is was the talented Mark Portmann, a former member of veteran fusion group The Rippingtons. Portmann released three nice contemporary jazz solo albums and eventually became a respected film composer. In the early nineties, Portmann gravitated into Foster’s circle of collaborators. Portmann even appeared on productions for Julio Iglesias, Paul Anka, Barbra Streisand and Josh Groban. What happened to What Love Is?  Quite inexplicably, given its huge potential, What Love Is left only a trace of it’s brilliance with a quick appearance on Billboard’s Jazz chart before fading away.

Then 2013 comes along. Ms. Boheme recorded her sophomore cd entitled What A Life that was produced by her good friend and international jazz/pop superstar, Michael Bublé. With the help of Alan Chang, his musical director, Bublé crafted a beautiful collection of songs for the singer that were musically and sonically inspired by his work in the studio with Foster. Bublé took the young singer away from the slow, jazzy feel of her debut cd and guided her into his familiar world of sophisticated pop atmospheres. Many tracks were originals, co-penned by Ms. Boheme, with a few, select covers. Among those covers was “The Last Time,” a gorgeous ballad originally sung by Eric Benet who co-wrote it with Foster and his daughter Amy. Compared to Foster’s smooth and elegant production for Benet, this cute, upbeat version takes the song into a different musical territory with its finger-snapping arrangement and feel-good atmospheric sounds. “The Last Time” rewrite could have been included on any of Bublé’s chart-topping releases. On this project, the singer again delivers a string of impressive performances and her voice sounds better than ever. What A Life includes other catchy moments like two sweet ballads, “He Isn’t You” and “One More Try.” Both songs are beautiful and co-written with Chang. “The Last Time” was, without a doubt, one of Foster’s best songwriting efforts in the new millennium. You can check out the past review of Benet’s original in the archives. 

Listen

• Lead Vocals: Erin Boheme
• Keyboards: Alan Chang
• Guitar: Dino Meneghin
• Bass: Craig Polasko
• Drums: Robb Perkins

• Produced by Michael Bublé
• Co-Produced by Alan Chang

Lyrics

The first time I fell in love was long ago
I didn’t know how to give my love at all
The next time I’ve settle for what felt so close
But without romance you’ll never gonna fall

After everything I’ve learned
Now it’s finally my turn
This is the last time I fall in love

The first time we walked under that starry sky
There was a moment when everything was clear
And I didn’t need to ask or even wonder why
Because each question is answered when you need

I’m wise enough to know
When a miracle unfolds
This is the last time I fall in love

Now don’t hold back just let me know
Could I be moving much too fast
Or way too slow

‘Cause all of my life I’ve waited for this day
To find that once in a lifetime
Well this is it, I’m never gonna be the same

Well you’ll never know what’s taken me
To say these words
And now that I said them
They could never be enough

As far as I can see
There’s only you and only me
And this is the last time I fall in love

‘Cause all of my life I’ve waited for this day
To find that once in a lifetime
Well this is it, I’m never gonna be the same

Said you’ll never know what’s taken me
To say these words
And now that I’ve said them
Will never be enough

‘Cause as far as I can see
There’s only you and only me
And this is the last time I fall in love

This is the last time I fall
This is the last time I fall in love
This is the last time
The last time I’m gonna fall in
I’m gonna fall in love
The last time, the last time
I’m gonna fall in love