Every month, the folks at JAZZIZ magazine send us a box of their recent issue, which we in turn give out to the public at various events throughout the course of the year. Most of us in the office take a minute to look through the issue to see what's going on in the world of jazz.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I tend to have strong thoughts on most everything, and jazz press certainly falls into that category. Imagine the shock and horror that was on my face when I opened the new box of JAZZIZ to find Michael Buble on the cover with the line "Michael Buble's Cool." To the left, there was a small headline: "Nat King Cole and his baby brother Freddy."

Where should I begin on what's wrong with this picture?

First, let me give you a little history. When Buble's first record came out, I was working for WSIE-FM and received the record there. I put it on, heard the Quincy Jones/Basie Band arrangement of "Fly Me To The Moon" begin and everything was good. Then came the voice: no soul, no swing, no phrasing, no positive feeling of any kind. I could only take about 10 seconds of this before I stopped the CD, picked the phone up and called the record company to verbally express my outrage. The record promoter I talked to, who remains a dear friend of mine, said "yeah, we kind of thought you'd react that way."

I was insulted on numerous levels at this ridiculous attempt at the Great American Songbook. First, the audacity to put this record out on Reprise, Sinatra's label, had me fuming. Second, that the record company used the charts that Quincy wrote for Frank and the Basie Band further insulted me.

In the coming years, Buble's popularity has skyrocketed, and he's more successful than anyone else singing the Great American Songbook (except maybe Rod Stewart, but don't even get me started on that). I hear people all the time talk about how much they like his music, and I try to just walk away, so as not to offend anyone. I've even had patrons at the Bistro talk about how much they like his singing. Again, I just politely disagree and try not to get into any lengthy conversation about the subject.

So to see one of the few supposed "jazz" periodicals put him on the cover as the "guiding light" for new jazz vocalists makes me cringe. Even more insulted was I when I saw the smaller mention of Nat & Freddy Cole on the cover. On his best day, Michael Buble will never come close to Freddy Cole. Cole could have the flu with almost no voice and he'd still wipe the floor with the kid.

But I guess having Michael Buble on the cover sells more magazines.

This holiday season, if someone on your gift list is a Michael Buble fan, go buy them a Freddy Cole record. Think of it as a gift for both of you..