ONE SHOT - MARIO VAZQUEZ
It took a dogged 18 weeks for “American Idol” fourth-season fugitive Mario Vazquez’s debut, “Gallery,” to reach its No. 6 destination on mainstream top 40 radio, confirming that the soulful singer had legs beyond his (limited) standing with America’s top-rated TV show. Second single “One Shot” is reminiscent of the previous effort, but this time Vazquez’s vocal is looser, wrapped around a less exacting instrumental track, allowing him to improvise more than within the tight production of Ne-Yo’s co-written/produced “Gallery.” Pop producer Lester Mendez (Wyclef Jean, Nelly Furtado, Jewel) gives the singer plenty of room to be himself. Vazquez proves to the masses what he appears to have recognized by the time he quit “Idol” some time ago … With a little help from friends at a major label, cream ultimately rises to the top.(Arista Records) Billboard
