CD/DVD Review
Artist: Josh Groban
CD/DVD: Josh Groban: Awake Tour, Live in Salt Lake City
Directed by: Hamish Hamilton
Label: Reprise Records, Warner Music
Released: May 6^th 2008 

4 ½ Stars 

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey (Ontario Correspondent - Canada) 

On average DVDs of concerts seems to me a cheap knock off, like watching baseball on TV. When you go to watch sports live it can be thrilling, but I never grasped the concept of sports on TV, as with concerts on DVD. Of course, Josh Groban tends to test my limitations on such matters, as he is such a delightful artist to watch on screen or in person. I reviewed the Awake Tour in February of 2007 and it almost kicked the Prince concert I once saw off its top spot; Groban has a natural personability with his audience, not to mention stunning vocals that never let a fan down when heard live. So the Awake DVD and Live CD might just be the turning point of my concert on DVD philosophy; I might even start a collection!   

The DVD is in essence, the concert, in its purest and most direct form. What I appreciated, by comparison, was how meticulous Groban and his crew are to the details, which made the Salt Lake City concert equally as magnanimous and exciting as the one I saw live; consistency like that is indeed a virtue. From the pulsating introduction of You Are Loved (Don't Give Up) to the encore performances of Canto Alla Vita, You Raise Me Up, and Awake, Josh Groban`s Awake Tour is as memorable live as it is on DVD!

A few spectacular moments seen on stage was Lucia Micarelli`s Aurora/Kashmir montage on the violin; I swear that woman could change the course of nature when she plays the violin. Her intensity and focus is as compelling and mesmerizing as standing in front of the Mona Lisa. Another great moment is Groban`s duet with Angelique Kidjo, the song made mildly famous by Sade (but perhaps one of her best songs to date) ‘Pearls' is about a poor woman in Somalia and connecting as a listener with her plight. Groban and Kidjo sing ‘Pearls' with such earnest compassion that the emotion ripples through the audience. I was grateful to have these moments captured on DVD.   

I wouldn't say I was overwhelmed with excitement at the Live CD, but it added great value to the customers purchase, which is always pleasing. Two documentary type features follow Groban on his Awake tour, one shows the making of the Live DVD. Those who enjoy Josh's humour, and affinity for Sweeney (fans know who I mean!) will enjoy the extra snippets of footage. 

It is easy for me to say that Josh Groban is one of the greatest singers and songwriters of our time, which we appear to have a short supply of these days; competing with the likes of JT or Jay-Z is perhaps no challenge at all? But, Groban does stand to compare against those standout performers throughout history that do stand the test of time. In fact, the Awake DVD/CD In Salt Lake City is simply a moment captured in a long and ever evolving career that will be remembered as timeless.  

DVD:
You Are Loved (Don`t Give Up)
Mai
Un Dia Llegara
Un Giorno Per Noi
Now Or Never
So She Dances
February Song
Alla Luce Del Sole
Aurora (Lucia Micarelli)
Kashmir (Lucia Micarelli)
In Her Eyes
Pearls (duet with Angelique Kidjo)
L ‘Ultima Notte
Remember When It Rained
Lullaby
Weeping
Machine
Encore:
Canto Alla Vita
You Raise Me Up
Awake
 

CD:
Mai
February Song
In Her Eyes
So She Dances
Un Dia Llegara
Pearls (duet with Angelique Kidjo)
Weeping
Machine
Awake 

Special Features: ‘The Making Of Awake Live' and ‘Behind The Big Orange Curtain'