Awake

Performer: Josh Groban
Artist: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Engineer: Humberto Gatica; Marius De Vries; Tawgs Salter; David Channing; Gary Thomsa; Jochem van der Saag; Imogen Heap; John Brough; Scott Campbell; Alejandro Rodriguez; Humberto Gatica; Alejandro Rodriguez
Producer: Eric Mouquet; Josh Groban; Humberto Gatica; Glen Ballard; David Foster; Marius De Vries; Tawgs Salter; Imogen Heap; Eric Mouquet; Glen Ballard; Marius De Vries; David Foster
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Josh Groban (piano, keyboards, drums, background vocals); Josh Groban; Bakithi Kumalo (vocals); Tawgs Salter (guitar, piano, keyboards, programming, keyboard programming); Dean Parks, Roman Stagnaro, Michael Hart Thompson , Joel Shearer, Michael Thompson, Vincent Nguini, Robbie McIntosh (guitar); Chris Elliott (dulcimer, piano); Fiona Hibbert (harp); James Freebarin-Smith (cello); Tower of Power (brass); Greg Adams, Greg Vail, Lee Thornburg, Nick Lane, Tom Scott (horns); Imogen Heap (piano, programming); Walter Afanasieff (piano); Eric Mouquet, Glen Ballard, Sean Hurley, David Foster (keyboards); Jochem van der Saag (synthesizer, programming); Frank Ricotti (vibraphone, percussion); Nathan East (bass guitar); Anton Fig, Ian Thomas (drums); Kaitlyn Barton (tambourine); Blair Sinta (percussion); Jason Boshoff, Alexis Smith (programming); Anna Ross, Vusi Mahlasela, Susie Suh (background vocals); Tim Pierce (guitar); Marius de Vries (piano, keyboards, programming); Matt Chamberlain, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Audio Mixers: Humberto Gatica; Imogen Heap; Andy Bradfield; Alejandro Rodriguez . Recording information: Angel Studio; Chartmaker Studios; EMM Studio France; Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA; Paramount Scoring Stage; Paramount Studios, LA; Sony Studios, New York, NY; The Hideaway, London, England; The High window, Hollywood, CA; The Refinery, Johannesberg, South Africa; The Salt Room, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; The Strongroom, London, England; The Studio At The Sunset Marquis; Westlake Audio, Hollywood, CA; Westlake Studios, LA. Editor: William Malina. Photographer: Christian Lantry. Arrangers: Eric Mouquet; Josh Groban; David Foster; Tawgs Salter; William Ross . Expectations for vocalist Josh Groban's third release ran high, especially given the phenomenal success of his sophomore effort, CLOSER, which reached number one on the Billboard charts. Like Andrea Bocelli, Groban treads the line between classical, operatic singing, and crossover pop. AWAKE manages the synthesis beautifully. With its strong batch of songs, and Groban's voice continuing to develop, the album may even best its predecessor. Opener "Mai," sung in Italian, sets the tone for the album. Highly romantic, stirring, and couched in tasteful orchestral arrangements, the song is the perfect canvas for Groban's heart-melting delivery. "February Song," which finds the artist accompanied only by piano, is more reserved and plaintive. Other album highlights include "Machine," with a funky, jazzy backdrop provided by Herbie Hancock, and "Lullaby" and "Weeping," which feature the South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mombazo.

Part of a wave of classical-pop crossover artists around the turn of the century (Charlotte Church, Bond, Andrea Bocelli), Josh Groban achieved massive worldwide success straight out of the gate with his 2001 debut album. In fact, he veers considerably closer to pop than the aforementioned artists (can you picture Andrea Bocelli tackling Ultravox's "Vienna?"), but maintains enough of a classical/opera comportment and flavoring to appeal to stragglers on either side of the fence. His photogenic appearance and acting experience don't hurt his popularity either.

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