BWW Reviews: Ramin Karimloo Sings Broadway to Bluegrass at Sterling's, Opening His Newest US Tour
On Sunday evening April 21 singer/actor Ramin Karimloo best known to UK audiences for his stellar performances as the Phantom in both The Phantom of the Opera and its sequel Love Never Dies, made his Los Angeles cabaret debut at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal in Broadway to Bluegrass. Since this concert was sold out from the onset, two more performances were added, Sunday matinee of the 21st and tonight, Monday evening April 22. With such growing popularity from his theatre work and recordings, it seems obvious that Karimloo will be a household name before too long in the US as well in Europe. Personable, warm and deeply grounded, the performer loves country music, rock and pop as well as Broadway and conceived Broadway to Bluegrass as a means of displaying all of his musical tastes. He also told me that a cabaret concert should have more to offer than just the songs from roles you've played. He wants his audience to get to know, not the Phantom or Valjean, but Ramin Karimloo.
Well, Karimloo, to satisfy all fans' favorites, did both... his way... in full Bluegrass style backed by terrific musicians StEve Young, vocals and guitar, Sergio Ortega, guitar, mandolin, banjo and vocals, and Owen Stephens on bass, vocals and stomp box (providing the sound of the bass drum) in a jubilant 75-minute set. As he proclaimed, it's the year of "Les Mis and the banjo", so he essayed three numbers from the show, bluegrass style: "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables", "Bring Him Home" and as part of his encore "People's Song". More traditional at the mic was "Bring Him Home" done so evocatively by Karimloo's rich voice that there was literally not a dry eye in the room. Also from Broadway was his classic "Music of the Night" from Phantom and from Chess, the gorgeous "Anthem". "I bet you've never heard it quite like that before", he said proud of his bluegrass arrangements for the number. After all, Bluegrass and Broadway songs both tell stories, so they go together quite naturally, like bread and butter. To say that Karimloo has perhaps one of the best baritone/tenor voices onstage is an understatement. He should be a great big Broadway star. Hopefully, this is right around the next corner for him. He is also friendly onstage but with little chatter, keeping his focus on the music at hand.
There were several songs from his album Human Heart (in the US and titled Ramin as an import from Japan): Don Mescall's "Constant Angel", Karimloo's own compositions "Broken" co-written with Hadley Fraser, and the beautiful "Show Me Light", co-authored with Mescall. He also offered his newest "Traveler's Eyes", "Losing" and "Stems of Hope". All the originals are not only hauntingly melodic but are rich in storytelling about the optimistic bonds of love. As encore, Karimloo sang Mumford and Sons' "Reminder", followed by what he called the genesis of his Bluegrass show the classic traditional "Down to the River and Pray" followed by "People's Song" by Schonberg and Boubil from Les Mis.
Karimloo will tour Texas, Philly, Mass and New York over the next month and then back to Japan in June and then on to Canada in September to portray his favorite role that of Jean Valjean in Les Mis. He's a brilliant performer with a golden set of pipes that you do not want to miss.
Check his website for concert tour schedule:
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