World Gospel Jam 2007

Gospel in the Blues

By Sonja Hanisch
With kind permission of The Spectrum

Gospel and Blues are like siblings. They have been linked from birth and have influenced each other, at times shaping and borrowing musical styles, influences and artists from each other. They hold the title of being the two musical forms that have the power to move us in ways no other music can.

It was the music of the church that nurtured the majority of our Black American Blues singers. Ray Charles, Buddy Guy, John Hurt were all raised on gospel. And so it is fitting that Ottawa’s 9th Annual Gospel festival, the World Gospel Jam, is found in the middle of Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest.

While the blues generally laments life’s burdens, the purpose of gospel is to make the spirit soar. Gospel has the ability to liberate and lift the listener out from under life’s problems and offer the solution of hope, encouragement and praise. Gospel music is more than an art form; it is in fact a spiritual and life changing experience.

And the need to lift spirits is exactly how the World Gospel Jam was born.

Nine years ago, Mark S. Gordon was involved with the choir at Ottawa’s Cornerstone House of Refuge Apostolic Church. He was moved by a need for the Cornerstone Choir to evangelize to the community and felt that a musical festival was the obvious choice. Bluesfest seemed the best fit for a Gospel choir. Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest Executive Director Mark Monahan agreed.

So the siblings were reunited. The event has grown from one or two performers in 1998 to this 2007 World Gospel Jam lineup that boasts eight performances. Mr. Gordon is now the Community Consultant and Gospel Programming Agent of Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest. The presenting sponsor this year is Compassion International and the July 14th 2007 World Gospel Jam promises to bring the community - converted or not - together in inspirational fashion.

Judging by the lineup, World Gospel Jam will do just that. This year’s event is billed as having something for everyone, with artists coming from a wide range of musical genres and ethnic backgrounds.