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.

This is a reflection of the growth and popularity of Gospel. Says Gordon, “Today, all musical genres are represented in Gospel. The one unifying feature is that it is all inspirational and uplifting.”

So who is representing?

Well, hip-hop gets covered big-time by artists, Da’ T.R.U.T.H. and Richie Righteous who bring holy hip-hop to the stage. Da' T.R.U.T.H.’s most recent CD, The Faith was recently nominated for a 2007 Stellar Award for CD of the Year. He has shared the stage with biggies like Mary Mary, Tye Tribbett and Bishop T.D. Jakes. Kirk Franklin has referred to his music as “a perfect marriage between the streets and the soul”.

American and Guyanese artist Richie Righteous is described as a rapper who “spits for the great ‘I AM’ and is on a mission to flood the market with the Gospel.” One listen to his songs and you’ll see why.

The Caribbean Islands are also represented by Bajan Ryan Lewis performing Neo-Soul, Gospel (if you need that broken down, Gordon calls him “the Usher of Canadian Gospel music”), and the Haitian group the Choir of Prophecy, which sings contemporary Gospel in English, French and Haitian Creole. Soul Influence is the acappella septet which performs Gospel music with a West and South African flavour.

Then are four groups for those who like to keep it old school. Check out The Canton Spirituals, the American Gospel Quartet who are along the lines of the Mighty Clouds of Joy, and the Blind Boys of Alabama. Gordon swears that these old guys can “get down with the young and keep it real for the older generation. Mama would love to see Canton.”

Then there is soloist Patricia Shirley who is not to be missed. While you may not know the name, Gordon avers that this woman “can sing the big names back under their bedcovers”. Want proof? She has performed with people like Hezekiah Walker, BeBe and CeCe Winans, P. Diddy and Celine Dion.

Finally, no Gospel festival would be complete without a mass choir. When the Toronto Mass Choir takes the stage even the hardest of hearts is guaranteed to soar. Replete in their robes and singing gospel like we grew up hearing it, the power of this Juno Award winning choir will make your feet move and your spirit dance.

If this list of performers isn’t enough to get you there, the price will. In keeping with the aim of bringing the community together, Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest has given a number of community groups and charitable organizations $20.00 day passes to sell and the group gets to keep the proceeds of half of each ticket sold. In addition, they are offering free vending space to these groups. Gordon is proud of the event’s benevolent side saying “That’s what fellowship is about. That’s what community is about.”

World Gospel Jam is a music festival for the entire family. You can appreciate how hard a bill that is to fit. Youth are always saying that parent’s don’t listen or give their music a chance. Parents are always saying that today’s music is all about half-naked women and crude lyrics. Grandma loves to hear choirs perform the good old church standards she can hum along to.

And the children? Well, they’ll just do what kids always do – be open to the different types of music and let the spirit move them. So get a discounted $20.00 pass before they run out and make it a family day – one guaranteed to feed your family’s soul.

World Gospel Jam 2007 is part of the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest. It takes place on Saturday July 14, 2007 from 12pm to 11pm on the Black Sheep Stage. For a list of vendors selling the $20.00 passes go to www.ottawabluesfest.ca under the Charity pull-down or ask around in your community. The Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest concert pass allows admittance or regular admittance price for the day is $38.50.