Gospel music may not be charting on Toronto’s cultural Top 10 but there’s certainly an appetite for it in this city. Sunday’s two performances by the Gospel Christmas Project are both sold out and Ken Whiteley’s regular Gospel Brunch’s at Hugh’s Room are usually SRO (next date January 31).
The power of gospel isn’t lost on musician, producer, broadcaster Andrew Craig, the force behind the Gospel Christmas Project. Craig teamed with CBC producer Jill LaForty to pull together the first GCP radio special in 2006. Produced annually since then, the show has spawned a Gemini Award-nominated TV special, a National Arts Centre Orchestra spectacular and a CBC Records CD.
I caught up with Craig and vocalists Toya Alexis (above left) and Jackie Richardson earlier this week as they rehearsed for this year’s GCP double-header at the Young Centre (Sunday 2 and 7:30 pm). There were minor bugs to work out of the arrangements but Craig is no dummy, he’s working with some of the best singers in the Canadian industry so there’s not a lot of heavy lifting to be done. Also joining the cast Sunday will be vocalists Kellylee Evans and Chris Lowe, as well as 14 singers from the Faith Chorale and a small band.
Craig says last year’s concert blew the lid off the Young Centre for the Performing Arts and he’s calling for more of the same this weekend. “Gospel music possesses great power,” he asserts. “It completely conveys the exuberance of the human spirit. What’s truly remarkable to me is how the Gospel genre appeals to people of all races, colours and creeds. One of the greatest successes, for me, is when Jews and Muslims have attended our performances, and taken the time to tell us how moved they were by the experience. Ultimately, we are trying to create joy, and joy should be universal.”
“To me, the Gospel Christmas Project offers something for everyone: pure unbridled joy and the perfect start to the holiday season, regardless of what you celebrate.”
Rehearsal photo by Christopher Jones, concert photos by Brian Naimer
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