Tonight was my second experience of choir participation. On Monday, I supported my dear mother at her carol concert in aid of Save the Children at Cadogan Hall. Nothing wrong with a bit of traditional sing-a-long with hymns of old- it usually gladdens the soul and gives the vocals a nice work out. This evening was no exception.
As the neatly attired London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) took to the stage, they immediately belted out a gospel-funky Hammond Organ rendition of ‘I’ll Never Leave You or Forsake You’ that got the crowd rocking from side to side with bum shake to hip gyrate. It set the tone for the evening, being played out with rousing gospel hymns, spirituals and funky, even rocky, arrangements of old favourites.
Next up was a wah-wah guitar 1970s version of ‘What I Want For Christmas’, followed by a funky cover of the reliable Slade classic ‘Merry Christmas’ that played not so much to the gallery, as to the tipsy, necking the mulled wine and beer in the soft-seating area.
Never predictable, the LCGC changed things up like a reggae deejay and gave a wonderful calypso version of ‘Come All Ye Faithful’, bridging that triumph with a back-to-back West Indian influenced ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’, with some lush vocals both complementing and offsetting the beautifully constructed music, that seemed well rehearsed, but played with just the right amount of spontaneity.
Understanding the audience is always key to getting them on side and coming back for more, and given the diverse crowd of all races, creeds and ages, the Choir went down the rocky road for a remake of ‘Joy to the World’.
This feel-good factor worked throughout, let down, only, by the night’s host disengaging the audience in a half-hearted meet and greet that explained the history of the Choir and shouted out the four ends of London for no particular reason or purpose, other than to give the Choir time to prepare for the next song. After taking the audience to the ‘bridge’ via the church, it seemed folly to take things down several notches, when the crowd was just getting fired up.
A minor quibble, perhaps, as the Choir was soon back to winning ways, getting the audience back on side for a mixture of the traditional and eclectic, a formula that has served them well for the past 29 years with Bazil Meade at the helm.
The LCGC have managed to keep the traditions of the gospel choir whilst keeping things fresh and contemporary; long may they continue bringing such a positive and entertaining blend of music, song, dance and audience participation wherever they’re invited.
