Vancouver 2007

After New Orleans I had five days in Vancouver. I spent a happy four hours on the Friday night co-hosting Gospel Train with Marc Lindy on Vancouver Co-op radio, playing old quartet favourites and enjoying the other guests, the Sojourners (http://www.myspace.com/thesojourners). The Sojourners are a gospel ‘quartet’ of three (I can relate to that) with a blend of great richness: Marcus Moseley (a great singer, and director of 80-voice choir the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir - http://www.goodnoisevgc.com/) who I first had the pleasure of meeting when I came to Canada back in 1999), Will Sanders and Ron Small - all African Americans with church backgrounds, now living in BC. They generally work with a rhythm section, but to hear them up close and a cappella, swapping solos was a treat.


The Sojourners live-to-air

As in previous years, my Vancouver workshops turned out really well. There were some outstanding improvisations, and some of the workshop group sang with me at the Sunday service at Canadian Peace Memorial Church. Thanks to all the repeat offenders and to the new chums for a profound and joyful weekend, and to Marc and Neil for organising things.
I also got to spend some time with two other Vancouver choral directors/composers: Brian Tate (http://www.briantatemusic.com/index.html) who until recently directed the Universal Gospel Choir (http://www.universalgospelchoir.ca/)and the music minister at Peace Memorial, Neil Weisensel (http://www.neilmusic.com/).