Marcus Mosley, Will Saunders, Khari McLelland and accompanist Lonnie DeLisle sang some seriously spiritual gospel at the Pender Harbour School of Music on Jan. 15.
The first in the Music Society's Concert Series for 2012 was standing room only last Sunday afternoon, and the Sojourners' power and sincerity of song and spirit transformed the room into the kind of place of worship many attending wished theirs could be: sacred.
The Sojourners came together after Jim Byrnes asked Mosley to bring a couple of friends to do backup vocals on his House of Refuge CD. To the delight of thousands, they have stayed together to perform and inspire.
Sunday's songs were from slave days to the '70s, Los Lobos to the Mississippi Sheiks. The harmonies were rich and beautiful, but what made the afternoon so striking was how each Sojourner immersed himself in every song, became completely carried into the melody and lyrics, so they were, in fact, singing in prayer.
McLelland introduced a Doris Akers' song, Lead Me, Guide Me, as a help for when you "have one those days when you wonder what you are doing here." His solo was uplifting and electrifying.
All the Sojourners talked about the importance of keeping our hearts open, to youth, people in struggle and each other, no matter what faith we carry. They spoke about Black History month, coming up in February, and that the civil rights and social justice movements have great relevance in 2012. And they joked about the difference between gospel: "Oh, Lord!" and blues: "Oh, baby!"
But mostly they sang, beautifully and soulfully: traditional, sacred songs like Old Ship of Zion and Wade in the Water and modern spirituals like People Get Ready by Curtis Mayfield and Peace in the Neighbourhood by Los Lobos.
The audience joined in on some and clapped to many, and the transformation from gospel performance to spiritual gathering became complete.
One overheard comment best summed it up: "If these guys were at my church, I would go every week!"
