Fringe Review: Brighton Goes Gospel Christmas Concert 2009
On Saturday night this 150 strong choir sang better than ever to an appreciative audience in an action packed Christmas concert at the Hove Centre.
The talented music director Karen Gibson was back as musical director after a sabbatical in the USA. She never disappoints and her skill and infectious enthusiasm got the show off to a good start as both choirs sang Little Drummer Boy together. The Workshop choir were excellent: tight controlled singing with good choreographed movements that did not distract from their vocals. This year they seemed more confident and competent and their second number, Oh Mary, Oh Martha, where they were backed by the superb soloist and professional singer, Susan Harriott, was the highlight. The first half of the performance showcased a successful blend of a well rehearsed choir singing their hearts out while supporting a great vocalist. The inspirational Artistic Director, Louise Channon, was quick to point out that these choirs had only rehearsed for 14 weeks and it was a testimony to the skills of the professionals that they drew out the best in these amateur performers. The workshop choir solos are always a bit of challenge but the singers grew in stature during their numbers. More straight-forward melodic introductory bars may have given the singers confidence earlier in the song. Jason Thompson and his band held the show together with their superb musical skills and improvisations. The recorded background music: an off-beat jazz style, which was played before the performance was not in keeping with the style of the show and it was a welcome relief when the performance finally began and we heard the funky jazz/blues sound of Jason and The JT band.
The second half featured the finely honed performance choir and opened with a rousing version of Bless the Lord. This time the singers were in a striking black and purple combinations as they sung more complex pieces but with the same enthusiasm we heard in the first half. The Beatles song, Let it Be, has become a bit too familiar an anthem but the originality of a gospel touch got everyone to their feet to sing to the music. Susan Harriott, again joined the choir, on her gravity-defying high heels, as she soared to hit the top notes in her own choice of song, which was technically perfect and so emotively performed that it moved members of the audience to tears.
The finale was a gathering of the workshop and performance choirs to sing All I Want for Christmas, with Susan Harriott as lead vocal. This year some new theatrical touches were added to the concert to make it a truly festive occasion; at the start it was a nice touch to have a diminutive little drummer boy accompany the choir to the first song of the same name. During the last song, Father Christmas and a small girl helper appeared with an enormous bag of presents which they gently hurled in the direction of numerous children. At the same time dancers had been positioned at various points in the front of the stage and the couples strutted their stuff as the choir belted out the familiar lyrics. Some of the audience, ranging from 8 to 80 joined them in the aisles with varying degrees of success!
For a good evening out with great music, a fine soloists and enthusiastic choirs then Brighton goes Gospel can provide it ........with the added bonus that you can join in at times and sing your heart out too!
Reviewed by DS 12/12/09
Fringe Review