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Jazz and gospel unite to ring in sounds of season at St. Patrick’s
By Sean Barron
YOUNGSTOWN
A special marriage of sorts took place at a well-established city church, though the happy occasion was not between two people but between several musical concepts.
More specifically, the union brought together gospel and jazz arrangements, vocal ensembles, dancing and drumming – all with Christmas cheer in mind.
“This is a joyous celebration,” Kris Harper said, referring to Sunday’s one-hour “A Gospel Christmas” concert at St. Patrick Church, 1420 Oak Hill Ave., on the South Side. “It’s what Christmas is really about.”
Harper, of Poland, is musical director of The Mahoning Valley Chorale, an independent choral group of community members of all ages and ability levels. The MVC, in its 15th season, often performs selections from sacred to secular and at several regional locations each year.
On Sunday, several hundred people filled the pews to hear the group lend its wide range of alto, tenor, soprano and bass voices to the Christmas-themed concert that was flavored with everything from African-American spirituals to African and gospel music. Also, several familiar carols were given gospel and jazz arrangements.
“A Gospel Christmas” also was among the choral group’s performances for its 2015-16 season. In addition, the Christmas concert was part of St. Patrick Church’s monthly “Sauce and Song” event.
Another pleasing aspect of Sunday’s performance were 20 members of the Southside Fine Arts Academy, which debuted last October and is made up of youngsters in kindergarten through grade 12. The nonprofit after-school program offers singing, dancing, poetry, creative-writing courses, music, drumming and lessons on musical instruments, noted Mary Ann Ebert, the group’s dance instructor.
“Kris [Harper] founded it and wants to bring the arts to all children,” Ebert explained, adding that SSFAA is free and open to all children.
Kicking off the performance was the MVC’s interpretation of “Prepare Ye (The Way of the Lord).” Then the group, with piano accompaniment, interspersed verses of a Malawian melody titled “Boy-Child of Mary” with the SSFAA singers before both groups offered their pleasing renditions of the popular African-American spiritual “Go Tell it on the Mountain.”
The youngsters also had an opportunity to show their dancing prowess as they performed choreographed moves to piano for “O Holy Night.”
Offering her gospel-influenced voice for several selections was Sierra McCorvey of Warren, a student in Youngstown State University’s Dana School of Music who hopes to be an opera singer.
“I’ve always wanted to do one of those things because it carries me through all seasons,” McCorvey said, referring to being a soloist in performances such as Sunday’s.
The two musical groups, along with audience members, joined forces to close the first half of the concert with their versions of the popular Spanish Christmas song “Feliz Navidad.”
For the second portion of the concert, the SSFAA youngsters played a few songs with their drum circle. As part of their visual-arts classes, they made and wore colorful masks.
Also kicking the beat up several notches was Sogbety Diomonde, an internationally acclaimed African drummer and dancer from the Ivory Coast in western Africa. Beginning when he was 10, Diomande’s uncle, Vado Diomande, taught him to dance with stilts.
Harper, who also is the SSFAA’s executive director, had nothing but praise for the youngsters’ efforts and budding musical abilities.
“These could be the future singers of the Mahoning Valley Chorale,” he said.
Providing much of the accompaniment were Antoine Jackson, a Dana student who played the flute and the trumpet, and Dominic DeLaurentis on piano.
Many attendees also enjoyed an $8-a-plate spaghetti dinner, the proceeds of which were to benefit the church.