Pastor Ray Berryhill & the Evangel Celebration Choir
Celebration Live, Volumes One and Two
www.evangelchicago.org
Oh, if only every church had a choir like the Evangel Celebration Choir.
Listening to Celebration Live, two privately-pressed CDs by Evangel World Outreach Center on Chicago’s north side, it’s no surprise that the Evangel Celebration Choir was selected best in Chicago and a finalist in the 2009 Verizon How Sweet the Sound Competition. Pastor Ray Berryhill’s intercultural ensemble has a big sound without screaming or pushing their voices. The choir also demonstrates an arsenal of vocal techniques as effortlessly as Olympic skating teams performing their compulsories.
The choir’s style is traditional with a touch of the contemporary, and contemporary with a touch of the traditional. It’s also 100 percent churchy, a can’t-miss for fans of Ricky Dillard, Father Hayes and the Cosmopolitan Warriors, and Walt Whitman, the latter who was a member of Pastor Berryhill’s gospel group Ray Berryhill & Company back in the day.
Beautiful, rich tones accompany the group’s performances of gospelized anthems, such as Volume One’s appropriately titled “Majesty” and “The Heavens are Telling,” the latter a showcase piece for early twentieth century senior choirs in mainline Protestant churches of the urban north. The choir’s prayerful majesty shines through on “Grateful,” a extended track on Volume Two.
Especially interesting from the historical perspective is Berryhill’s programming of First Church of Deliverance gems, such as the Spiritual church’s arrangement of the Angelic Gospel Singers’ “Touch Me, Lord Jesus,” which would make Julia Mae Kennedy smile with contentment. The rousing handclapper “I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me” opens Volume One’s “Praise Medley,” which by the conclusion becomes a fiery evangelical piece, courtesy of a hard singing female vocalist.
It is the resurrection of classic gospels such as “Touch Me Lord Jesus,” “The Blood Will Never Lose its Power” and “Is Your All on the Altar” on these CDs that are most memorable. But no, the group’s signature arrangement of Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise” from the How Sweet the Sound competition is not on these CDs. You’ll have to get your dose of that via YouTube, at least for now.
Interested parties will need to contact the church to purchase Celebration Live, but if you enjoyed Evangel Celebration Choir at How Sweet the Sound this past year, there is no doubt you want to hear more.
Four of Five Stars
gPod Picks: “Yes I Know Jesus,” “Praise Medley,” “The Lord Is Blessing Me.”
Reviewed by Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.
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Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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they are a truly amazing choir, and should have won the Verizon comepetition. They bless my soul! I heard they will be at the chicago gospel fest also.
I am so glad the Choir is finally getting the recognition they deserve. The Evangel Celebration Choir is one of the best Choirs around. I have both of these cd’s. The music is INCREDIBLE! The harmonies are great. The lead vocals are trememdous. You really feel the presence of God. I would recommend these CD’s to everyone.
The ministry of the Evangel Celebration Choir is like the singers (Judah)that were sent out praising God before the army of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 destroying the works of the enemies. Their ministry is on fire like the bush God used to get Moses’s attention, but it was not consumed (Exodus 3:2-5). Their ministry in song will make you turn aside and listen for you will hear the voice of the God and sense His presence. To God be the glory for the things he has done.
VS