Sharon Riley & Faith ChoraleIntegrity (2011)
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog
It’s not often that TBGB hears from the Canadian gospel scene, although there is a thriving gospel community north of the U.S. border. From the Quebec Celebration Gospel Choir to the Sojourners in Vancouver and—until recently—Danny Brooks, who recently relocated to Austin .
The Juno Award-winning Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale from Toronto have been gospel mainstays in Canada for more than twenty years. After a major auto accident in 1990 left Riley in a wheelchair for a spell (she still relies on a cane), she began singing with a group of friends that evolved into Faith Chorale. The first Canadian gospel artist to sign an international contract, Faith Chorale appeared at the 1999 Grammy Awards, supporting Ireland ’s legendary Chieftains.
The choir’s album Integrity was recorded live at Toronto
They almost blow out their gaskets on the opening selection, “Awesome,” which is not the Fellowship Chicago hit but a composition by Nevon “Lyriq” Sinclair and Joel S. Chambers. “The Journey Medley” is a review of the group’s most popular songs, and “You Don’t Know” is Riley’s testimony, although articulated in generalities (one assumes the audience already knew the basic story).
Special guest artists include Mali Music, who leads the choir on “I Shall Live” (a video of this performance is currently available on the Faith Chorale website), and Sean Simmonds on the fine “I Got It.” “Awesome” and “I Got It” are the album’s high points and bookends.
Three of Five Stars
Picks: “Awesome,” “I Got It.”
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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