TBGB Pick of the Week: October 19, 2009

“Won’t It Be Wonderful”
James Hall presents Voices of Citadel
Musicblend Records 2009
www.myspace.com/voicesofcitadel

From Brooklyn’s Citadel of Praise & Worship, where Dr. Kevin Bond is Pastor, Professor James Hall’s Voices of Citadel give the 1963 hit by the Pilgrim Jubilee Singers an extreme choir makeover.

While the Jubes’ assessment of the afterlife had macho, mid-tempo quartet strut, V.O.C.’s six minute-plus view of the heavenly “angels singing” and “joybells ringing” in “Won’t It Be Wonderful” is a fast-paced, hand-clapping, beat-pushing, hard-singing, extended Holy Ghost celebration. With long-time choir director Prof. James Hall at the helm, it’s not surprising the V.O.C. can tear up a church.

Over there, shouts the chorus, “There’ll be no crying, there’ll be no dying.” With such exuberant singing, the only crying possible could be tears of joy.