The World Famous Harlem Gospel Choir
Blue Note131 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
WBGO Presents a New Year’s Eve brunch performance by The World Famous Harlem Gospel Choir at Blue Note. The listing identifies the group but names no individual performers or guests; expect a choir presentation with accompanying musicians rather than a specified lineup. It is an all-ages afternoon event, with first-come, first-served seating and a brunch menu available at the club.
Based in Harlem, the choir draws its singers and musicians from Harlem’s Black churches and the wider New York Tri-State area. Its repertoire is described as modern gospel classics performed in Harlem’s Black churches today, connected to the tradition that helped shape blues, soul and rock-and-roll. Blue Note calls the ensemble “the most renowned gospel choir in America” and a “preeminent gospel choir worldwide.” Its collaborators have included Bono, Diana Ross, Gorillaz, Pharrell Williams, Damon Albarn, Lang Lang, Sia and Nile Rodgers, and the choir performed with Sam Smith at the 2018 Grammy Awards.
Blue Note Jazz Club is a dedicated listening room in the heart of Manhattan's jazz district, where the music is the focus and the space is designed to let the sound fill the room. The club features a stage with a small audience area, and the atmosphere is one of quiet concentration on the music. Shows typically begin at 8:00 PM with a second set at 10:30 PM, and the audience sits on chairs close to the stage. The club has a bar, and drinks are available. The experience is primarily about listening to live jazz, with occasional gospel and soul performances, and the audience often stays to talk and enjoy the music after the sets.