The World Famous Harlem Gospel Choir
Blue Note131 West 3rd Street, New York 10012
WBGO Presents Brunch brings The World Famous Harlem Gospel Choir to Blue Note for a gospel set from the Harlem and New York Tri-State singers and musicians who make up the ensemble. Expect contemporary gospel shaped by jazz and blues, including modern gospel classics in the tradition of Harlem’s Black churches. This is a brunch presentation, with the choir as the billed act and no additional performers or guests announced.
The World Famous Harlem Gospel Choir comes from Harlem, drawing its members from Harlem’s Black churches and the wider New York Tri-State area. The group is known for what it calls “power vocals, glorious sound and infectious energy,” while Blue Note describes it as the most renowned gospel choir in America, carrying a message of love and inspiration. Its long list of collaborators includes Bono, Diana Ross, Gorillaz, André Rieu, Damon Albarn, Pharrell Williams, Sam Smith, Sia, The 1975, Ibeyi and Nile Rodgers; it also performed with Smith at the 2018 Grammy Awards. One reviewer heard “rich harmonies and upbeat rhythms” and “sky-high” energy, finding the choir especially strong when backing a soloist or singing in harmony.
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.