The Martlet

Those going down to Victoria’s Inner Harbour this weekend to catch the 17th annual Vancouver Island Blues Bash will get to see plenty of traditional blues acts based on the standard lineup of guitar, bass and drums. But one of the acts will no doubt stand out —the Victoria Soul Gospel Choir, featuring over 50 people singing together on stage.

So why is a choir performing at a blues festival?

According to choir member Gord Warrenchuk, blues and gospel music have common roots in African-American musical history.

“It came from people who were in slavery, were downtrodden,” explains Warrenchuk. “This gospel music gave them hope, strength to carry on. That strength was carried on through the music.”

Anyone who’s seen The Blues Brothers can attest that gospel is definitely high-energy music. Originating in African-American churches in the American South during the early 20th century, gospel music combined religious lyrics with up-tempo, jazzy arrangements. Despite the songs’ religious messages, many people of various belief systems enjoy the music’s positive energy. While Warrenchuk is a self-described agnostic, the Detroit native was excited to get the chance to participate in the choir, which not only performs traditional gospel tunes but a number of classic Motown songs. He says he can’t help but get swept up in the energy of the classic soul tunes he grew up with.

“Almost everything we do is animated — we never just stand there and sing,” says Warrenchuk. “We’re always clapping or dancing.”

And that energy is not lost upon the audience, says Warrenchuk, thanks to choir director Checo Tohomaso.

“Checo is a master at working with the audience; he can get the audience onside usually by the end of the first song,” says Warrenchuk. “By the end of the concert, everybody’s up and clapping and dancing in the aisles.”

UVic biology student Allegra Bonifacio, one of the choir’s soloists, describes the feedback loop of energy created by the choir during a spirited performance. “Whenever there’s just this really good energy in the choir, Checo just sort of feeds off of it. And then we feed off of Checo’s energy, and he just gets really pumped and he’ll start dancing like crazy.”

Warrenchuk recalls the audience reaction to one of the choir’s previous Blues Bash performances during their Sunday noon-hour time slot, typically a time when a musical act wouldn’t expect much energy from an audience.

“We started off and the dance area was empty,” says Warrenchuk. “By the time we were finished, everything was full. It was just so amazing. People were dancing, they had their hands up in the air; it was highly energetic.”

The choir owes its authentic sound and grooves to the efforts of Tohomaso, who has played with such notable musicians as Lionel Richie and Marvin Gaye. And Bonifacio appreciates just how authentic the choir’s sound is.

“Last year at the Blues Bash, there were these two ladies from New Orleans, and they were just loving it,” says Bonifacio. “They were just screaming and dancing and having such a good time. They were so happy that they could come here and hear music like that.”

Victoria Soul Gospel Choir Sunday, September 4, 2011 (Noon) Ship Point at the Inner Harbour Free www.victoriasoulgospel.ca