Blessed
Soweto Gospel Choir
(2006) Shanachie Records
Review by Paula Day
The stirring, ethereal beauty of South African harmonies that we first fell in love with on the Soweto Gospel Choir’s first CD, Voices From Heaven (2005), are in great form on the group’s latest CD, Blessed. Combining a perfect blend of traditional African call and response and clapping, stomping, and whisting, a capella singing, and European choral music, the Soweto Gospel Choir can touch your heart and sing to your soul unlike any other vocal group. On Blessed the Soweto Gospel Choir sings some traditional African songs as well as the gospel favorites “O Happy Day” and “Khumbaya.” This is praise music in its highest spiritual form, though you don’t need to be religious to appreciate the sheer beauty of these human voices sharing harmonies.
Paula Day is a contributor to Blues Valley Review and The Copperfield Review. She lives in Los Angeles, California.