September 15, 2011 - Oakland, CA.
3:30 pm : For those of you who don’t know, my daughter the MD/PhD to be sings professionally in an interfaith gospel choir. She had a concert at a gala affair to unveil a new piece of public art (Remember Them–Champions of Humanity) at the Fox Theater last Saturday night. Of course, I wouldn’t miss it.
A lot goes into putting on a concert. First is the pre-concert sound check where a lot of standing around is followed by the warm-up as the lights, the band, and the sound are coordinated by a stage crew almost as numerous as the nearly 60 member choir.
While there are people of all ages, colors and religions in the choir, hence the designation “interfaith,” the music is decidedly not. It evokes the warm, deeply felt emotions that are associated with gospel. Sound anyone can enjoy, and they do! And so can you if you purchase their fifth CD coming out on October 4, 2011.
4:00-6:00 pm Interlude. We walked out to the park to see the monument that was being dedicated and celebrated at this event. Huge bronze figures rose up from a park in what was an otherwise deserted area of Oakland, at least on a Saturday. From the expected Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King, to the surprising Oskar Schindler, celebration of freedom fighters themed the work. A cuppa tea with one of the other choir members pleasantly passed the time.
6:00 pm Curfew to be back in the theater. After the break, the choir dresses in its dressy blue sequence over black dress garb reserved for non-church occassions. The transformation has occurred.
7:30 pm The program starts. Their leader, Terrance, is clearly the spirit that drives their fabulous sound. They are the first of many acts that will grace the stage with their many different sounds. But for me, theirs was the only one.
I can hear how the warm-up was really just that, just a warm up. The concert is fabulous as is the audience reaction. So what’s a nice Jewish girl doing in a joint like this? Singing some great music and having a lotta fun! What else?
A lot goes into putting on a concert. First is the pre-concert sound check where a lot of standing around is followed by the warm-up as the lights, the band, and the sound are coordinated by a stage crew almost as numerous as the nearly 60 member choir.
While there are people of all ages, colors and religions in the choir, hence the designation “interfaith,” the music is decidedly not. It evokes the warm, deeply felt emotions that are associated with gospel. Sound anyone can enjoy, and they do! And so can you if you purchase their fifth CD coming out on October 4, 2011.
4:00-6:00 pm Interlude. We walked out to the park to see the monument that was being dedicated and celebrated at this event. Huge bronze figures rose up from a park in what was an otherwise deserted area of Oakland, at least on a Saturday. From the expected Mahatma Ghandi and Martin Luther King, to the surprising Oskar Schindler, celebration of freedom fighters themed the work. A cuppa tea with one of the other choir members pleasantly passed the time.
6:00 pm Curfew to be back in the theater. After the break, the choir dresses in its dressy blue sequence over black dress garb reserved for non-church occassions. The transformation has occurred.
7:30 pm The program starts. Their leader, Terrance, is clearly the spirit that drives their fabulous sound. They are the first of many acts that will grace the stage with their many different sounds. But for me, theirs was the only one.
I can hear how the warm-up was really just that, just a warm up. The concert is fabulous as is the audience reaction. So what’s a nice Jewish girl doing in a joint like this? Singing some great music and having a lotta fun! What else?
Thanks to Dana G's mom, Linda Brodsky of The Brodsky Blog, for her write up of the Fox Theater, Remember Them event! To send in your OIGC stories, please contact us.
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