Ryan Chung, our Canadian Correspondent, is back with another artist he wants to highlight.

He’s actually wanted to highlight them for MONTHS, but I usually sleep on the artists he suggests until he either SCREAMS at me or I come across them myself, then I remember “oh wait… Ryan said something about them.”

He’s quite good at picking ‘em, though, and he’s doing an awesome job of telling us in the U.S. why we need to pay more attention to Canada.

So without further delay, here’s Ryan to tell us about Cheryl James & VOW…

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Cheryl James & Voices of Worship (VOW) is among the list of artists that have made a vital impact on the Canadian Gospel industry, along with Sharon Riley & Faith Chorale, Paulis Sanchez and Richard J. Brown to name a few.  Her directing skills blossomed as she became head director for the Toronto-based Faith Outreach Choir.

Today, Cheryl James is an artist in her own right.  The only artist I can relate her to in the United States is Natalie Wilson & S.O.P.– the energy, the movement, the rhythm!

Her debut album, Cheryl James & VOW – LIVE, was released in 2008 under the production of Melvin Crispell (James Hall & WAP, Hezekiah Walker & LFC).  Backed by an amazing group of musicians and her 15–voice ensemble, Cheryl fulfills her calling in the gospel industry by “bringing forth the Word of God through music, to heal, mend and restore broken lives to their right standing in God.”

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Definitely piqued my interest… And, because Ryan did such a great job convincing me, I simply HAD to grab an mp3 to share with you guys.

So, I just added her track, “Let Him In,” to the PunditPlayer.  I’m enjoying it cuz it’s got a classic choir vibe (and you KNOW I’m a sucker for that).  Click here to take a listen and let me know what you think!

And say “thanks” to Ryan for me… he works hard, guys.

Earlier today, I introduced you to our newest contributor, Ryan Chung (click here if you don’t remember).  And I told ya he’d be blessing us with a recap of James Hall’s live recording in Toronto, which took place on Saturday.  Well, here ’tis.

Ryan, it’s all yours, bro…

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Well, the doors were scheduled to open at 6:30pm.  6:51pm anyone?  Nah, not yet, just make the people wait.  It wasn’t until 7:11pm that the doors finally opened.

The main event was the LIVE recording of the upcoming release from “The Professor”– Brother James Hall & Worship and Praise, Live in Toronto.  It was a tedious wait, but as soon as the praise and worshippers entered the beautiful sanctuary at Global Kingdom Ministries in Toronto, Ontario, the praise really began.

Toronto’s own Echoes Of Praise (a powerful 4-voice ensemble) opened the recording and brought the house down with their own twist of “Nearer To Thee.”  They really set the mood for true worship and THE VOCALS WERE ON POINT!  Backed by Londa Larmond-Moncreiffe & Amoy Levy (I think they are some of Canada’s vocal GREATS), Echoes Of Praise ended their worship set with “To Worship You I Live,” reminding the believer that their main duty is not to be entertained, but to give praise to GOD for as long as they live.

So, yea… time was still not our friend for the night, but the crowd made sure to make the best of it (I hope that some of ya’ll that attended and are reading this GOT TO CHURCH ON TIME the next morning!).  It was around 8:30-ish when Cheryl James & VOW (Voices of Worship) went to the pulpit to lay down some heavy chords and some of the most mind-blowing vocals to EVER (I can’t stress that enough) come out of Toronto.  And this is where I began to HATE this group (in a good way…don’t worry!)  They had the audacity to sing F.O.C.U.S.’ rendition of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”  There were only 6-8 singers…WHY DID THEY SOUND LIKE A FULL ENSEMBLE OF 40 SINGERS?  They are also a group to check out…straight from my home town.

9:00pm struck on our clocks…It was SHOWTIME!  Oh yea, forgot to add: it was a PACKED HOUSE.  But when you have Eddie ‘Animal’ Heyward (drums), Dewayne “DW” Wright (Timothy Wright’s son… amazing bass player), and Minister Melvin Crispell (organ) as the Musical Director, the house would have to be packed!  I also have to mention that Kurt Carr was in the building, too.  If an artist travels all the way from the States to see a recording in Toronto, you’ve done some good.

People from New York State, Kentucky, Montreal, and, of course, the host city were all in the building.  The music began, the choir members entered the stage, and the “voice” of the choir (Pastor Kevin Bond) began to speak.  Enter James Hall & Worship and Praise who, first,  ”BUSSED” our heads open with “God Is In Control.”  I might add that I never really liked the shiny lime green shirts, but Brother James pulled it off quite well with a simple black suit.

The tune was ringing, the hands began to clap, the shouts began to ring, and the praises were lifted.  James Hall represented by taking us back, doing songs like “I Never Shall Forget,” “He Shall Reign,” “Blessed be the Name” and the aforementioned “God Is In Control,” which will all appear on the upcoming CD and DVD.  NOTE: NO NEW SONGS… which was quite a bummer!

Confessional: As much as the vocalists were on point and the musicians were doing their thing, I will come clean: some of y’all who were there can testify that IT WAS A LONG RECORDING PROCESS.  I’m human– I started to become impatient…Oh Lord work on me!  I understand that mistakes happen, but I would say (I’m kind of a perfectionist): at least run through the songs before you record– it saves time and also preserves patience (for God is not the author of confusion…I’m just saying…lol).

Some details are gonna have to wait– he literally stopped the recording to tell people to stop videotaping on their Blackberries and phones, cameras, etc.  But I will note this: people that paid for the tickets really got to see how Brooklyn, NY does it, with A LOT of TORONTO FLAIR…

12:30am – The recording began to wrap up… yea I know, 12:30 in the morning!  But trust me– from this Toronto resident– the album is sure to NOT disappoint.

Holla!

Ryan

p.s. Did I mention that long-time soloist TUNESHA CRISPELL tore that church apart?!  GLORY TO HIS NAME!!

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Thanks for the recap, dude!  I understand a coupla mistakes, but I’m mad about any excessive starting and stopping business– at one recording I attended, an artist did it so many times that he finally just said “we’re gonna have to do THAT song in the studio.”  LOL  The audience thanks you!

If this project features only throwback joints, I’m lookin’ forward to it cuz I haven’t been as excited about some of their newer stuff.  I wanna be a fan again!

Y’all PLEASE show Ryan some love and thank him for the recap!

What do y’all think about the recording???  Who’s excited for the album?

Did y’all watch 106 & Park Presents: Generation Gospel yesterday?  It was pretty good, again.

Guest artists were Da’ T.R.U.T.H. and Kirk Franklin.  Both gave good performances that the audience REALLY loved, and both gave some great interviews.

Also pretty cool was seeing Cheryl “Salt” James (from Salt-N-Pepa) on the “Guess Who’s Back In Church” segment.  Her testimony was awesome and relevant for the youth, I think.

Still don’t like the concept of that youth choir, but they sounded a bit better this week.  I guess when you do it so much… “gen-er-a-shun gos-puuuuuuuhhhhhlllllll…..”

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And, on Bobby Jones Gospel, I can’t really remember anything except that DORINDA CLARK-COLE did some gooooooood singing!  She did “Make Me Real” and “Take Me Back,” and she sang like nobody’s business on both of ‘em.

What did y’all think?