When Canadian blues icon Jim Byrnes called Vancouver based gospel singer Marcus Mosely on the phone a few years ago to ask if he could round up a few friends to record some back up vocals for a new album, no one could have guessed what would happen next.
From the moment Mosely and his pals, Will Sanders and Ron Small stepped up to the microphone and began singing, they realized that they had something very special going on. When Byrnes dubbed the trio The Sojourners the name stuck and – as they say – the rest is history.
Formative years spent singing in the churches of Mosely, Small and, Sanders’, hometowns – Ralls, Texas, Chicago, Illinois and Alexandria, Louisiana respectively – give The Sojourners’ sound an authentic edge that only comes with experience. This is real gospel - blessed with a soul that can’t be faked.
While it wouldn’t exactly be right to call the Sojourners a new act – given that each member of the group has been in the music business for around fifty years - the sound, energy and commitment they conjure any time they get together would be the envy of singers half their ages.
Hot on the tail of their session with Byrnes, the Sojourners went into the studio with roots music whiz Steve Dawson to record ”Hold On”, their first solo album in 2007. Two years and many sessions later, Mosely, Small and Sanders have taken all they’ve learned in between and returned to record a second CD simply entitled The Sojourners .
No longer the new kids on the block, the trio had definite ideas of how they wanted their follow up record to sound, and one listen through the songs they’ve captured here shows that they’ve succeeded beyond their wildest expectations.
Working again with Dawson as producer, The Sojourners have recreated a classic gospel sound this time around - replete with the warm tones of Mike Kalanj’s Hammond B 3 organ and Dawson’s dirty blues guitar. With Geoff Hicks and Keith Lowe returning on drums and bass, and a soaring cameo from Jesse Zubot on ‘By and By’, The Sojourners have found a band that keeps pace with the power of their vocals.
This is not music that strives to be polite. In the Sojourners’ universe, echoes of doo wop, R&B, country and blues weave together to create a unique sound that has all but vanished from today’s world.
This is gospel music that can take a punch and remain standing. Singing praise music with their own special ‘stank’, the Vancouver based Sojourners sound just as at home in a road house bar as they do in a revival tent.
Never has travelling the hard road between sin, loss and redemption sounded as glorious as it does on these eleven timeless recordings. Listening to these seasoned vocalists breathe new life into classic tunes like Doris Akers’ ‘Lead Me Guide Me’ and The Violinaires ‘Another Soldier Gone’ is as transcendent an introduction to gospel as anyone could ever hope for.
Other highlights include a chilling reading of Rev. Gary Davis ‘Death Don’t Have No Mercy’ – a song long associated with the Grateful Dead . In this version, the Sojourners are at full strength as Ron’s haunting leads set a dark tone that is offset by sweet harmonies from ,Will and Marcus.
To hear all three singers’ distinct vocals meet at the crossroads in this song is to experience the signature Sojourners sound as different gospel traditions come together and blend mellifluously as one.
An uplifting cover of Los Lobos’ ‘Peace in the Neighborhood’ serves to remind listeners of the connection between civil rights, social justice and gospel that Mosely, Small and Sanders have explored throughout their careers.
The Sojourners are a rock solid unit and proof positive that faith can move mountains. But, don’t let that scare you away. Sinner or saved - wherever you are on your own personal journey, you should listen to The Sojourners. You’ll feel better for it.
Tracklist
1. Nobody Can Turn me Around 3:37
2. Brother Moses Smote The Water 3:53
3. Great Day 4:12
4. Another Soldier Gone 3:34
5. Strange man 4:08
6. Lead Me Guide Me 5:19
7. The Neighborhood 4:43
8. When I Die 3:15
9. It's Hard To Stumble (When You're On Your Knees) 4:43
10. Death Don't Have No Mercy 4:40
11. By And By 4:21
One word that best describes Will Sanders is, Passionate. First and foremost, Will is passionate about his family. And coming in at a very strong second place: Will is passionate about singing.. and in particular, about singing Gospel Music. All through his childhood, in Alexandria, Louisiana, Will sang in church choirs and ensembles.. he even played in the school band. But his heart was always drawn to singing Gospel.
On his first time out, in the musical theatre arena, he won a starring role in the Arts Club production of Ann Mortifee's tour de force, "When the Rains
Come". He was even nominated for a Jessie Richardson award for Best Performance in a musical that year (1994). He also went on to star in the Arts Club production of "Five Guys Name Moe"
Over the years, Will has sung with a number of Vancouver based Gospel ensembles: "Circle Of Voices", "Cloud Nine" and "The Gospel Experience".
RON SMALL
Ron Small , originally from Chicago, has made Canada his home since 1960. Ron got his professional start singing in the U.S. Air Force. He was transferred to McChord Air Force Base and while there met three other singers performing in a vocal group. When the fourth member was discharged, Ron auditioned for and was accepted into their existing
group, The Pearls. While singing with the group, they won the Tops in
Blue military talent show, the top prize being a guest appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. They won that year, and in September, 1958, Ron appeared with the Pearls on the Ed Sullivan Show.
After being discharged from the Military, Ron began coming to Vancouver to sing at various Supper Clubs, one of the most popular being
Izzy's. His second visit resulted in him moving to Vancouver. He lived here from 1960 to 1974. Ron moved to Toronto in 1974 and became a well-established jazz singer, working regularly in the Toronto Jazz Clubs. During his time in Toronto, Ron also worked regularly in the Film Industry. He eventually began auditioning for stage work, and when the musical
"Showboat" came to town, he auditioned for and got a role. Ron toured throughout North America with the show from 1993 until 1998.
Since 1998 Ron has been back in Vancouver, focusing primarily on teaching and coaching jazz singers. Two year ago Ron joined the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir where he is a premiere soloist and the
choir's resident elder statesman. To quote Jazz pianist Bob Murphy,
"Ron Small is one of Vancouver's best kept secrets".
MARCUS MOSELY
Marcus was born in a small town, in the Texas panhandle, called Ralls. Ralls is in Crosby County, surrounded by other small, out of the way, towns with names like Idalou, Crosbyton, Lorenzo and Savage. Segregation and Jim Crow laws were still the order of the day there. Marcus has vivid memories of cotton fields, sorghum, wide irrigation ditched, white faced Hereford cattle and a one-roomed clapboard and tar paper shack with a tin roof (home) that was situated between the pasture fence and a big empty two-story white house, where the
"boss man" used to live before he moved his family into their mansion in town. It was here that he began learning to hear the music. First from his mother, who always had a song on her lips.. whether she was picking cotton, cleaning white folks homes or weeding her own little victory garden. Marcus soon discovered that he too carried around a well of music in his soul that would
"spring up" in any and every situation in which he found himself.
Over the past 54 years Marcus has found himself drawing from the well in many places around the world. He has sung throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the South Pacific,
owing to 10 years of service as a missionary. Just before Expo 86 Marcus made Vancouver his home. Since then he has starred in various highly successful stage
productions, "Ain't Misbehavin", ."Black and Gold
Revue" and "Show Boat". Marcus has toured Canada giving concerts and conducting Gospel Choral workshops.
Run On - The Sojourners ft. Jim Byrnes
The Sojourners: Marcus Mosely, Ron Small, Will
Sanders ft. Jim Byrnes @ The Cellar, Vancouver. February 25th, 2007
