YES Mahalia- Live Stream
Music Institute of Chicago
Evanston, IL
October 29, 2022
By Maja Rios
Vocalist/ teacher Tammy McCann did a splendid job of inhabiting the spirit of the late great singer, Mahalia Jackson, in her jazz meets gospel show, Yes, Mahalia. Her idea for the show was ” gospel meets big band jazz; new arrangements of gospel favorites
The band she assembled for this show, was excellent. It featured, Tammy on vocals, Tom Vaitsas, piano, John Sutton, bass, Samuel Jewell, drums. Other instruments were one trumpet, three saxes, and two trombones with four background singers.
She included gospel favorites “Wade In The Water”, “Elijah Rock”, “I’m On My Way, Down” by the Riverside, “How I Got Over,Whole World In His Hand”s, and “Precious Lord”. Also on the program were “Come Sunday” by Duke Ellington an jazz standard that Mahalia sung back in the day, “I Want Jesus To Walk With Me”, and “Total Praise”.
Arrangements and conducting of big band, was led by trumpet master, Marques Carroll, who did a fine job. The new arrangements of old favorites included many rhythms: ballads, bossa, New Orleans shuffle, swing, and funk. Tammy spoke freely of her influences to create this combo of jazz and gospel. All musicians and singers were great. A few standouts were: Lynna Mckinney, Baritone sax, Tom Vaitsas, piano, Marqueal Jordan, tenor sax, Samuel Jewell, drums. All were very soulful and “foot- pattin” grooves.
This was one of my favorite concerts ever!
