“It was a dream of mine to promote and produce a gospel show. WOW was my wish granted. ….what a show! I never thought I would see more than 772 people standing, dancing and singing at les Concerts Populaires de Montréal, classical music lovers !!!! … I am certain that it was a first experience for the majority of the people in the audience and what an experience ……. thank you thank you! I am a Jireh Gospel Choir fan for life !!!!”
– Sylvie Demers, Director Concerts Populaires de Montréal
“It’s got everything: vocal improvisation, collective surges of energy, powerful harmonies, a soul that shines through, pain that is overcome, voices setting the mood during the main melody, rhythmic Caribbean syncopation, an a cappella Negro spiritual, hip-hop with vocal pitch-shifting and even classical and pop inflections.”
– Le Devoir, December
THE JAZZ SERIES AT MONTRÉAL EN LUMIÈRE
“… Next, I caught Montreal’s own Jireh Gospel Choir at Le Balcon, in the city’s quaint old port quarter. Musical director Carol Bernard led the choir through beautifully harmonized traditional gospel tunes such as “O Happy Day” and Kirk Franklin’s “He Will Supply,” in addition to several original songs, performed in both French and English. The choir and its brawny rhythm section enthralled the audience, inspiring clapping, swaying, stomping and dancing.”
– JazzTimes Magazine
“The power of the voices and the arrangements on this third album, bringing together 18 singers and 20 musicians, has the effect of an electric shock. The solid performances and impeccable diction of the choristers takes our breath away.”
– Flèche, the magazine of the Laurentians
“I rarely stay for an entire concert, but the quality of the performance convinced me to stay for the second half!”
– Steven Lafortune, Journalist (TC Transcontinental), Victoriaville
“Jireh Gospel Choir is amazing and conveys a joyous energy that is out of this world!”
– Laurent Patenaude, General Director, Quebec International Sacred Music Festival
“When voices with exceptional timbres come together and are driven by a passion rooted in the foundations of the heart and soul, then without a doubt you are attending a Jireh Gospel Choir concert, my personal favorite of Festival Classica 2013.”
– Marc Boucher, Artistic Director, Festival Classica (Saint-Lambert, Quebec)
“I am a teacher in the music department of the Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy, a private college (CEGEP-level) in the Quebec City area. … I was lucky enough to be traveling in my car this summer at the moment your December Club Soda concert was broadcast on CBC. Wow! What a treat for my ears and my spirit. The phrase “In that great gettin’ up mornin'” has become my mantra. It got me through the first days of school meetings…”
– Michelle, Quebec
“Their sound resonated with the soul of the church, and touched the heart of the audience.”
– Journal Ouest-France, France
“…In 1997 they delivered a high quality and high energy performance which exhilarated and inspired the full-to-capacity audience… I invited them back in 1999 and they WOWed us again… We plan to invite them again. The music is excellent and it has soul. Plus Jireh has that extra bonus of professionalism — they are friendly, timely and willing to cooperate and collaborate … The talent is there; the right attitude is there too.”
– Jimmy Swift, Festival Director, Discover Jazz Festival (Burlington, Vermont, USA)
JAZZ FEST COMES TO LIVELY CLOSE
“… the effervescent singing of Montreal’s Jireh Gospel Choir at the Waterfront Gospel Tent… uplifting…”
– The Burlington Free Press, Burlington, Vermont, USA
“… That it [the street party] turned out to be one of the hits of the festival was, in part, due to the high quality of your performance, not only the music, but the visual impact of the choir and the way in which the enthusiasm on stage was picked up by the audience…”
– Jim Galloway, Artistic Director downtown Jazz Toronto
“… ACCOMPANIED BY THE ELECTRIFYING JIREH GOSPEL CHOIR, MARIO PELCHAT TREATED HIS FANS WITH A WONDERFUL MUSICAL CHRISTMAS NIGHT
… The audience had quite a baptism of gospel last night when Mario Pelchat ceded the floor to the Jireh Gospel Choir. Excellent, the group offered a performance that got them a well merited standing ovation right from their first appearcance in the show…”
– Le Droit, Gatineau
“Your concert was a great blessing to our church. In fact, your concert had an impact on the worship team Sunday morning and on our church, we worshiped the Lord with passion. It was great! Many people in our church said, Boy! wouldn’t be great to have them every week? Already, we are talking about having you again. So, thank you for a great evening. I know many people in our church invited their friends and neighbours.”
– Normand Joseph, Pastor, Église de l’Espoir (Longueuil, Québec)
“The awards evening was attended by more than 1500 people at Place des Arts and Jireh Gospel Choir greatly contributed to its success and rose to the occasion by delivering a stunning performance and demonstrating professionalism.”
– Marie-Elaine Boudreau, Events Manager, INFOPRESSE
“SAVED BY THE CLOSING SHOW Festival-goers were numerous for the closing show featuring the energetic musicians and singers of Jireh Gospel Choir.”
– Journal de Lévis
“What a dynamic show! A band and beautiful singers that swing! … A must see and hear.”
– Pierre Quintin, Program Director, Lévis Jazz Etcetera Festival
“The lucky people who attended the concert honoring Mrs. Daisy Peterson-Sweeny [sister of Oscar Peterson] will certainly remember the dazzling performance of Jireh. That Sunday the choir lifted the crowd. And we all understood a little better the galvanizing dimension of gospel music…”
– La Voix Populaire, Montreal
“… Jireh Gospel Choir is unique. Their ministry is powerful both in French and in English and I recommend them wholeheartedly and without reservation…”
– Rev. Claude Houde, Senior Pastor, Église Nouvelle Vie (Longueuil, Québec)
“… I was totally knocked out by your presentation. I loved the incredible energy of your choir and the great songs you chose to perform on this memorable day…”
– Pierre Ménard, Director Maximum Blues Festival (Carleton, Québec)
“… Thank you for the show that you gave at the Salle J. A. Thompson in Trois-Rivières… The ambiance that you created was “superheated”, most of the people in the audience remained standing for almost all of the show and could not stop themselves from dancing to the lively rhythms of your songs. No doubt that the professional quality combined with the passion that shines through is felt and communicates an enthousiasm and a desire to live a unique experience….”
– Jean Luc Proulx, President of Le Bon Citoyen ( Trois-Rivières, Quebec)