Joshua Nelson & the Kosher Gospel Singers to perform Osher Marin JCC November 21, 2009

The Kanbar Center for the Performing Arts presents Joshua Nelson & the Kosher Gospel Singers, on Nov. 21, 2009 at 8:00 pm. The event will be held at the Osher Marin JCC in San Rafael.

Inspired by his faith, & love of gospel music, Joshua blends Jewish religious lyrics and meanings with the soulful sounds of American gospel music to create this own Kosher Gospel. His fire-and-brimstone voice was "discovered" by Oprah Winfrey and compared with the late Mahalia Jackson.

Cultural traditions typically change slowly, over the long arc of history. But occasionally a folk cultural innovation emerges that are startlingly fresh in its outward manifestation, although it remains deeply-even reverently-traditional at its core. You may have never heard of "kosher gospel" music before today, but the inspirational performances of Joshua Nelson, the creator of this style, will surely call out to your soul.

While the word "gospel" a Greek word meaning good news, is usually associated with African-American Christian churches, the musical styling is African, sounds that came from several African tribes, and developed as a tool to escape social injustice. This was the Spiritual, the Meter Hymns, Jubilee songs and ultimately, the coined "Gospel Music." These African rhythms, pre-date the West Africans introduction to Christianity. These same sounds have been retained in the musical cultures of Black African Muslims and Jews, and such soul-inflected vocalizations filled the Black Hebrew synagogue Joshua Nelson attended as a child with his family, observant Jews who traced their lineage back to Senegal.

The band will be joined by locals The Red Hot Chachkas for a special collaborative piece.

Bringing Joshua to The Osher Marin JCC has been a collaborative effort from the North Bay Jewish community and is sponsored by Kol Shofar and in association with Rodef Shalom.
Presented in association with Kol Shofar.

Official Website: http://www.marinjcc.org