Brilliant concert by Marilyn Keller and New Orleans Delight.
The church of Bjurum was packed to the last seat at the Wednesday evening jazz concert. It was the very first concert presenting this art form, even though the repertoire to quite an extent is prevalent in the hymn book.
The internationally celebrated jazz singer Marilyn Keller was invited together with one of the better European New Orleans-inspired bands, the Danish-Swedish New Orleans Delight.
The program of the church concert comprised almost entirely the hymns and gospel songs that once eased the adversities for the coloured people of the Deep South.
First jazz performance in Bjurum's Church
Text and photo: ROLF Johansson
0515-670404
The reveille sounded at six in the morning on the opposite side of Öresund and shortly after, the band bus headed north along icy roads to the exotic Bjurum. In spite of this early call, there was no perceivable fatigue and the audience witnessed a most relaxed and professionally performed church concert.
FLAMING ENTHUSIASM
Joined in an ardent interest for the music that once helped the slaves in the Deep South to endure their hardships, Marilyn has worked with the band since 2004. Many generations later this music is still rendering happiness and relief to modern people.
Extended summer tours have made Marilyn Keller a great friend of Sweden, but this was her first visit during winter time. She is supported by a devoted host of admirers, and the 215 tickets available for the Bjurum occasion were selling like hot cakes. Marilyn is a lovely mixture of a notable gospel singer and a straightforward girl. Moreover, she is an evangelist, ready to share her faith with others. In a way, the first capacity intensifies the second, making her anecdotes preceding each number very meaningful and her artistic achievement serene.
MARILYN TAKES CHARGE
Marilyn leading the band entry down the aisle while waving her richly coloured sunshade was a gorgeous sight. After a little while she pitched into the calypso tune “Born Again” after which she whipped up the rhythm in ”Higher Ground”. Otherwise she selected gospel songs and spirituals from her repertoire. Songs which she listened to while growing up at home in the Baptist annex. ”Just A Little While To Stay Here”, ”In The Garden”, ”Lily Of The Valley”, ”Just As I Am” and many others. A fluent ”In The Sweet Bye And Bye” proclaiming that ”.. we shall meet on the beautiful shore”. The rendition of “How Great Thou Art” left no doubt why this homage to God, composed by the Smålands-vicar Carl Boberg, gained world-wide fame. The evangelic message was fully accomplished in ”He Touched Me” og ”His Eye Is On The Sparrow”, and the spoken words as well as the song moulded into a heartfelt personal testimony - ”…something happened and now I know, He touched me and made me whole”.
THE GENTLEMEN
How NOD's courteous gentlemen relate to the above was not revealed, however, when it comes to their music, superlatives are inadequate as usual. At the present tour, the group appears sans trumpet, obviously altering the band sound - on the other hand the vocalist is left with plenty of scope. Maestro Kjeld Brandt is directly a fascinating clarinettist, and also he warrants high-quality workmanship and dares venturing. For the present tour he hired trombonist Fredrik John from Lund, a glorious musician displaying a sonorous power. Due to sickness, the regular banjoist Erling Lindhardt was substituted by Leif Bjerborg, who merged unobtrusively with the group.
THE VITALITY OF LIFE
Elegant and clever action characterized Hans Pedersen at the piano, and he was also responsible for several fine arrangements of Marilyn's songs. Stefan Kärfve slapped the bass with distinct authority, equally good whether plucking or bowing the strings. Drummer Claus Lindhardt laid out a solid beat for his colleagues to rely on.
The host of the evening, perpetual curate Magnus Carlsson, attended to the devotion pointing out the sources of light, joy, life, and belief; he also touched on the need for co-existence among people sharing the same earth, and on the fact that God is an integrated part of our being - a spring of vitality from which the music also originates.
All things considered this was a successful opening night for the New Orleans music in the church of Bjurum.
First-rate soloists. The gospel singer Marilyn Keller and maestro Kjeld Brandt at the Wednesday evening concert at the church of Bjurum.