Photo Credit: with permission Mariposa Folk Festival
An all-star Canadian cast of award-winning blues and roots musicians will perform a special concert honouring the father of Soul – Ray Charles! Under the direction of Juno award winning producer and musical director, Lance Anderson, the concert will feature the phenomenal singing and playing of Kitchener’s Matt Weidinger and soul and gospel sensation Quisha Wint, and Toronto’s sax legend Gene Hardy (Bourbon Tabernacle Choir). Ray Charles mixed the gospel of his youth with the blues of the clubs and invented ‘soul’ music. Taking the classic gospel song – ‘It Must Be Jesus’ he put new lyrics to it and the result was ‘I’ve Got a Woman’ and the birth of Soul. This show features all the hits like ‘What I’d Say’, ‘Unchain My Heart’, ‘Hit the Road Jack’, ‘Hallelujah, I Love Her So’, ‘The Nighttime is the Right Time’, ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ and more. Two hours of music that will soothe your soul and have you dancin’ in your seats. When you hear Quisha Wint sing ‘Georgia’ you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Anderson says: “It is a rare opportunity to be able to get together and play the wonderful book of Ray Charles songs. This small group format harkens back to Ray at his critical best; The Atlantic sessions, with just his piano, organ and a rhythm section. You will feel like you are back in the clubs on the chitlin circuit.”
We also feature the Hammond B3 organ and the incredible sax playing of Gene Hardy (Michael Buble, Bourbon Tabernacle Choir), not to mention Kevan Mckenzie (James Taylor, Anne Murray) on drums, one of Canada’s top recording musicians. This show will pick up your spirits and give you the lift that only the musical Genius of Ray Charles can provide.
Personnel:
Lance Anderson – organ, piano
Matt Weidinger – vocals, piano, organ
Quisha Wint – vocals
Gene Hardy – saxophone
Kevan McKenzie – drums
Check out: “God Gave You Hands” “Learning to Live Together” “Georgia on my Mind” “Anderson/Wint at Tremblant International Blues Festival”
