Chews’ ‘diverse traditions’
lift voices in Manhattan
By Vinette K. Pryce
A concept borne from a biannual
Carnegie Hall gospel
concert series billed “A Night
of Inspirational” bloomed
uptown Manhattan recently
when Ray and Vivian Chew
curated a free, musically, spirited
collaboration of church
choirs to sing inside the Park
Avenue Synagogue.
Titled “Lift Every Voice:
Welcoming Diverse Traditions”
the event curated by the
couple delivered a program of
songs rendered by members
of the Harlem Japanese Choir,
the Christian Cultural Center
and Baptist choirs gleaned
from New Jersey and New York
to feature cantor Rabbi Azi
Schwartz who has been a staple
headliner at the Carnegie
Hall concerts.
To describe it as rocking
faiths might be an understatement
because a packed assembly
filled the sanctuary to make
a joyful noise and did just that
when the choirs backed the
reputed cantor and song stylist
Valerie Simpson and others.
Introduced and conducted
by arranger and producer
Ray Chew, Simpson entreated
the congregation with her hit
composition of “Reach Out
& Touch” and returned front
and center to provide her version
of “Bridge Over Troubled
Waters.”
The reputed cantor tripled
his gifted presence by introducing
Caribbean L 38 ife, Nov. 29-Dec. 5, 2019
two of his sons who had
a musical moment when they
took the microphone to wail
Hebrew anthems.
And more often than is
recalled, many raised their
hands in praise, applauded and
expressively gave standing ovations
to the message and purpose
of the occasion.
“We want you to join in saying
‘Amen’,” Ray implored.
As a miniature orchestra
amplified each melodic harmony,
the diverse gathering
eagerly echoed Amens to the
cantor’s message of “Oseh Shalom.”
Plenty of Halelujahs also
repeated throughout the
evening too, at times compelling
cell phone technology to
capture the fervor and engagement
of the interdenominational
gathering comprising
mostly Christians and Jews.
Brooklyn’s Pastor A.R. Bernard
expressed joy at witnessing
the assembly. He seemed
spiritually lifted.
With Vivian Chew’s acknowledgement
of several Baptist
ministers, Rabbi Cosgrove
and others, the possibility of a
repeat performance might be
looming large for future collaborations.
Cantor Azi Schwartz, Vivian and Ray Chew. Sonia Chin
The reputed
cantor tripled his
gifted presence by
introducing two of
his sons who had
a musical moment
when they took the
microphone to wail
Hebrew anthems.