Kandré McDonald, Freelance Writer
LEFT: Candi Staton in performance at Gospelfest's 'It Soon Be Done' held at Cinema II, Dominica Drive, New Kingston on Sunday. Staton's lengthy performance also included testimony about her life and how she became a Christian. RIGHT: Minister Claudelle Clarke rocked the crowd with some long time favourites. She had the audience on their feet rocking with her at Gospelfest's 'It Soon Be Done', a gospel concert, held at Cinema II, Dominica Drive, New Kingston on Sunday. - PHOTOS BY WINSTON SILL /FREELANCE PHOTOGRAPHER
THE ATMOSPHERE in and around Cinema II, New Kingston, was enlivened with praise and worship courtesy of It Soon Be Done - Gospel Fiesta 2005, staged last Sunday evening at the venue.
Minister Claudelle Clarke, who hails from St. Thomas and has been singing since she was fourteen years old, rocked the crowd with some long time favourites. Songs like After All This Life is Over, I've Got Jesus, That's Enough, and We Are Free We're Born Again had the audience on their feet, with hands stretched skyward.
The audience joined Clarke as she danced for Jesus. And, although she has been residing in the United States, her Jamaican roots seemed still intact as her thrilled with a convincing display of the famous Jamaican ska.
Clarke was succeeded onstage by Reverend Otis Wright who brought some old school gospel to the fore. Reverend Wright, armed with his guitar and with backup singers in tow, went straight into his set, which was dominated by songs from yester-year. The pioneer of gospel music in Jamaica, who has been ministering in Florida and New York for years, showed that he was still fresh.
CROWD RESPONSE
He started his over-30-minute set with Home Once More as sections of the crowd rose to their feet. He then went straight into songs from the sixties and seventies, which included Some Day I'll Go Where Jesus Is, Leave Babylon and Come, I Love That Man from Galilee, On the Battlefield for my Lord, and It Soon Be Done.
Minister Carlene Davis followed and did a beautiful and moving set. She came onstage at about 7:45 p.m. singing Behold He Comes, and when her performance ended at about 8:25 p.m. she still looked as if she could go on. Davis' performance also included dance, as members of the Church On The Rock dance ministry joined her on more than one occasion.
Davis injected many references that were relevant to the local situation in her performance with songs like This Island Needs Jesus, He is Their Forever Friend and Nothing but the Blood Of Jesus. She did a well co-ordinated version of Third World's Try Jah Love and a praise and worship segment before exiting the stage.
CANDICE PERFORMS
After an almost-30-minute intermission, headline act, Candice Staton, took the stage. She ministered in song before pausing to give a short testimony of her past experiences, which was dominated by alcohol and drug use. She then sang Mama, in recognition of the woman that helped her to find the Lord.
Staton then brought the crowd to their feet with The Glory of Jesus which the audience sang from beginning to end. Her more than 40-minutes set came to an end after allowing the musicians to introduce themselves.
Born and bred in Trench Town.
