Smokie Norful Presents: Victory Cathedral Choir

Smokie Norful Presents: Victory Cathedral Choir 

Sometimes music ministers are called to serve in other capacities and those pastors are on the increase, including Donnie McClurkin, Shirley Caesar and Marvin Sapp.  Smokie Norful joins this honored list as he mentors and shepherds his church congregation which is only five years young.  As the senior pastor of Victory Cathedral Worship Center in Chicago,Illinois, Norful has encouraged members to take their servant hood seriously.  In fact, he took a two year music sabbatical away from the microphone and the big stage to concentrate to begin serving his new church family. 

To say the least, Norful has been crazy busy these days.  Earlier this year, he simultaneously released three series of sermons from his home church backed by a music track which applies to the topic:  According to Your FaithYou Can, Matters of the Heart and The Myth of Unmet Needs.  Then there is the choir from Victory Cathedral for their first live recording close-up. All of these releases are part of Norful’s Tre Myles mogul for EMI Gospel. What makes Victory Cathedral Choir extremely special is the fact most of the members have not pursued professional careers.  They also are called on by Norful to serve the community outside their choir obligations. 

That said, some including myself were probably expecting Norful might and could have brought seasoned vocalists for the solos and VCC would primarily handle the backgrounds.  But after a thorough listen to Smokie Norful Presents Victory Cathedral Choir, VCC could stand toe-to-toe with many other mass choirs.  As an extra bonus, most of the soloists are in-house andseveral of the choir directors share in the songwriting.  Norful gets into the act with the choir matching him note for note on “Come Too Far,” backed by an infectious New Orleans rhythmic kick.  Chicago gospel reigns in the building with “The Greatest Name,” as Lenasia Taylor drops an invigorating performance.  “I Made It” brings back the goldendays of urban gospel a la Andrae Crouch & The Disciples and Rev.Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Choir (The Tommies).  Thomas Agnew’s tenor packs a lot of soul just like Smokie.  Likewise, VCC connects to the worship tracks with ease; especially with “Your Latter (Will Be Greater Than Your Past)” and “You Are All I Need” (co-choir director Keshia McFarland and Tiffany Gatlin’s rich sopranos handle the leads).  

Smokie Norful must be thanked for investing time outside his own musical endeavors in putting together a choir willing just to sing praise and worship for the sake of loving God.  Hopefully,this introductory recording for VCC will not be their last.

Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene