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Beverley's Gospel Nights: Series 4 Recap by Bernard Achampong

It's being nearly two years between this series and the last. We're now halfway through the series and the journey in itself has been a testimony of God at work. Once again Beverley Knight is our guide to the wonderful world of Gospel.

We've had everything thing to deal with and overcome: from challenging Border Control regulations to chasing artists halfway around the world. We've seen the impossible made possible and the improbable become incredible.

Each guest in this series have brought a specific energy or challenge, and all are testimony to the great range within the ministry of Gospel music. Each artist reaches out to a different audience and have a different way of engaging through their background and experience.

  The series started with Yazz who set out the stall in no uncertain terms
  that her ministry is for Christ. I was even questioned as to whether this
  would be the appropriate guest for the first show as it came across as
  'too religious'. :-)

  Ruby Turner is practically the 'go-to' artist in Britain for
'Black female artists with a Soul' background (other than Beverley Knight
of course).

She too in her way and her work with Jools Holland is bringing the
message to a mainstream, sophisticated audience.

You probably don't get more mainstream than the ACM Gospel Choir.
Again, some Christians have suggested that having a choir that sing in a
gospel style for a mass audience misrepresents Gospel.

  This to me raises a very important question - who is qualified to
  spread The Word? A question we dealt with in the interview.

  There is no doubt about Ann Nesby who brings the heritage of
  Gospel as is recognised outside the church, but is also a
  dynamic representative of the way Gospel is moving today
  within its own industry and ministry.

Beverley Trotman represents the new, up and coming artists –
when the passion for spreading the Gospel and worship is often the
strongest and least jaded. It is evident that she has a hunger...
for souls.

Finally and by no means least is Jahaziel. Another controversial
choice: why should a Hip Hop artist have a place on Radio 2?

  It's not known for its association with the genre (unless you count
  Terry Wogan breakdancing in that Children in Need promo).

  However the interview is not an apologetic nod to Hip Hop. From the first
  question Beverley goes deep and explores the relationship between
  where Jahaziel is compared to the likes of Notorious B.I.G. through their
  similar album titles (Ready to Live vs. Ready to Die)

All in all this has been another incredible series which continues the discussion on how we 'do' Gospel in the mainstream.

I would appreciate your views but please listen to the shows first before you make a comment that might come back and bite you :-).

Thanks.

Bernard P Achampong
Senior Producer
Beverley's Gospel Nights

Yazz

Ruby Turner

Yinka Awojobi

Bernard Achampong is Senior Producer with BBC Radio Cross Trails - producing radio trails to promote the BBC’s television, radio and digital services.

Since his start in student radio Bernard has worked as Head of Music for Crush FM, and Mix DJ for Galaxy Network’s Sony Award winning, Hip Hop Elementz with 3 Style.

He joined the BBC in 2002 as part of the team that launched 1Xtra and he produced Radio 2's series Gospel Nights with Beverley Knight in 2006 whilst working with BBC Religion and Ethics Manchester.

He also won the commission for the Radio 4 Soul II Soul documentary which saw Trevor Nelson on the Radio 4 network for the first time before joining the BBC Cross trails team in 2007.

Last year he won the Radio Academy’s Promotions & Marketing Award for the Best National On-Air promotions for the BBC Proms on Radio 3.

Inspirational | Soulful | Jazz | African

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ACM Gospel Choir

Beverley Trotman

Jahaziel

Yinka Awojobi

Founder, UKG/ UKGospel.com group of sites. 

I really didn't want my picture here, but I'm bowing to pressure.

George Luke

Freelance journalist, all-round nice guy.

Has a weird obsession with international gospel music.

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