 rganized in 1991, by the late Oliver Williams, Jr., The Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble has developed a reputation as one of the most exciting and innovative choirs in all New York. The Village Voice recently named the Ensemble as the best in the city in their, “The Best of New York City” series. They said, “It’s an unwritten rule that black church choirs deliver roof-raising, foot-stomping hymns, while their white counterparts are a tad more, uh, sedate. Not so at Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian. The multi-cultural and multi-ethnic Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble praises Jesus with a jubilant abandon that transcends gospel stereotypes while bringing to mind that Prince lyric about ‘black, white, Puerto Rican, everybody just a-freakin’ ”.
Now under the direction of Janis Russell, the Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble continues to add to the rich musical history of The Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church.
The Ensemble was featured in Donald Byrd’s critically acclaimed 1996 Harlem Nutcracker in its New York premier at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). They
performed at the 2004 tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and are regularly featured in the “Sounds of Praise” Gospel brunch series at BAM. The Ensemble has appeared at Arts at St. Ann’s – in the blues opera Slain in the Spirit with composer/blues artist Taj Mahal and with singer Fontella Bass. The group has performed for President Bill Clinton, for the Pope’s 20th anniversary celebration (St. Patrick’s Cathedral via satellite sponsored by Porta a Porta, Italy) and the Microeconomic Summit organized by the Queen of England. The group has joined NYU Professor Derrick Bell for a number of presentations of a reading/performance from his works Gospel Choirs: Psalms of Survival in an Alien Land Called Home and Ethical Ambition. In 2002, the Ensemble performed for the opening of the first annual Tribeca film festival from the steps of New York’s City Hall with Robert DeNiro and Nelson Mandela in attendance among others. The Ensemble was also the featured group at the 2004 Fifi Awards, the 2002 Gotham Film Awards banquet and performed with Pete Seeger at the 2003 ACRES Benefit Gala.
The Ensemble was featured in the Odyssey Network’s documentary series, Sewing Seeds (2001), was audio taped for a British Broadcasting documentary (2000) and was included
in a Welsh documentary focusing on American music traditions (1993).
During its years of existence, the Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble has flourished and been blessed in serving its Church, the Brooklyn Community and the New York Metropolitan area. Aggressively seeking venues in which to serve, the Lafayette Inspirational Ensemble is a thriving example of how an eclectic group of people can come together as one and show us a glimpse of the heavenly choir.
Rykodisc USA 1996, John Cale, Walking on Locusts
BMG France 1996, Carole Fredericks, Springfield
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