Jubilation Choir – Hollywood Avondale: November 23, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Jubilation Choir marked their 25th anniversary with two sold out nights and a family-friendly matinee at the Avondale Theater Sundays matinee performance was a celebration of the natural joy of communal song.
A collision of gospel harmonies, soulful expression, and Kiwi music. For this weekend’s performances guests Julia Deans, Bella Kalolo, and Anika Moa joined the choir and the matinee was a shared delight for supporters, family and community which left the audience uplifted and smiling.
Founded in 2000 by Jean McAllister and the late Rick Bryant, Jubilation is an Auckland-based a cappella gospel choir with a beating Kiwi heart. Their repertoire spans gospel, soul, blues, R&B and contemporary classics. Over the 25 years they have received many accolades and graced stages at major festivals like WOMAD and Christchurch Arts Festival.
As they did earlier in the year with co-lab shows with Tigi Ness, todays performance was split with the first set focused on the choir then the second set showcasing the guests.
Easing in with the Lennon-McCartney number The Word their delivery radiated warmth led by soloists, Olivia Stephens, Kate Stalker and Karen Rutherford. Up next, the North Carolina gospel of Talking About a Good Time showed Jean McAllister in classic form and the song set the tone for the show.
Buzz Worley took us back to 1927 with Nobody’s Fault but Mine displaying all her R&B roots. In a continuation from their earlier shows Siaosi Andrew Ulugia introduced some Pasifika cool into Tigilau Ness’s Ahakoa, then Callie Blood got us back on the groove with Bad News Bad Times before the effervescent Jackie Clarke provided the set’s highlight with a stunning take on Joan Wasser’s The Magic.
The back end of the first set saw Marian Williams tenor showcased on the sanctified standard Travelling Shoes, James Moore masterful bass drive The Consolers If I’m Too High (Lord Bring me Down), and Olivia Stephens tune us in on LaVern Baker’s Saved before a rootsy version of A Change is Going to Come saw Paul Gurney close the set.
The choir’s harmonies throughout the first set demonstrated a deep familiarity with each other and the music, layered with precision yet brimming genuine affection.
The second set kicked in with a burst of energy and the mass gospel shout of I Want to Ride That Glory Train with Bello Kololo and Jackie Clarke dueting. The choir with Anika Moa and Clinton Gore in the lead turned Brit Pop ballad Tender into a full-fledged gospel wig-out. Then Julia Deans took the stage with her trusty guitar and a rework of Walk in The Sun off of We Light the Fire with the supporting harmonies providing additional lift to the chorus and emphasizing the hope filled lyrics. Anika went solo with her You’re the Light from In Swings the Tide with the groups warm humming leading to and affirming finish. Bella’s solo’s of Let Go from Time and Space and Mamas Eyes from her debut Without the Paper showcased her extraordinary voice and ability to deliver heart wrenching songs.
One of Julia’s new songs, Acquiesce, was enhanced with some soprano melody lines that was compelling. Not surprisingly the choral arrangement of Fur Patrol’s Lydia was a show standout with the full choir leading us to the songs’ emotional crescendo. Anika stepped up with tender Dreams in My Head before the set finished with Bella, Julia and Anika leading the choir though the Don McGlashan classic Bathe in the River, a song that always is simply astonishing. Jennifer Ward-Lealand closed the night with the beloved waiata/poroporoaki Po Atarua.
This was show of Kiwi gospel at its most joyous—a fusion of Traditional and Aotearoa that felt both reverential and passionate. There was clear synergy between choir and soloists with harmonies that testified, celebrated, and consoled in equal measures, supporting Bella Kalolo’s soulful crescendos, Anika Moa’s heartfelt delivery and Julia Deans’ beautiful tone and songs.
Previously I had seen the Jubilation team several times in the smaller Pumphouse and it was cool to see them in another venue, and wonderful that they had sold it out twice. The ability to deliver three concerts within two days is something to be admired. These events come together through a mass of dedication and hours of work by both the artists and the support.
Jubilation is a celebration, it is a reflection of the desire for people to create a shared voice, a salute to the art of harmony and a testimony to all the choirs out there practicing in community centers and church halls in order to bring the joy and the awe of music together.
As one reviewer aptly put it: ‘Expect joy. Expect goosebumps. Expect to leave singing.’ And indeed, the audience did.
John Hastings
Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Bonnie McMaster:
Jubilation/Anika/Julia/Bella Set list
FIRST SET
The Word / The Beatles
soloists Olivia Stephens, Kate Stalker, Karen Rutherford
arranged by Jim Hall
Talking About a Good Time / The Barnes Family
Soloist Jean McAllister
arranged by Tim Tenbensel
Nobody’s Fault / Blind Willie Johnson
soloist Buzz Worley
arranged by Tim Tenbensel (based on a Nina Simone version)
Ahakoa / Tigilau Ness
soloist Siaosi Andrew Ulugia
arranged by Tim Dodd
Bad News Bad Times / Anthony Helibut
soloist Callie Blood
arranged by Tim Tenbensel
The Magic /Joan as Police Woman
soloist Jackie Clarke
Arragned by Tim Dodd
Travelling Shoes /Marion Williams
soloist Lorraine Havill
arranged by Sally Dodds
If I’m Tomo High /Sullivan Pugh
soloist James Moore
arranged by Tim Tenbensel
Saved/ Leiber & Stoller
soloist Olivia Stephens
arranged by Jean McAllister
Change Is Gonna Come / Sam Cooke.
soloist Paul Gurney
arranged by Tim Tenbensel
SECOND SET
I Wanna Ride That Glory Train A Bradford/Abbyssinian Gospel Choir
soloists Bella Kalolo & Jackie Clarke
arranged by Tim Tenbensel
Tender/ Blur
Soloists Anika Moa & Clinton Gore
Arranged by Jean McAllister
Walk in the Sun – Julia Deans
Arranged by Julia Deans
You’re the Light – Anika Moa
Arranged by Tim Tenbensel
Let Go – Bella Kalolo
Arranged by Julia Deans
Acquiesce – Julia/Deans
Arranged by Julia Deans
Mama’s Eyes – Bella Kalolo
Arranged by Julia Deans
Lydia- Julia Deans
Arrnaged by Julia Deans
Dreams in my Head- Anika Moa
Arranged by Jean McAllister
Bathe In the River – Don McGlashan
Soloists Bella Julia and Anika
Arranged by Tim Tenbensel /DonMcGlashan
ENCORES
Po Atarau Clement Scott / Maewa Kaihau
Soloist: Jennifer Ward Lealand
Arranged by Sally Dodd
