The Sojourners

The Sojourners new album is just plain good listening. But more importantly it shouts for social justice by reinforcing those inseparable links between the early spirituals, gospel, and activist folk music which all arise from hope, faith and courage in the face of adversity. Listen and you shall be released. - Marc Lindy, Host/Producer - Gospel Train, CFRO 100.5 fm - October 2013

Joy is seldom something that can be purchased but this second release from Vancouver’s Sojourners comes close. The combined talents of Ron Small, Will Sanders and Marcus Mosely have the soulful firepower to bring mere mortals to their knees—having witnessed them live—but they’ve succeeded in bringing their distinctive brightness and light to this 11-track gospel love-in, deftly guided by producer and player extraordinaire Steve Dawson.
In his care, their material stays current: traditional numbers like Brother Moses Smote the Water and By and By benefit from Dawson’s rich accompaniment on guitar and lap slide, regardless of tempo. Covering present-day material like Los Lobos’ The Neighbourhood underlines their strengths at reinventing the familiar while their treatment of Franklin Williams’s It’s Hard to Stumble (When You’re On Your Knees) uses pedal steel and B3 to bring their church to the country.
The album’s highlight is, however, their rendition of Rev. Gary Davis’s Death Don’t Have No Mercy. Slow and mournful, the soloist teams with Dawson’s banjo and Hawaiian lap steel to haunting effect as Mike Kalanj’s B3 and the rhythm section of Keith Lowe (bass) and Geoff Hicks (drums) keep things rooted on the ground. There are a few hiccups—the blend of their voices just this side of heavenly on occasion—but this is hardly sinful in the context of the pleasure derived from this uplifting collection. Going to church was never more rewarding.

– By Eric Thom - Penguin Eggs - April 2010

The Sojourners are quite unlike any other gospel group recording today. The Canadian trio - Will Sanders, Ron Small, and Marcus Mosley, all born in the USA but based in Vancouver, BC - draws on the African American gospel quartet tradition, but because there are only three members, non singing bass, the harmonies are pitched higher and are different from those of most quartets. The sweet vocal blend is at times similar to that of the Impressions, especially on the CD-opening NOboday Can Turn Me Around', a Mighty Clouds of Joy tune possibly inspired by the IMpressions' 'Woman's Got Soul". (Or is it the other way around? Both songs are from 1966.) Other quartet-associated numbers on the trio's self-titled sophomore recording include the Golden Gate Quartet's jubilee-style 'Brother Moses Smote the Water', the Jackson Southernaires' country-flavored "It's Hard to Stumble (When You're On Your Knees)', and the Violinaires' "Another Soldier Gone" rendered in a glorious doo-wop manner. And in addition to Dorothy Love Coates' 'Strange Man', Doris Akers' "Lead Me Guide Me", REv. Gary Davis' "Death Don't Have No Mercy", Charles A. Tindley's "We Will Understand It Better By and By", and the traditional "Great Day (Who Shall Be Able to Stand)", the wonderfully eclectic program includes two non-gospel tunes: Los Lobos' "The Neighbourhood", and "Whien I Die", a 1969 hit by the Canadian pop group Motherlode.

Unlike most current American gospel recordings that are aimed at the church crowd and feature synthesizers and fancy drummers, the Sojourners are produced by Steve Dawson offer a more organic approach with a solid yet subdued rhythm section of organ, bass, and drums and plenty of Dawson's guitar. The trio's take on gospel music seems intended to target the white roots-music audience that's fond of the Blind Boys of Alabama - though the Sojourners' harmonies are smoother - and Robert Randolph and other sacred-steel guitarists. Indeed, Dawson frequently plays slide guitar in a searing sacred-steel fashion, albeit less ferociously, while at other times his picking suggests the Merle Travis-Chet Atkins tradition. The CD may contain some excellent instrumental work, but it's the trio's outstanding vocal blend, which achieves an uncanny balance between passion and polish, that makes it such a winner.
- Living Blues - June 2010

One of the many surprises about the Sojourners is that they hail from Canada - not usually thought of as a hotbed of gospel music. That's just scratching the surface, as there are plenty of other surprises on their eponymous second effort.

Keeping traditional gospel at the center, the trio offers nods to Blues, mountain music, and even brings in a little rock & roll vibe in some parts. The entire disc is anchored by powerful vocals and tight harmonies with Marcus Mosely, Will Sanders, and Ron Small taking turns in the lead spot. Good harmony comes through as one voice with layers, and these guys nail it every time.

The backing band is no disappointment, either. Much of the record features Mike Kalanj on organ (Hammond B-3 and the more subtle Wurlitzer), adding texture and levity. There's also outstanding guitar work from Steve Dawson, who also produced the album. Ranging from Delta slide to dirty Blues to electric funk, Dawson adds flourishes in just the right places.

The disc opens and closes with solid traditional gospel numbers, with some more experimental tracks sandwiched in the middle of the set. One of the standouts is the David Hidalgo composition "The Neighborhood" strays from gospel and dives into urban funk, with powerful guitars and thumping bass. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" (the Gary Davis number) starts off as a deep Blues, but slowly eases into a New Orleans-style funeral march.

I think my favorite track is the closer, "By and By," which takes a turn to hillbilly gospel, featuring Jesse Zubot on mandolin. Hard not to imagine being in a country church on a hot summer Sunday during this one.

Deep, masculine vocals carry the disc from start to finish. Authenticity always gets my attention, and as the Sojourners wind their way through various forms, it's always centered on gospel.

Eric Wrisley is a senior contributing editor at FolkWax.
- FolkWax - July 2010

Canadian lovers of gospel music seeking some domestic practitioners of the art have been quick to welcome Vancouver, BC-based trio the Sojourners. Their 2007 album, Hold On, was their debut, but these American expatriates are far from musical novices, boasting 50 years of singing experience apiece. Their work together as an ensemble pays off on a second album that's even more impressive. Along with producer Steve Dawson, Marcus Mosely, Will Sanders and Ron Small have come up with strong arrangements to such traditional gospel tunes as "Brother Moses Smote The Water," "Another Soldier Gone" and "Great Day." The Gary Davis classic "Death Don't Have No Mercy" is brought to vibrant life, and the choice of Los Lobos tune "The Neighborhood" was a smart one. The Sojourners' solo vocal turns and group harmonies are first-rate, and there's nice musical variety. Dawson's guitar work is typically fluent, the B3 and Wurlitzer accompaniment of Mike Kalanj is equally effective, and Jesse Zubot's mandolin adds a country tinge to "By And By." This is sweet and soulful stuff, indeed. - Exclaim - March 2010

The links between gospel music and the Blues are many, yet plenty of Blues lovers tend to overlook them. They should take a listen to The Sojourners. This vocal trio - based in Vancouver, Canada, though the three men are from Texas, Louisiana and Chicago – has a sound which is firmly in the tradition of the great groups of the forties and fifties such as The Golden Gate Quartet, The Soul Stirrers, The Swan Silvertones and others. It is a joyous, yet often thoughtful approach (‘Another Soldier Gone’ is a good example, with a very contemporary relevance). It can also be very, very Bluesy, as for example, the driving ‘Strange Man’ here, and of course the cover of Reverend Gary Davis’s “holy-blues” ‘Death Don’t Have No Mercy’, whilst ‘When I Die’ is a dead-ringer for Curtis Mayfield and The Impressions. Nor do they always look backwards – there is a fine, slightly heavy version of the Los Lobos socially conscious number ‘The Neighborhood’. Producer Steve Dawson has supplied a small, very sympathetic group for this, the group’s second album. How’d I miss the first, and how do I get hold of it? - Blues Matters - April 2010

The Sojourners comprise Will Sanders, Ron Small and Marcus Mosely – three artists who between them have been singing gospel for over one and a half centuries. “Real” gospel that is liberally spiced with blues, doo-wop, soul and R&B with just a dash of country for good measure – a fervent blend of styles that will delight lovers of all of the aforementioned genres.

To accompany them they are joined by a band that respects and reflects this diversity of styles – Steve Dawson weighing in with some killer blues guitar – Mile Kalanj bathing the mix with alternately churchy and R&B inspired Hammond B3 – with Geoff Hicks and Keith Lowe anchoring the music effectively.

The set opens with the soul infused gospel of “Nobody Can Turn Me Around”, the Sojourners’ joyful harmonies accentuated by mellifluous B3 with Dawson’s tremolo and slide guitars adding a distinctly bluesy edge. The traditional “Brother Moses Smote The Water” with it’s “percussive” harmonies and bluesy slide is another “killer track that emphasises the potency of the groups’ harmonising.

Marcus Mosely takes the lead on “Great Day”; the inherent fervour in his vocals complemented by Dawson’s heavy slide whilst the B3 leads the Sojourners to a dramatic climax – whilst on the Violinaires’ “Another Soldier Gone” Will Sanders’ deeply soulful lead and the Sojourners’ haunting harmonies make their sorrow feel almost palpable making this a relevant paean to the troops currently fighting in Afghanistan.

Ron Small’s impassioned vocals take the lead on Doris Akers’ “Lead Me Guide Me” – David Hidalgo’s “The Neighbourhood” has a strong Holmes Brothers’ feel, replete with bluesy guitar – whilst Sam Cooke comes to mind on the Will Sanders’ led “When I Die”.

The CD is tail-ended by two superb performances – “By And By” having a strong Big Bill Broonzy feel – whilst Gary Davis’s “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” is a gospel “tour-de-force” with the vocals exuding a raw, undiluted passion that is echoed by Dawson’s sombre Electro-Hawaiian lap-steel guitar.

One of the tracks on this set is entitled “It’s Hard To Stumble (When You’re On Your Knees)” – well the Sojourners don’t stumble once on this wonderful set and, I can only say that “I am on my knees praising it”.
- Blues In Britain - April 2010

Ain’t every day dude steps up and tells you he’s about putting the stank on Gospel. Specially when said dude is a former missionary with significant cred in Gospel music and a founding member of Canada’s premiere old school Gospel act. But Marcus Mosely is a man with a mission and a heart full of soul. When he says the stank is needful, believe it.

“ The mission is to bring Gospel music back into the mainstream. We’re doing it by emphasising the music, not the message. We’re putting The Sojourners stank on because people seem to like it like that”, says the Texas-born Mosley from his Vancouver crib.

The rest of the “we” are Ron Small and Will Sanders, formerly of Chicago, Illinois and Alexandria, Louisiana, respectively, and together they makeup The Sojourners. The trio initially came together four years ago to do background vocals for blues legend Jim Byrnes on his Juno winning album, House of Refuge. The experience was such a big up for all involved The Sojourners decided to stay together and since then has enjoyed a dual life as its own group and as Jim Byrnes backing act.

In the Eighties Mosely settled in a Vancouver with almost as many Gospel acts as Moscow.

“ I wasn’t connected at first but as far as I can recall there was only the one Gospel act called Faces, which ocassionally did gigs outside of the church circuit.”

Lacking the substantial black population base, which supports Gospel in cities such as Halifax and Montreal, that situation wouldn’t change until Vancouver’s population became more racially mixed.

“ Its gotten a little better now, with groups like Gospel Explosion who regularly do shows for the secular market, outside the church. For instance, the Yale Hotel, a well-known blues bar, has an ongoing Gospel show on Sundays and here are a few other venues which feature Gospel acts. But I wouldn’t say it has that big a presence on the music scene in general. The Sojourners would like to change that.”

They wouldn’t be the first Gospel act to try cracking that toughest of musical nuts but Mosely isn’t worried as his crew has a solid ace up its collective sleeve.

“ I was a missionary all over the world for 16 years and music was a very important part of that. Whether with words or music, I learnt it was better to communicate with the uplifting and positive rather than the dire and gloomy. I took my guitar everywhere I went and the music I played wasn’t all Gospel. I played any music that would relate in a positive way.

“ We do this when we take the music into the secular world. You go into a club, the people are there for a good time. We figure if an audience gets into the energy of the music they’re more likely to get or be open to the inspirational experience. No point in putting preachy music in front of people who are out for a good time. The point is communicating and to communicate you have to speak their language or make yours relevant to them. We broke out as a vocal trio and could have gone out purely as a Gospel chorale act. But putting an electric band instantly makes the music of interest to a lot more folk.”

House of Refuge hit big for Jim Byrnes and took The Sojourners along with it. They went from gigging on the Left Coast to European tours and the heat was on to get them into the studio. The resulting debut, Hold On, sent word that a new Gospel sound had arrived on the scene. It scored loads of positive press and garnered comparisons to classic Southern groups like the Soul Stirrers, while a killer cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “People Get Ready”, made the blues heads take note.

“With Hold On, we were new to the process and it was a little rushed. We’d just come off a really successful tour backing Jim and the feeling was that we should get something out there to cement the identity of the Sojourners as a stand-alone act. We made the decision to add a band and get the Sojourner stank in the mix as part of our identity and as a way of reaching out beyond the Gospel audience”.

The success of “People Get Ready” as a stepping-stone for the secular was not lost on the boys and mindful that the Lord helps those who help themselves, the self-titled new album has two. Both Gary Davis’ ‘Death Don’t Have No Mercy’ – a song long associated with the Grateful Dead and Los Lobos “Peace in the Neighborhood”, a tune that references Gospel’s long association with civil rights and social justice, are given The Sojourners treatment which involves dabs of doo wop and r’n’b.

"The debut album was about show casing old school, hardcore Gospel, which is what we’ve always done. Even as we were finishing that one, the idea was in place create a signature sound, which would evolve from that. I believe we have that signature sound on The Sojourners. That doesn’t mean we’ll be standing steady with it. Musically, Sojourners aren’t about holding the course. The core of the music will always be hardcore Gospel but I believe evolution is possible within the genre”.

This ev - Cashbox - January 2010

Several years ago, Canadian blues singer Jim Byrnes needed some backup vocals for a new album. He called his friend, Vancouver-based gospel singer Marcus Mosely, who contacted two of his friends, Will Sanders and Ron Small. When the trio began singing, they knew that they had stumbled onto something special. During the session, Byrnes gave them the name The Soujourners, and an act was born.

After the session with Byrnes, they teamed with roots music producer/performer Steve Dawson to make their own recording, and then they made a name for themselves appearing on numerous sessions. Their latest self-titled release, on Black Hen Music, is an excellent showcase for their vocal talents, honed over a combined 150 years of musical experience. Re-enlisting Dawson as producer, the trio is presented in a traditional classic gospel setting, highlighted by Dawson’s stellar blues-based guitar work and Mike Kalanj’s soulful Hammond B-3, and a tight rhythm section (Keith Lowe – bass and Geoff Hicks – drums).

The eleven tracks include several traditional tunes, such as a breathless version of “Brother Moses Smote The Water,” an exuberant “Great Day,” and “Another Soldier Gone,” which features a moving vocal from Sanders. Though most of the vocals are done in unison, each singer gets a lead vocal of their own. Small does a fine job on Doris Akers’ “Lead Me Guide Me,” Mosely nearly brings the house down on “Great Day” and “Strange Man,” and Sanders’ lovely take on “When I Die” is another standout.

Those wonderful group harmonies are the selling point of the disc, however, and the trio is at their best on tracks like “Nobody Can Turn Me Around,” Los Lobos’ classic tune, “The Neighborhood,” the country-tinged “It’s Hard To Stumble (When You’re On Your Knees),” and a mesmerizing reading of the Reverend Gary Davis’ “Death Has No Mercy.” A superb “By and By” featuring Dawson on Weissenborn and Jesse Zubot on mandolin closes the disc.

The Sojourners’ vision of gospel music has roots in soul, country, blues, and doo-wop. Whatever your religious leanings may be, you’ll find that there is a lot to love in their music.

- Graham Clarke
- Blues Bytes - January 2010

It’s impossible to listen to The Sojourners without smiling. This is gospel music in the same category as The Blind Boys of Alabama. So much of ‘gospel’ music produced since the post-O’ Brother Where Art Thou-era has lacked depth and soul. But not The Sojourners. They are the real deal, belting out tunes like “Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb” and “Eyes On The Prize” with passion and energy. There are no weak tracks on this record. It has the feeling of a southern church revival meeting a few decades ago where every note is believed. Acclaimed producer Steve Dawson deserves a lot of credit on this album. His myriad of guitars and percussion provide the perfect punctuation to the songs, framing outstanding vocal deliveries with wonderful nuances. This album is one more gem from Black Hen, one of the more consistent folk labels running in Canada today. There is no reason why The Sojourners shouldn’t be doing the Sunday morning gospel stages at Folk Festivals across this country. Hopefully soon.
- Dale Nikkel
- Echo Weekly - October 2007

Sojourner is one of my favourite words; it simply means someone staying somewhere temporarily, but it has a rich and tumultuous history to it in connection with slavery of the 18th and 19th century. One of the greatest abolishionists, who took on the term as a permanent name was Sojourner Truth, whose landmark address ‘Ain’t I A Woman?’ turned many a head as a woman and former slave had spoken out to the extent she had previously. So a gospel group adapting the term ‘Sojourner’ as their musical name is a delicious statement and homage to ancestry.
From the ‘get-go’ you see The Sojourners have dug so deep into their spiritual roots that they have ended up on the other side of the continent; all the way from Vancouver to the ‘deep south’ where Gospel was born, to be specific. Hold On is their debut album, but all three members Ron Small, Will Sanders, and Marcus Mosely have had extensive careers within the realm of music and particularly gospel music as they are members of The Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir. These guys are as authentic as the well-worn pews and well-used Bibles stationed in any Church welcoming the sounds of Gospel songs. Rich and textured voices that harmonize along a rolling sea of sound waves; The Sojourners take you on a gentle walk down the back alleys and pathways of the soul and have you cathartically ending up on the other side.
Songs like ‘Children Go Where I Send Thee,’ and ‘Old Ship Of Zion’ are masterfully constructed as if they had been sung in a Gospel choir for centuries, even though all the songs are original of The Sojourners on Hold On. ‘People Get Ready’ has remnants of Motown within its harmonies while songs like ‘Eyes On The Prize’ draw in a blues influence. The Sojourners are a mature group of performers, singing mature songs, for possibly an older audience; although I find that pigeon-hole a little too small for their sound as songs like ‘Clean Up’ could have easily slipped into an R&B sound and particularly in regard to lyrics and melody. Perhaps venturing towards more of an R&B sound might be something The Sojourners might explore in the future, but for now you can be guaranteed a solid debut collection of songs that will be as sweet as the bread and wine of communion.
- Kindah Mardam Bey
- AnE Vibe.com - October 2007

Like far too many other music blogs, I generally stay within a comfortable niche with the music I listen to. I may make a show of listening primarily to Canadian music, but the fact is, for the most part it's all pretty easily classifiable within the broad heading of indie rock.
This is why I'm so happy to be able to write about The Sojourners. After all, it's not often I come across a straight-up, old-tyme gospel group, but Hold On falls pretty squarely under that category. It's got gorgeous vocal harmonies accompanied by minimal instrumentation, and songs like "Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb" and "Children Go Where I Send Thee" are simply gorgeous. Even people whose tastes run towards the adamantly secular should find at least one thing here to enjoy, in the form of the trio's cover of Curtis Mayfield's People Get Ready" -- though even there, The Sojourners bring the song's spiritual meaning to the fore.
Of course, you'd have to be pretty churlish to find fault with them there, and I'm certainly not going to do that. Hold On is a phenomenal album, and an excellent reminder that sometimes it's important to look beyond your usual tastes, because it can often lead to wonderful things.
- Matthew - iheartmusic.com
- iheartmusic.com - September 2007

When I first heard Canada’s Sojourners quartet – Ron Small, Will Sanders, and Marcus Mosely – on fellow Canadian Jim Byrnes’ recent CD House of Refuge (also on Black Hen), I wrote in TBGB: “…they deserve a project of their own.” Voila! They have one. And it’s as good as I imagined it would be.
The Sojourners specialize in close, old-time quartet harmony. Hold On proves they are well schooled in the gospel quartet songbook, as they offer up authentic readings of some of the songbook’s classic compositions. “Old Ship of Zion,” “Walking Up the King’s Highway,” “Eyes on the Prize,” and a cover of the Charming Bells' 1949 “Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb,” the latter featuring a cameo appearance by Byrnes, are just a few.
A string band (Steve Dawson and Keith Lowe) and drums (Geoff Hicks) provide a folksy feel to the songs. In fact, the seamless intermingling of old-time string band music, country blues, and traditional black gospel singing is characteristic of the gospel CDs coming from our northern neighbors. It’s an amalgam reminiscent of what Alan Lomax heard while traveling around the U.S. with his recording apparatus during the mid-20th century.
The Sojourners are preserving the jubilee-style of quartet singing that was once the most popular form of gospel music. And doing a marvelous job of it, I must say.
Three of Four Stars
- Bob Marovich
- The Black Gospel Blog - September 2007

Although it hearkens back to the sounds of the 30's and 40's, Hold On is the just released debut recording from The Sojourners, a Vancouver based gospel trio. The vocal group's roots find their way back to the very roots of Gospel music with the likes of the sweet soulful harmonies of The Swan Silvertones, The Pilgrim Travellers, and The Soul Stirrers.
For those of you not familiar with the history of Gospel music in America, the quartet was the reigning power during this period. Bands such as the above mentioned mixed traditional songs, songs written by men such as Thomas A. Dorsey (the "Father of Gospel Music" - The Sojourners' cover his songs Old Ship of Zion and Walking Up the King's Highway on the album), and some of their own material. Their songs started working their way into households throughout the country until eventually Sam Cooke became a national icon (really the first crossover star that appealed to young and old, black and white alike) and brought the Soul Stirrers into the national limelight with his blend of Gospel, R & B, and pop, which would later become known as soul. Not only did Sam become a national singing star, he was also one of the first modern black musicians to take charge of their own material by forming his own recording company.
Coming back to present day, The Sojourners have resurrected this classic sound and recorded eleven tracks of soul saving music. Some of the songs are songs written by them , the others are classic songs from that golden period (such as Children Go Where I Send Thee and Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb, a song that many of the great quartets played). As the album progresses, you'll notice some tints of the Motown sound in the later tracks as well. Do your soul a favor, listen to the following, and then order the album
- Sean - MISBIT
- Mainstream isn't so bad... is it? - October 2007

Yet another Sunday Morning coffee session, and this is probably the most appropriate selection for the category yet. The Sojourners are a gospel act from Vancouver, that benefit from silky souled out three part harmonies. Without trying to simplify the mix, I'd easily and happily compare then to the Blind Boys of Alabama.
Martcus Mosely, Will Sanders and Ron Small handle the vocals, and the three play off each other perfectly. Their vocals are diverse and can handle stomping tempos like the scat driven Run On, beautiful soulful ballads (Old Ship of Zion) and the more traditional gospel, clap-inducing hymns (Children Go Where I Send Thee).
The Sojouners are more than pleasant in the AM, they are uplifting. So little music these days is pure and full of heart, but these three men put their life in every song.
Without anything but a few simple claps, the vocals can harm your heart (Clean Up), but the guitar work of Steve Dawson shouldn't be overlooked. He freshens up the traditional gospel sounds with a lot of lap steel and the bending notes fit the vocals nicely. If you are looking to put some pep in your step on a Sunday morning, throw in Walking Up The King's Highway or People Get Ready and start feeling better.
- ack
- Sunday Morning Coffee Blog - October 2007

Grabbing you from the first moment of the soaring title track with pitch-perfect harmonies, Hold On is the righteous 11-track debut of Vancouver-based gospel trio the Sojourners. For 40 minutes, Will Sanders, Ron Small and Marcus Mosely reinforce each other's deep Southern traditional vocals that shine like church stained glass. Trading places seamlessly while adding the 40s-style minimalist guitar work of Steve Dawson, the vibrating bass lines of Keith Lowe and the femur-strength drumming of Geoff Hicks, the Soujourners take us on an almost perfect musical journey. How they make the lyrically astounding Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb slide into you with such ease is a testament to their irresistible soul. Boom!
- Now Magazine - November 2007

Since I'm on the gospel beat, here's a Canadian act with a twist: instead of Southern sounds, this Vancouver-based sacred trio with a choir background is backed by acoustic string band and bluegrass sounds on its debut album.
Produced by ace instrumentalist Steve Dawson (Zubat and Dawson), it is uncluttered and explosive. The trio creates a massive harmony, so big it is at its best a capella. The choice of acoustic instruments is brilliant, Dawson's ringing guitar and Keith Lowe's booming double bass against Geoff Hicks's propulsive, brushed drums that are as joyful as the music. The songs are gospel classics, but if you are new to the genre, like me, you'll get a kick out of numbers such as Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb and Children Go Where I Send Thee.
The ultimate weapon here is the high harmony singing, and The Sojourners are as brilliant as any of their Southern kin.
- Bob Mersereau

- Telegraph Journal - February 2008

The Sojourner’s sing old school gospel music with soaring vocal harmonies and a churning sense of rhythm. This trio of deep-throated crooners have voices which capture the soulful beauty of faith-based music. They turn classic tunes like “Farther Along” and “Old Ship of Zion” into lush anthems of hope and prayer. They also know how to create a rollicking tempo that can make the listener want to jump up and testify. The singers are ably accompanied by a three-piece combo of spirited instrumentalists. The underlying guitar, double bass and drums that accompany the vocals on the clang a lang beat of “Children Go Where I Send Thee” and “Eyes on the Prize” provide ample reason enough to listen. You don’t have to believe in a particular religion to enjoy The Sojourners brand of gospel, you just have to appreciate the miracle of song.
Rating = 7
Steve Horowitz
- Pop Matters - January 2008

Vancouver Province

Vancouver’s The Sojourners are Will Sanders, Ron Small and Marcus Mosely, all members of the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir. They were brought together to back Jim Byrnes on his current House of Refuge album and somebody go the inspired idea they should make their own CD. Whatever your spiritual inclinations, this is a gem. Produced by Steve Dawson, who also contributes some killer guitar, and accompanied by bassist Keith Lowe and drummer Geoff Hicks, it was recorded in three days and feels wonderfully spontaneous. From “Eyes on the Prize” to “Farther Along”, it’s soul-stirring stuff. A
John P. McLaughlin

Vancouver Sun

After hearing gospel vocalists The Sojourners back up Jim Byrnes on House of Refuge, one couldn’t help but wonder when they would record their own disc.
Now they have.
Hold On has Marcus Mosely, Will Sanders and Ron Small blending their voices seamlessly, accompanied by producer Steve Dawson on guitar and ukulele, Keith Lowe on bass and Geoff Hicks on drums (Byrnes appears twice in a guest vocalist role). The songs have their roots in Christian faith, but go beyond the church. Curtis Mayfield’s People Get Ready was a song embraced by the civil rights movement of the 1960s, and Eyes on the Prize became a civil rights mantra. Clean Up, sun a cappella, speaks about setting things straight and starting over.
Have a Little Talk with Jesus is a highlight, the three voices soaring in perfect harmony. Hold On is enough to make a music-loving atheist have second thoughts.
Marke Andrews
- Vancouver Sun & Province - September 2007