About Us

Formed in the year 2000, Jubiliation is a gospel choir based in Auckland, New Zealand. We are not affiliated to any church (indeed many of us are not religious); we simply get together every Tuesday night because we love to sing this music and all of us get a kick out of trying to sing it well.

Although our repertoire is firmly rooted in traditional African-American gospel, we also sing songs by contemporary songwriters that draw on that tradition (e.g. Ben Harper, Cissy Houston, Rev. Richard Smallwood and even Van Morrison, Tom Waits!) as well as having the luxury of an in-house song-writing and arranging team. At present our repertoire stands at about 50 songs and we try to add one or two new songs for every gig to keep things interesting.

Even though our membership of 30-plus singers includes professional musicians and actors (e.g. Jackie Clarke, Rick Bryant, Amanda Billing, Jean McAllister, Fiona Samuel, Jennifer Ward-Lealand…) that is not a requirement. In fact, many of us don’t read music. But, regardless of our background, we aim for professional standards of performance and recording (there is a CD on the way).

Because we have such a pool of talent in the group we don’t have a single musical director, instead a team of five people give the group direction. This is the sort of group where everyone's input is valued.

Our performance schedule keeps growing. We perform on a semi-regular basis at the Alleluya Café on K Road when the weather is warm enough and at various other venues around Auckland that take our fancy (we like the acoustics found in old churches so often will take one over for a Saturday night). We try to do two gigs each summer at the fabulous Leigh Sawmill. We are invited to festivals around the country from West Auckland to Tauranga to WOMAD in New Plymouth. We are in increasing demand for fundraising and corporate events and have made appearances in places like Kim Hill’s radio show and on the sound track of the movie “No. 2”.

See Us

If you just want advance warning of our upcoming performances you can join our email list. Drop a line to Mimi Lewell: smd@aquachill.co.nz, and put Jubilation List in the subject line.  Or you can join the email list directly by entering your details at NZBlues.com.

Book Us

A number of organisations have used performances by our choir to inject some soul into a special occasion - fundraisers, Christmas parties and the like.  Nic (above) is also the person to contact if you have a corporate or special occasion that you want to spice up with hot gospel contact Nic Beets: vnic@ihug.co.nz, phone 09 575-5798 (day) 09 575-5794 (evening)

Always Lift Him Up
(Blind Alfred Reed)

Bathe in the River (Don McGlashan)

Come On Up to the House
(Tom Waits/Tim Tenbensel)

Didn't It Rain
(Norfolk Jubilee Quartet/Tim Tenbensal)

Don't Ride That Hellbound Train (Elder Charles Back)

Down to the River
(traditional)

Every Day Will be Sunday
(Thomas A. Dorsey)

Everything That Has Breath
(Richard Smallwood/Tony Backhouse)

Fix It Jesus
(Canton Spirituals)

Full Force Gale
(Van Morrison)

Hard Times
(Steven Foster/Willi Zwodesky & Helen Phare)

How Far Am I from Canaan
(Rev William Herbert Brewster)

I Know I've been Changed
(traditional/Tony Backhouse)

If I’m Too High
(Sullivan Pugh)

I’m On My Way
(Rick Bryant/Tim Tenbensel)

I’m Somebody
(Cissy Houston)

Jesus is on the Main Line
(traditional)

John the Revelator
(traditional)

Jubilating
(Rick Bryant/Tim Tenbensel)

Learn to Forgive
(Rick Bryant/Tim Tenbensel)

Nobody’s Fault But Mine
(Blind Willy Johnson/Tim Tenbensel after Nina Simone)

Old Time Religion
(traditional)

Peace in the Valley
(traditional)

People Get Ready
(Curtis Mayfield)

Please See My Grave is Kept Clean (Blind Lemon Jefferson after the Staple Singers)

Poor Wayfaring Stranger
(traditional/Tim Tenbensel)

Power of the Gospel
(Ben Harper)

Prayer Wheel
(Pentecostal Choir of Detroit; Tony Backhouse)

Precious Lord
(Thomas A. Dorsey)

River of Jordan
(traditional)

Roll Jordan Roll
(traditional; after The Fairfield Four)

Shackles (Erica and Tina Atkins)

Shady Green Pastures
(traditional; after ARC Choir)

Shining Light
(Rick Bryant/Tim Tenbensel)

Sit Down Servant
(traditional; after ARC Choir)

Somebody’s Knocking
(traditional; L. Woodward)

Straighten Out Your Life
(Larry Lee arr. Tony Backhouse)

Swing Down Chariot
(traditional; after Dorothy Love Coates)

Take a Step in the Right Direction
(Morris McGee/ after The Me)

Talk to the Man
(traditional; after The Fairfield Four)

The First to Come Home
(Jean McAllister)

The Storm is Passing
(traditional; after The Persuasions)

Travelling Shoes (traditional)

Wanna Ride That Glory Train
(Abyssinian Bapitist Gospel Choir)

Wan’t Gonna Tell Nobody (Testify)
(Abyssinian Bapitist Gospel Choir)

You Are My Everything
(Rev. Timothy White)

You Got to Move
(Mississippi Fred McDowell)

Small Group Songs:

Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody

Ain’t No Grave
(traditional)

Bright Morning Star
(traditional/Emmylou Harris)

Ezekiel Saw the Stone

Ninety Nine & a Half

Run Along for a Long Time
(traditional; after The Paramount Singers & Landfordaires)

Spiritual (Ysaye Maria Barnwell)