Chicago a cappella's "Birth of Gospel" educates, entertains

Chicago a cappella injected many of the selections—from “Precious Lord” to “Beams of Heaven”—with modern harmonies, though they showed their capacity to sing gospel harmonies on a Dilworth original, “No Rocks a-Cryin’,” and the Walt Whitman and the Soul Children favorite, “Perfect Praise.”  Soprano Alexia Kruger lofted operatic high notes a la DeLois Barrett Campbell on Robert Mayes’ “I Want to Walk and Talk with Jesus.”  Mezzo-soprano Emily Price’s million-dollar smile lit up the stage throughout the show as she reveled in the blue tonality of several songs.

Dilworth’s narration between songs educated the audience on the history of African American sacred music and set the stage for each selection. The ensemble’s rendition of Charles A. Tindley’s “Beams of Heaven,” arranged by Robert Wooten, was the standout.