A Triumphant New Year’s Eve

Triumphant Quartet Concert Review

Bethel Gospel Tabernacle Presents:  Triumphant Quartet In Concert

Monday, December 31, 2012

Hamilton, Ontario – Canada

By Lorraine Walker and Joan Walker

New Year’s Eve in Hamilton, Ontario was a frosty night with drifts from the week’s snowfall still edging the parking lot as carloads of eager concert goers jockeyed for space. Inside the auditorium of Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, the main floor and balcony were filled with an excited hum as the pews filled and friends greeted each other. In the foyer excited fans surrounded the Triumphant product table and met group members, giving their requests and obtaining their favorite CDs. It was time for the concert to begin and as the lights dimmed, the crowd’s expectation was palpable.

The Lead Pastor of Bethel Gospel Tabernacle, Ralph Mills, opened the evening with a brief introduction of Triumphant, a group of gentlemen he had been privately praying with moments before. He assured the crowd that this quartet was the same off-stage as they were in performance, and then brought the group onstage to appreciative applause.

Triumphant Quartet bounded onstage and began the evening with several of their fan favorites. The group performed songs like “Saved By Grace” and “He Is” with excitement, excellence and fervor, creating an amazing blend of ministry and connection with the audience. Eric Bennett took the lead in the old Goodman song, “Look For Me”, sung in Bennett’s typically smooth, expressive, round bass tones. David Sutton entertained the crowd with the fun, “He Raised Me”, his tenor voice beautifully strong and sweet for the entire evening.

Jeff Stice wowed the crowd with his piano performances sprinkled throughout the program. Sutton joined him on the harmonica and the crowd clapped enthusiastically along with “Goodbye World, Goodbye”, producing a standing ovation from the audience. Sutton vocals soared with “Oh What A Savior” and the group followed that with “Don’t Let The Sandals Fool Ya”, another crowd pleaser.

Clayton Inman then began “The Old White Flag” and white handkerchiefs were soon waving from one end of the auditorium to another, to the delight of the quartet.

Inman was in fine form both vocally and in his bluegrass dancing, eliciting much laughter and response from the audience. After seven years of performing that song, Inman and his group still make the experience fresh and fun.

Stice brought another piano interlude, performing “Oh How I Love Him”. He told about playing old songs and hymns for his Mom,  reminding the audience that, “If you forget where you came from you won’t know where you are going,”  and following up with the unaccompanied hymn, “Mansion Over The Hilltop”, as the congregation sang along softly. The highlight of Stice’s performance for this writer was his rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus”, a crowd favorite and a piece richly expressed by this delightful pianist.

Scott Inman blessed the audience with his beautiful baritone and warm personality, relating the experiences of the birth of his new daughter, Embry Caroline. His exceptional performances of “The Great I Am Still Is” and “Somebody Died For Me” were beautifully sung.

Other highlights of the evening included an acapella rendition of “God Rest You Merry Gentlemen”, the ‘50’s influenced and choreographed version of “I Wish It Would Rain”, and the fun “Movin’ Up To Gloryland”.

In closing, Eric Bennett led the audience in prayer for those who needed to meet Jesus for the first time as well as those who needed a special touch from the Lord in the New Year. The congregation joined hands and were encouraged to pray for each other in 2013.

Triumphant performed to a crowd of over 800 New Year’s Eve revelers who were vocally responsive and completely appreciative of this award-winning quartet. Through vocal excellence and entertainment as well as a strong message of the love of God and His ability to save and heal, Triumphant brought Christ to  Hamilton Ontario on New Year’s Eve. It was a night that not many will forget.