American bass-baritone and conductor Marques Jerrell Ruff has performed across the globe, including at the Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles, California, the Weiner Musikverein in Vienna, Austria, the Rudolfinum in Prague, Czech Republic, and the Mariinksy Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Hartford Courant marveled, “Ruff has a voice that has power, clarity and brilliant shades of color.” Mr. Ruff is a former member of the Grammy® award-winning ensemble, Chanticleer, and has distinguished himself as a versatile, dynamic performer and conductor across multiple genres. He holds degrees in music from Central Connecticut State University and the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Music Education at Florida State University. Mr. Ruff is a member of ACDA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He can be found @marquesjruff on all social media.
So Awesome! I have had this on repeat. The soloist has an amazing register. I love the energy of the conductor/ pianist. It's been a long time since i have been in choir but if i found a director like this... I would definitely go back!
I just discovered you on Facebook this evening and now I’ve heard a number of your RU-vid videos. Incredible talent. You may appreciate Harold Williams take on Messiah (especially the People that Walked in Darkness): ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GL3zHuCZUvc.htmlsi=_1zbrrcVtF96Uxe5
I have had the privilege and pleasure to hear Chanticleer in person several times, as well as by their CD recordings and RU-vid videos. They are consistent no matter how you hear them!
Always great to see and hear them. This is an older recording. Many members left and new ones came in. The lead singer still is with them. They are amazing and nothing changes, even with the nest singer. Happy to see them soon again in Ottawa.
When I was asked to perform this spiritual, composed in the Negro spiritual style by a white lawyer (of all people!), I thought I had found an inspired performance to guide me. It was good but the baritone was another white guy, like me. Your quiet, soulful, delicately decorated style gives the work the authenticity I was looking for and lifts this piece to another level. Merci beaucoup.
Looked at several versions. His deep male voice just rings clear and does the message in the song justice. No music, no back up, simple. Thank you for singing and posting.
Woah, sit down Now, now, now, now, no Sit down Woah, please don't make me Sit down 'Cause I just got to Heaven Sit down Gonna walk around Sit down, servant, and rest a while, sit down Yon come little David Sit down With his rock and sling Sit down I don't want to meet him Sit down He's a dangerous man Sit down, servant, and rest a while, sit down Sit down, servant I can't sit down Sit down No, I can't sit down Sit down, servant I can't sit down, I just got to Heaven and I can't sit down Says you can watch the sun, see how steady she runs Don't let it catch you with your work undone Joshua, Joshua, the son of a nun Good God Almighty won't ya stop the sun? God spoke to Joshua to do thy will He said if you fight the battle, the sun'll stand still He give me a lantern and he told me go He give me a harp and he told me to blow If I blew my lungs away That I would get them back in a coming day When I get to Heaven, gonna put on my shoes I'll walk around in Heaven and tell my news Look up, David, to heal the day Tune up my harp and begin to play Sit down, servant I can't sit down Sit down, servant No, I can't sit down You oughta sit down, servant I can't sit down, I just got to heaven and I can't sit down Oh, sit down, servant I can't sit down Sit down, servant No, I can't sit down Why don't you sit down, servant? I can't sit down, I just got to heaven and I can't sit down
