Creativity and tradition are not opposed. Originating from Black American religious chants, Gospel is the major artistic expression of the spiritual culture, and its musical influence has long since gone beyond its religious confines : although we cannot attribute it with the paternity of jazz, it had a strong influence on this music and is at the very root of soul music. Inspired by and rooted in tradition, Gospel defies trends and brings with it a universal profoundness.
From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (USA), Monique Thomas very early joined the chorals of her local Baptist churches and in many of them became lead singer. Immersed in both the tradition of spirituals and in contemporary soul, she developed her own interpretation of Gospel. Living in France since 1998, she has finally found the opportunity to lay claim to her culture with an original project in the European Gospel landscape.
VOICES OF PRAISE is a thoroughly modern approach to Gospel, both in its respect for tradition and in its intention of faith, and, with a modern orchestration, is directly linked to the blues, funk and R'N'B cultures.

"The Gospel of Voices of Praise was announced as being rejuvenated. You donÕt say ! (...) Monique Thomas, Tiana Razafi, Isabelle Ouvrard and Laura Mujica have different voices, some clear, others husky, others deep. But they all have two points in common: incredible power, and an extraordinary vocal range, from the highest Whitney Houston to the deepest Louis Armstrong" -Philippe Léglise - LE JOURNAL DE SAONE ET LOIRE

"This formation adapts some of the gospel staples (Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson, James Cleaveland) but also some more modern arrangements (Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams) and some original adaptations of negro spirituals. Inspired by their deeply rooted gospel culture, V.O.P. integrate all the elements of this tradition in a repertoire that takes you directly to the pews of a Harlem church." - JAZZMAN

"Four superb voices, each with its own register: the husky and feline Isabelle, the more acidulous voice of the Spanish woman Laura, the silky, velvety notes of Tiana, from Madagascar... and, sometimes higher, sometimes lower, the powerful sonority of Monique Thomas who follows, dominates, responds or simply goes solo..." - SUD OUEST