Riding the Hallelujah Train

A two-day gospel music project featuring a sermon and live performances pulls into Durham's Hayti Heritage Center Oct. 10 and 11 as part of Duke Performances' "By the River" series.

Gospel singer Pastor Brady Blade Sr., his son Brian Blade and guitarist Daniel Lanois headline The Hallelujah Train beginning with a live performance at 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10. The next day, Pastor Blade will lead a worship service at 10 a.m., followed by another live performance at 5 p.m.

The performances, featuring talented sidemen and the choir from Pastor Blade's church, will be recorded for a live album co-produced by Duke Performances. Aaron Greenwald, director of Duke Performances, anticipates the audience at each show will include 200 Shreveport, La., residents, who will travel on chartered buses for about 16 hours to attend.

"While Pastor Blade is a gospel singer and a preacher in what we might think of as an old-time tradition, Brian, Daniel and the other musicians on the project come from worlds that encompass rock and roll, folk music, country, indie rock and jazz," says Greenwald. Given the gospel roots of the project, Greenwald chose the Hayti Heritage Center -- a deconsecrated former A.M.E Church -- as the site for the performances. Pastor Blade has led Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport, La. for nearly 50 years. His son, renowned jazz drummer Brian Blade, is known for his work with the Wayne Shorter Quartet as well as Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris. Producer and guitarist Daniel Lanois has worked with U2 and Bob Dylan.

"It is part of Duke Performances' mission to serve as a place where both the Durham and Duke communities can come together and share experiences," says Ken Rumble, marketing director for Duke Performances. "While most of the time we're asking people from Durham to come to Duke because the vast majority of our productions are held on campus, we want to make as much of an effort as feasibly possible to do things outside of campus so we can bring Duke out into the Durham community."

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The Hallelujah Train 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10 5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 11 Hayti Heritage Center General tickets are $26; $5 for students

Worship Service with Pastor Brady Blade, Sr. 10 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 11 Hayti Heritage Center Free & open to the public

Information: dukeperformances.duke.edu.