July 4th, the big American holiday. Lots of traditional fireworks glittering around the city in the evening, setting off colorful sparkles and booms and shrill whistles. On such an evening as this, why would anyone be indoors?

Just ask those who caught the Friday concert of gospel music performed by James Hall and choir as part of the California State University Summer Arts program in Fresno.

Why go? Two words: Vocal fireworks.

Gospel music, of course, has the power to reach into the depths of a soul and wring strength from struggle or rev ecstasy from glory. Its rhythms and harmonies, especially through a choir, remind us of the potency of unity. Gospel may be an expressive, spiritual search for God and goodness and answers to life's low moments, but -- musically -- it's also an art form of its own.

The concert, staged in the Fresno State Music Building's Concert Hall, was facilitated by CSUF professor Thomas Whit Ellis. Organizers said it was a "first of its kind" for the Summer Arts program, one that took two years to pull together. It was well worth the effort.

Hall's choir was made up of 24 people from the Summer Arts program's gospel singing course. Dressed in black attire, the men and women of different ages and races (most from local churches) soared and swayed through songs that often had people in the audience clapping and out of their seats.

Hall, known for his killer vibratos and twister harmonies, founded the gospel singing ensemble Worship & Praise in 1987. Their debut album, "God Is In Control," distinguished Hall as a key presence among New York choir programs. Hall also has worked with top performing artists, including Mary J. Blige, Cyndi Lauper and Kirk Franklin.

For the Fresno concert, Hall sang and accompanied the group on the organ, except for one song on piano (there was only one other musician, playing the drums). Hall also had his assistant, Sean Tillery, and Christopher St. James from Fresno's St. Rest Baptist Church, to lead the singers. (Tillery, in fact, performed a wonderful solo of "Amazing Grace.")

Under Hall, the choir started with "Blessed Be The Name," a song with moments of gut-stirring harmonies. But that was just the warm up. By the time they got to "Deep Down in My Heart," with Hall singing lead vocals, many in the nearly filled hall were on their feet in rapturous movement. That is the fun of a concert like this one -- sheer joy driven by voices in electric accord. There's no dependence on amped-up instruments or laser lights or an army of dancers. It's all pulled from eager human vocal chords in vibrant and uplifting waves.

You could appreciate it in a song in which the choir repeats and repeats the line "Lord, help me to follow Thee," with only Hall at the piano as accompaniment. It was a thoughtful search to win a struggle and find a better life, the inflections and sounds reflecting that search every time the choir sang that line.

At the end of the evening, Ellis said that there would be another concert at 7 p.m. next Friday (July 11) in Concert Hall.

You'll have your own chance to get your soul rocked.