Martindale-Brightwood Live in Paris: The Album

Pascal and the Miss Pearl Mass Choir on 2.14.2026

1874, Indiana : The towns of Martindale and Brightwood are settled near Indianapolis. Settled to become the second largest African-American neighbourhood of Indianapolis after Indiana Avenue. Settled to be a thriving land of culture, businesses, neighbours, children and churches. An oasis of hope in the city for many African-Americans.

24th of August 1872, Paris: the first stone is laid of the "Église Évangélique Baptiste de Paris", a neo gothic church similar to some we see in Indy. The church with the oldest immersion baptism trough in Paris. A 10 minute walk from the Louvre.



22nd of May 2026, Paris : "Martindale-Brightwood : Live in Paris" a folk and gospel album celebrating the culture of Martindale-Brightwood has its release party in this church, 153 years after the settlement of Martindale and Brightwood, 153 years after the building of the church it was celebrated in.

About 50 people convened to hear Pascal Glock and the Miss Pearl Mass Choir perform seven songs from the album. From a translation into french of the African-American gospel classic "Total Praise" by Richard Smallwood, to a re-wording of the state anthem of Indiana "On The Banks Of The Wabash, Far Away" into the hope-filled country anthem "A home in Martindale", to the visions of a mission of love in "Mission statement", the choir and its leader Pascal Glock sang the beauty and joy of Martindale-Brightwood in the megalopolis of Paris.



Written during the summer of 2025 during an artist residency in the Harrison Center, the songs trace a portrait of Martindale-Brightwood through its greatriarchs, the elders of the community. Names like Miss Gore, Miss Pearl, Mr. Lovett, Miss Lenoir, Miss Noreen, Mr. Frederiksen, Miss Ivey are spoken, their faces are seen in the paintings done by local Indy artist like Tashema Davis, Abi Ogle and Cierra Johnson, their stories are told here in the french capital, and through their stories themes of rootedness, knowledge and love of your neighbour, community and care for your locality are encouraged.

Pascal Glock spent a summer interviewing the greatriarchs and roaming Martindale-Brightwood by foot, bike and car, attending local events and seeking to understand what it means to be of the "terroir", the soil of Martindale-Brightwood. With a faithful ukulele and a laptop, he wrote songs speaking of history, belonging, and growth in Martindale-Brightwood.



Pascal Glock performed those songs three times in Indianapolis last summer before heading back to France.



Back in France and waiting on the mastering of the tracks, local concert opportunities led him to redefine the style in which he desired the songs to be presented.



After a powerful concert moment singing "Miss Pearl" in January, Pascal Glock had a vision of using his current schooling as a foundation for a complete re-recording of last summer's songs. With twenty other fellow musicians, he founded the Miss Pearl Mass Choir and planned the Martindale-Brightwood : Live in Paris Festival, which was attended by a hundred people over three days in February.



Fully recorded in the venue of the Cours Florent Musique, an eminent contemporary music school in France, mixed and mastered by its sound engineers, email after email to get approval for the translation of "Total Praise", the time came ripe on the 22nd of May 2026 to publish the album.



Through 11 tracks, Pascal Glock and the Miss Pearl Mass Choir sing and harmonise anthems to local greatriarchs Miss Pearl, Miss Eleyes and dear Miss Joanna Lenoir ("Shelter Me"), share a brand new gospel song, "GPJ", which was at first a proposition given to Martindale-Brightwood assembly Oasis of Hope during Pascal's stay in their fellowship, and sing of the pain of leaving a city like one leaves a lover on "Over ? (Martindale-Brightwood).



All songs are original. All celebrating the many facets of Martindale-Brightwood, a place of faith, strength and pride well placed.



Pascal Glock would like to thank the Harrison Center for making this entire project possible.

Stay tuned for more music. Stay tuned for a "Martindale-Brightwood : Indiana to Paris" documentary. Go give "Martindale-Brightwood : Live in Paris" a spin and celebrate the many lives and stories of a very special place in Indianapolis. Bonne journée !