Vashawn Mitchell | Triumphant

Vashawn Mitchell | Triumphant by Peggy Oliver

Many luminaries in the gospel industry have looked up to Vashawn Mitchell for impeccable gospel melodies since the late nineties. And he has plenty of gospel history in his corner. After his tenure with the St Mark Baptist Church music department under the tutelage of Bishop Lonnie Hunter, he worked his way up the ladder to the Senior Minister of Music position at Sweet Spirit Church. Both congregations are located in Chicago, certainly one of the most influential urban music Meccas in the U.S. While at Sweet Spirit, Mitchell was blossoming as a nationally known songwriter for notables like Vanessa Bell (Armstrong), Fred Hammond and Ernest Pugh. His contributions with Bishop Larry Trotter and Sweet Holy Spirit with “It’s Only A Test,” “My Worship is For Real,”et. al. has enriched the traditional Chicago gospel sound. Even though he built his reputation as an arranger (check out the classic hymn “All Hail the Power” from Believe In Your Dreams) songwriter (“Don’t Last,” “Where The Praises Are”) and producer, the Chicago native can hold his own in front of the microphone and exhorting others into the full worship zone. Understandably, Mitchell, who faced some difficult times during his youth, feels totally at ease ministering for God; especially when it comes to encouraging those to understand God’s purpose for their lives. He bowed as a recording artist in 1998 with So Satisfied alongside The New Image Chorale for the independent company Manatee Records. Yet Mitchell was willing to sacrifice his solo career for a season to further the cause of ministering to the Sweet Spirit church family.

When Mitchell was ready to break from Bishop Trotter and Sweet Spirit, his solo career was back on track. He financed his second solo project in2005 – Believe in Your Dreams, which was eventually picked up by Tyscot Records; then followed it two years later with Promises. But the biggest change of all was a change of address with a new church ministry role as Minister of Worship & Arts at New Birth South in the greater Atlanta area. This move was probably the biggest sacrifice ever considering Mitchell cultivated his ministry and recording career within the Chicago gospel environment. More recently, there was a switch of record labels in which he parted ways from Tyscot to join the EMI Gospel family.

His new label debut, Triumphant,shifts the musical focus from the soulful Chicago gospel traditions to an urban pop attitude, but this minimizes Mitchell’s praise and worship dynamics. He continues to gather excellent support from his choir,musicians and his longtime associates co-producers Daniel Weatherspoon and Rick Robinson. Triumphant’s setting is the Higher Living Christian Church (Mitchell’s new church home in Hampton, GA.). The majestic opener complete with intense marching snares, “Conqueror,” sets the tone; dropping scripture verses about living victoriously such as “You are the head and not the tail.”(Deuteronomy 28:13). Mitchell’s creamy tenor takes “Nobody Greater” (the first single off Triumphant) on a captivating worship ride from a calm but confident manner to a joyful noise from both the choir; sandwiched in by well-placed adlibs from Tasha Cobbs. “Chasing After You” was first recorded by Bishop Paul S. Morton and The Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship Mass Choir in 2008 on their Cry Your Last Tear project. In a wise move, the version on Triumphant rarely differs from FGBCF Mass, and features a fervent exchange between Mitchell and Tajuanese Robertson. The title track brings a little bitof funky R&B punctuation especially the popping bass and the stopping points, but maintains the praise level with high integrity. The backing choir is stellar in their vocal tone and presentation throughout Triumphant; one example being “You Reign.” Between the proclamation of “You reign, Jesus” and the plaintive worship vamps, this track substantiates the quality of talent Mitchell surrounds himself with. For the “what really rocked my spirit” award, the honors go to “His Blood Still Works,” which detours back to Mitchell’s Chicago gospel roots. It just seems every time the track’s soloist Lisa Page-Brooks grabs the microphone, the church service heads to a higher plain.

Mitchell may not quite have the vocal embellishments at his disposal. Yet how he structures each track without going into overindulgence is what makes Triumphant one of the best praise and worship discs of 2010. And when all is said and done, no matter where he lives or what musical style he tackles, I am sure more gospel artists will want to tap into Mitchell’s special talents.

Peggy Oliver
The Urban Music Scene