Sup folks.  Know I’m a little late on this but hey I’m getting better! LOL.

Last Saturday, myself and a bunch of others made our way to ATL (That’s Atlanta…lol) for the live recording of Vashawn Mitchell and friends new CD “Triumphant.”  The recording was held at Higher Living Christian Center in Hampton, GA which is just a few minutes outside of metro Atlanta.  Let me stop lying, it was a little far out (ha!) but totally worth it!  The church almost looked fake it was so well maintained and beautiful.  I’m famous for chewing gum or having a mint in church, but this spot was so dope I didn’t even feel right about it and spit it out before I went into the sanctuary. Although I’m pretty sure the church security team (meaning real serious ushers) would have TOLD ME  EXACTLY what to do with my gum had I walked in there with it in the same way they let me know that they’d appreciate me putting my phones away.  (Y’all pray for my disobedience on that one….lol) But enough about all that, it’s about the music!!!

I’ve been a fan of Vashawn for some time, but I can say this with an unbiased conscience…this is going to be the game changing CD for him. (Coko, Youthful Praise, Vashawn, it’s THAT kind of year!) The singers were AMAZING and at many times throughout the evening, I kept asking folks around me how much pre-production there had been because surely, the singers had to have pre-recorded those vocals.  They were that dead on.  And having been to a million and one recordings, the evening was extremely efficient and moved along.  It wasn’t a concert riddled with false starts and stops that no matter how experienced you are in attending recordings, can start to get annoying. 

I can’t give it all away, you don’t have that kind of time. And me, I MIGHT just go in talking about it, so I’m gonna hit the highlights for ya. Is that alright? (*points mic to audience like church folks do*)

Vashawn & Friends did an exciting cover of the new Praise & Worship hit “Chasing After You.” Lajuanese “Neecy” Robertson sang lead with Vashawn on this one.  You may recognize her name as she’s an alto with Ricky Dillard & New G and a popular psalmist in the Chicago area, Vashawn’s hometown. She was caught up the MINUTE she grabbed the mic for this song. I enjoyed her though, trying to get through that song although it was CLEAR she wanted to run around the church about 10 times and lay all the way out! Neecy, get yours!!! (hehehehe)

Next up was a song that each and every one of us will be singing in our various churches (yeah, I’m gonna have one!) REAL soon.  “Searched All Over/Nobody Greater” is probably one of the most beautifully written worship songs I have EVER heard.  It was written by a young man named Darius Paulk, but in my heart of hearts I believe that song was made for Vashawn.  Every bit of it was just perfect! Ok, I gotta stop right there, because that song….. *whoosh*

Another moment that I look forward to on the upcoming CD is the song “All Is Well.”  This song was led by a young new artist named Jason Woods, who I’m going to go on record and say “look out for him.”  Dude has a clean voice with just the right amount of “stuff.” You know what I mean, not boring and plain, but not so many runs and tricks that it gives you a headache. Just right. I’m looking forward to his future. But the magic of “All is Well” didn’t stop with Jason…

During "All Is Well," Vashawn passed the mic to Ted Winn who happened to be sitting in the audience. As in many recordings, everything doesn't always get to make the album, and Ted was just there to show support, but I really hope some of what he did makes the cut. As I sometimes say, "It was in his key!"

However, if "All Is Well" were an Ice Cream Sundae, the ABSOLUTELY AMAZING Lecresia Campbell would be the whipped cream, chocolate sauce, butterscotch, AND the cherry that set the whole thing off. She sang us crazy with and insert of "It Is Well" like ONLY SHE CAN. (Seriously, how does she hear the stuff she does?!)

After a quick wardrobe change, Vashawn and friends came back with the title track “Triumphant” but sent me OVER THE EDGE with “Can’t Take My Joy Away.” It epitomized R&B gospel and everything about it was just very “feel good.”  But here’s where I lost it.  There was another friend in the audience…

Sunday Best Runner-Up Jessica Reedy tore it down with an impromptu reprise and adlib on "Can't Take My Joy Away." It was absolutely bananas in there the minute Vashawn looked in her direction and called her up. Not sure if this will make the CD or DVD, but THIS is the reason that you need to attend live recordings whenever you can. The stuff that happens on the fly.... Jessica Reedy is still one of my favorite singers on the planet!

Later that evening, Vashawn sung a new song called "Be Fruitful." This song had me unable to move. It was a very profound moment in the concert for me, and I'm not sure what everybody else was doing because I went into a whole nother place. But the hook of the song will stay with me forever: "It's not only your time, but your turn."

To close an already awesome concert, Vashawn pulled out the big guns! Lisa Page-Brooks, whom I've already said is probably one of the baddest singers of our generations absolutely ripped "The Blood Still Works" to shreds! She sent the ENTIRE room into complete and utter chaos. Thankfully the stage was elevated, because we all proceeded to throw things at her. It was a madhouse. Lisa sang us so crazy that I think I may have have punched Latrice Pace in the arm by mistake. It takes a lot to get me to act as foolish as I did as she sang, but she gave us all of that and then some. So if you see a photo or a clip of me going in like a teenager at a youth retreat in 94, I told you first! *whoosh*

Well that’s all I got.  Reliving the experience just to write this blog has worn me out.  I’m now going to call Vashawn’s management, the fabulous Neily Dickerson of the ND Company (one of my gospel industry mentors) and ask if she can play the tape of the recording over the phone for me or something to hold me over til the CD comes out! Special shouts to B. Chase Williams, Anthony Brown of AJB and Answered Prayers, Darlene McCoy, William Murphy, Bishop Larry Trotter, Bridgette Campbell-Croft, Jawn Murray and Latrice Pace who were also in the audience. 

And an EXTRA special shout-out to my dude Gerard Bonner of GospelFlava.com and Bonnerfide for hooking me up with the photos!!!

When it drops, get this CD because it’s gonna get you!

Torrence

TAGS: Anthony Brown, B. Chase Williams, Bishop Larry Trotter, Bridgette Campbell-Croft, Darius Paulk, Darlene McCoy, Jason Woods, Jawn Murry, Jessica Reedy, Lajuanese "Neecy" Robertson, Latrice Pace, Lisa Page-Brooks, Neily Dickerson, new g, Ricky Dillard, Sunday Best, Vashawn Mitchell, william murphy

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