CD Review: Vashawn Mitchell – Believe in Your Dreams

Believe in Your Dreams
Vashawn Mitchell
Tyscot 2005
www.tyscot.com

If the walls of Bishop Larry Trotter’s Sweet Holy Spirit Church on Chicago’s southeast side could talk, they’d sing. And shout.

Sweet Holy Spirit has hosted many of the city’s – and the country’s – finest gospel programs and performances. Several artists have also employed the church’s “wall of sound” ambience for their live albums. Vashawn Mitchell’s Believe in Your Dreams is one of the latest recording projects to use these hallowed halls to full effect.

TBGB has already written about Mitchell, a multi-talented gospel artist who has accomplished plenty in his young life and whose best days are yet to come. It has also reported on “No Way,” a single from Believe in Your Dreams. Gospel radio listeners will also be familiar with the equally bouncy “Where the Praises Are,” another single selected from this album. “Dreams,” the quasi-title track, with its simple and lovely melody, positive message, and superb call-and-response between Mitchell and the choral ensemble, is certain to follow suit in frequent rotation on gospel radio.

Other notable moments on Believe in Your Dreams include the choir’s fascinating arrangement of the spiritual “Aint-a That Good News.” While the classical reading is quick and bright, this version is slow and world-weary, evoking a mood that is arguably closer to the song’s roots in chattel slavery. The arrangement and the choir’s subtle vocal gymnastics delight the live audience. “Chicago Bump” – Malcolm Williams and Great Faith offer up “Chicago Bump II” on their latest album – seems to be a euphemism for the delightful gospel ragtime licks that signal Holy Ghost presence in the house.

“Lost in His Presence” gives the project its most poignant moment. Anita Wilson’s anguished singing during the song’s vamp provides enough emotional drama to send the assembled multitude into fervent whispers of prayer. While the congregants are lost in their personal rapture, the choir delivers a reverent reading of a hymn, “All Hail the Power.” This section captures eloquently the electricity of masses praying in a modern church service in a way few nationally-released projects have successfully accomplished.

Contemporary gospel artist Joey Woolfolk (of Joey and Veronica) leads the exceptional band of musicians.

Believe in Your Dreams is an album resplendent with invigorating surprises each time the CD player clicks to the next track.