Vanessa Bell Armstrong – The Experience

Vanessa Bell Armstrong
The Experience
EMI Gospel 2009
www.emigospel.com

Southwest Michigan Mass Choir alumna and Stellar Award winner Vanessa Bell Armstrong is one of the most powerful gospel singers in the church today. Her flawless delivery and pacing have as much to do with her God-given talent as with the tutelage she received under the exacting standards of the International President of the COGIC Music Department, Dr. Mattie Moss Clark.

Vanessa recently brought her larger-than-life voice to Chicago’s storied Harold Washington Cultural Center for The Experience, a live recording produced by Donald Lawrence.

In many respects, The Experience belongs just as much to Donald as to Vanessa. It certainly has his musical touch, and his company of background vocalists are an all-star cast, including Valencia Lacy (Shekinah Glory Ministry), Kim McFarland-Anderson, Faith Howard, Latrice Pace (The Anointed Pace Sisters) and DeWayne Woods – all strong soloists in their own right. Altogether, the singers provide steady support to Vanessa as she weaves her trademark vocal lines, scoops and soaring high notes, Aretha-like, around the melody.

In addition to an all-star background group and a dynamic producer, Vanessa also benefits from a collection of fine songs from fine writers, including the late Thomas Whitfield, VaShawn Mitchell and Lawrence himself. She contributes one of her own compositions, the mellow “I Will Praise You,” to the album. It’s a special and loving tribute to her son, who struggles with multiple sclerosis.

“Good News,” the first single from The Experience, is a strong selection with a hook-filled chorus that praises the power of prayer to get through each week. Other notable tracks include “You Bring Out the Best in Me,” on which Vanessa duets with fellow Michigander Rance Allen. The two in harmony remind me of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.

On “Hand of the Lord,” Vanessa waxes nostalgic, humbly recalling her forty-year career in gospel music and gazing in amazement at “how far I’ve come.” How far, indeed, and from the sounds of The Experience, she’s catching her second wind.

Five of Five Stars

gPod picks: “What He’s Done For Me,” “Good News,” “You Bring Out the Best In Me.”