VaShawn Mitchell
Triumphant – Deluxe Edition CD + DVD
EMI Gospel (2011)
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog.
TBGB has already praised VaShawn Mitchell’s triumphant album Triumphant, but here comes the Deluxe Edition: the original CD in its entirety plus two new songs, accompanied by a DVD and new cover art.

The 45-minute Deluxe Edition DVD consists mostly of the Chicago singer-songwriter and his background vocalists and soloists performing songs from Triumphant before a live audience (is there any other kind of audience?).

The DVD also includes the concept video for the album’s current hit, “Nobody Greater,” shot in New York City (what? not Chicago?) and concludes with an interview of Mitchell and a video of the “Chasing After You” contest winners Trey McLaughlin and the Sounds of Zamar performing “Chasing” like a train without brakes.

Bishop Larry Trotter of Sweet Holy Spirit, where VaShawn served as minister of music, makes an appearance and provides a sermonette as preamble to the song, “His Blood Still Works.”
What you see on the DVD is that Mitchell, a multiple 27th Annual Stellar Award nominee, doesn’t oversell. He’s more of a flatfooted than a frenetic gospel singer, his pleasant, gentlemanly demeanor and voice allowing the songs to speak for themselves. Numbers such as “Be Fruitful” and “His Blood Still Works” have the melodic and lyrical depth that characterizes the artist’s songwriting.

Look for more good things to come from VaShawn Mitchell.

CD: Five of Five Stars
DVD: Four of Five Stars

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Written by : Bob Marovich

Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.