Vanessa Bell Armstrong

By Monica Watkins, contributing writer, GospelMusicChannel.com 

Gospel music veteran Vanessa Bell Armstrong returns to the stage with The Experience. Recorded live in Chicago, famed industry producer Donald Lawrence was at the helm. This was the pair's first project together and their chemistry flows throughout. Faithful Armstrong followers will take a stroll down memory lane as she breathes new life into a few classic tunes from back in her Thomas Whitfied days, including “What He's Done For Me” and “Any Way You Bless Me." “You Bring Out the Best in Me” is another tune from days gone by revived on this project. This time around Armstrong sprinkles in a little spice and makes duet magic with industry peer Rance Allen (The Rance Allen Group).

Armstrong's Aretha Franklin vocal qualities wax bold on the old Franklin tune “Good News," a song Lawrence had been safeguarding for years specifically for Armstrong. It was a wise move and serves as a fitting first single. With The Experience, Armstrong, once again, illustrates her ability to mix contemporary gospel with an urban music flare and offer her listeners an experience that will bless them for a long time to come.

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Jenny Bennett says on Friday Oct 16, 04:05pm

What are your favorite soul/traditional gospel releases so far this year? GMC.com will be compiling our "Best of 2009" list very soon, so we'd love to hear from you.

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