The Journey is the newest project from the legend himself, Andraé Crouch, and it hits stores on Tuesday, September 27, 2011. The 15-track album is produced and co-written by Luther “Mano” Hanes, who also worked on Crouch’s last album, Mighty Wind (2006).
The songwriting, familiar but fresh, is second to none. Listeners will enjoy the fact that, though Crouch explores and experiments with new sounds and instrumentation, he never veers too far from his wheelhouse– captivating melodies and refrains so beautiful that one is compelled to sing along.
This is clearly seen in the album opener, “Somebody Told Me About Jesus,” a classic Crouch-styled upbeat gospel tune, full of movement and led by the powerhouse vocals of none other than Táta Vega. It’s also apparent on “When I Think About You,” which is a personal favorite. Led by Markita Knight (you may have heard of her from West Angeles COGIC or through her work in the COGIC Music Department), this tune has a funk element laced over a very classic sound. But no matter how “current” these songs sound, they are as classic as ever because of the pen that wrote them.
The Journey also shines because of the perfectly paired guest vocalists throughout it. Whether Linda McCrary-Fisher on “Where Jesus Is,” or Kim Burrell and Take 6 on the dramatic and melodically winding “Faith,” Andraé Crouch has selected some of the music industry’s finest and featured them on musical masterpieces.
And he is, indeed, a master of musical styles. With The Journey, Crouch experiments with the ragtime-inspired “He Has A Plan For Me,” and the almost club-danceable “All Around the World,” featuring a soulful and in-her-lane Chaka Khan on lead vocals and Sheila E. dominating the percussion.
Other notable tracks include the smooth and jazzy ”Jesus Came Into My Life,” with Daniel Johnson (perhaps best known as a part of Israel Houghton’s New Breed) on lead vocals, the hymn-like ballad ”I Can,” with Andraé Crouch passionately delivering his lead, and the project’s current single, “Let the Church Say Amen,” featuring Marvin Winans.
I’m also a huge fan of ”There’s Nobody Like Jesus,” a jazzy groove looping a standard refrain, featuring LeAnne Palmore on lead vocals. It’s actually a segment of a larger live moment, but I’m thrilled to get the snippet that we get– it’s absolutely one of my favorite three minutes on the album.
The album ends with two versions of the captivating “The Promise,” an assurance that God will never leave us. Crouch leads one version and, as a special treat for listeners, he repeats the track again, swapping out his lead vocal for that of Marvin Winans.
I cannot quite express how much consumers will enjoy this album. I can admit that, as I sat and listened for the first time, tears welled up in my eyes. I thought to myself, “this is the man who God has used to shape the sound of gospel music as we know it today… and every tune he writes, even to this day, is laced with that same power and anointing.”
I’m happy to have The Journey in my collection because it takes me back to being the young kid who simply fell in love with great music, even before I could understand the beauty of its Gospel message. But I’m happier– perhaps even ecstatic– that Andraé Crouch can deliver for me, as an adult, music that will truly encourage and bless me on this journey with Christ. It’s really “the soundtrack of life” type of music. It is Andraé Crouch at his best.
..jpg "Kirk Whalum - The Gospel According To Jazz Chapter III")
Months and months ago, 
Before the honoring went down, Dorinda Clark-Cole came to the stage to perform her hit single “Take It Back,” which received a BMI Song Of The Year award (songwriter, Derrick Starks). You already know that Dorinda brings it like none other and I was on my feet before I could even finish my salad.
The McClurkin tribute performances were great, but I wish they had done some more songs for him– they could’ve dug a little deeper into the New York Restoration Choir days, pulled some more tracks from the Live In London album, or even focused a little more on songs that he’s written for other artists (like, “This Is The Gospel Of Jesus Christ” for Hezekiah Walker or “It Is To You” by Byron Cage). Still, awesome job and I’m glad he was honored for his great contributions to the game.
After that, Yolanda Adams couldn’t even regain her composure to introduce the next performance– BeBe & CeCe Winans singing “The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power.” They just came on stage and took us to new heights, followed by Mary Mary’s staggering performance of “We Are Not Ashamed.”
The Gospel According To Jazz: Chapter 1 was saxophonist Kirk Whalum’s first in this series, but he didn’t hold back AT ALL. His band featured some jazz greats, including keyboard legend George Duke. Stand-out tracks for me on this album are “In All The Earth,” “Blessed Assurance,” and “Where He Leads Me”– the full song AND its reprise. 
Later came The Gospel According To Jazz: Chapter 2, which was JUST as phenomenal, featuring some vocal heavy-hitters like Tata Vega and Jonathan Butler. Stand-out tracks on that project include “Falling In Love With Jesus” (your praise team was singin’ it like crazy, but you didn’t buy the album?!), “Spirit Medley,” and the love song “The Moment I Prayed,” a duet featuring Kim Burrell and Kirk’s brother, Kevin Whalum.
For more info: 
Well, the treats simply TUMBLE out of this project, as almost every song features a powerhouse vocalist. The first track, “I Was Glad,” featured Tata Vega on lead (if you don’t know her name, you definitely know her voice– she is the recorded singing voice of Shug Avery in The Color Purple) and you can hear Melonie Daniels doing some riffs in the bgv’s.
