MICHELLE DAVID & THE GOSPEL SESSIONS

Michelle adds: In a short period of time, I lost a few of my loved ones, the greatest being my mother. More than ever, music became a vessel I needed to move forward. It comforted me and helped me regain my strength. You will definitely hear a message of recovery, hope, inspiration, power and of course love. TGS Volume 1 was an introduction to the project while Vol. 2 were stories from the past. This volume presents my real-time experiences as they unfolded. So we can assume that this album is the most personal of all."

The lyrics and message are perhaps the most personal, but the music of Vol. 3 is extremely diverse. Which is quite in contrast to Vol. 1. This was the research of Onno Smit and Paul Willemsen on the origins of gospel music. Something that was triggered by both men's love for Soul and Rhythm & Blues music. After beginning their quest to find the origins of these genres, they ended up with the first recorded gospel songs, such as Sister Rosetta Tharpe. This inspired them to write and record songs that they often performed with nothing more than a tambourine and an old guitar. Volume 2 already had a more soulful approach, a fuller and more refined sound that was beginning to appear in the early 50s (for example, Sam Cooke and Bobby Womack). For the new album, they were inspired by the beginnings of Funk and Soul. This can be heard by the use of the bass guitar, but certainly also by the addition of horns. On three songs, you can hear the horn players of 'The Jakthorns'. A group of three who sometimes accompany Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions on stage. They can be heard alongside legendary saxophonist Benjamin Herman bringing a bit of magic to "Walk With Me." More ethnic influences like Afrobeat and Cumbia (just listen to Proverbs 3) can be heard on this album. By adding a percussion player (Bas Bouma), Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions managed to make the most varied sound to date. They can be heard alongside legendary saxophonist Benjamin Herman bringing a bit of magic to "Walk With Me." More ethnic influences like Afrobeat and Cumbia (just listen to Proverbs 3) can be heard on this album. By adding a percussion player (Bas Bouma), Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions managed to make the most varied sound to date. They can be heard alongside legendary saxophonist Benjamin Herman bringing a bit of magic to "Walk With Me." More ethnic influences like Afrobeat and Cumbia (just listen to Proverbs 3) can be heard on this album. By adding a percussion player (Bas Bouma), Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions managed to make the most varied sound to date.

Onno Smit explains: "Vol.1 and 2 have been for us a quest and a journey to find the roots of the music we love. It also improved our sound on Vol. 3. We found it. We found the voice and sound of our band both live and in the studio. This is our version of Gospel, wrapped in a cover of Soul, Blues, Jazz and Afrobeat. This is a record that will come out of your Technicolor speakers! "

With this record, the band is ready to conquer abroad. Last year they have already played in London, France, Germany, Spain and several times in Belgium. Everywhere they played, the reaction of the audience was the same, people dancing, clapping and sharing the message of love.

"And that's what we want to do all over the world," Michelle David said. "World, prepare to be GOSPELIZED".

Source: Biography MICHELLE DAVID & THE GOSPEL SESSIONS (infoconcert.com)