Bri Babineaux - The Encounter Continues (Live) (2021)

Bri Babineaux, who rose to fame in 2015 with riveting YouTube gospel performances that earned millions of views and then in the following year bowed a debut album, heralded as a slick #1 bestselling contemporary gospel offering, is back on the scene with a new musical direction and work, The Encounter Continues (Bri Babineaux Music/Tyscot Records). This Louisiana lovely had limited input on her inaugural set, but took full command of this first-time venture with her own imprint and Tyscot. From co-writing songs, supervising the art design and carefully selecting cover songs, Bri delivers a high-energy live project that was recorded at a church just outside of New Orleans. Last summer, Babineaux served the first half of this musical gumbo that was thickened by a spicy roux of songs, like “Baptize Us Again” and the Caribbean-flavored, “He Paid It All,” as The Encounter; this collection, The Encounter Continues, is the delicious second helping. Babineaux, with D. Jamel Kimbrough who is known for his clear, crisp production finesse with Todd Dulaney and Casey J, finish serving their audio entrée. The eight-song set opens with the infectious rocker “Never Be the Same Again” and closes with an equally compelling rendition of Bethel Music’s “Raise A Hallelujah.” In between courses, Babineaux’s warm alto fills the atmosphere with heartfelt tones on her peppery cover of the Christian Pop anthem “King of My Heart” written by Steffany Gretzinger and the butter-smooth scent of the ballad, “He’s My Rock.” There’s a joyful approach to “Yahweh” and a pensive rumination on the futuristic ballad, “No Bondage (Jubilee Worship).” The up-tempo, feel-good track “He Paid It All (NOLA Style Reprise)” is a continuation of the same song from the prior album that was too good to keep in the can from that evening’s live recording as during the vamp, Babineaux’s voice takes on a rapturous and raspy tone while she leads the audience into a festive New Orleans Second Line groove, sure to satisfy the hungriest of musical appetites. The Encounter Continues offers a gourmet menu of delicacies that showcase the evolution of a rising star!