In a recent poll conducted by the Messianic Times (MT), cantor and musician Troy Mitchell ranked in the top five of Messianic Jewish Worship artists.
For two weeks in February, the Messianic Times invited online readers and their Facebook followers to participate in a “non-scientific MT social media survey to determine who the top ten favorite Messianic mucisian/worship leaders are.” The Times announced the results on Friday, March 3, 2017. Troy Mitchell, the only Messianic artist on First Fruits of Zion’s private label Zealot Sounds, occupied fifth place in the poll, one rank above the perennial favorite Paul Wilbur.
First Fruits of Zion followers will recognize Mitchell’s voice from various FFOZ audio tracks such as his work on The Sabbath Table. He is a lead cantor at Beth Immanuel Sabbath Fellowship, where he also serves as worship pastor.
Mitchell, who is legally blind, is a rare musical talent, largely self-taught and adept at a variety of instruments—a dazzling jazz keyboardist and folksy guitar player—with a unique vocal sound that serves him well in his role as Messianic cantor. But Mitchell did not begin his musical career in the synagogue. Before migrating to Messianic Judaism, Mitchell led worship for an Assemblies of God church in rural Minnesota. He is married to the sister of First Fruits of Zion’s Aaron Eby, the director of Vine of David and chief translator and architect of First Fruits of Zion’s liturgical resources. Eby and Mitchell work together closely in the development of music and the delivery of Messianic Jewish synagogue liturgy.
Mitchell’s charismatic roots provide fuel and inspiration that can be felt behind both of his albums. His soulful first album, Yoke of the King broke stereotypes about what Messianic Jewish music should sound like. With original songs in Hebrew, Greek, and English, Mitchell raised the bar and offered up a new sound and new spirit rooted in the Tanach, the New Testament, and traditional Jewish liturgy. Take a listen to his soulful rendition of Isaiah 53, his fresh interpretation of “Adon Olam“, or the moving title track “Yoke of the King.”
Mitchell’s second album, Light of the World, continued in the same genre of acoustic soul food, rock, reggae, gospel hope, and Chasidic joy with songs in English, Hebrew, and Greek. Mitchell’s songs delicately weave the Gospels, the Prophets, the Psalms, and the Apostolic Writings together into something new and unique without ever becoming preachy. His pure love for the Messiah provides warmth in every song.
Visit Mitchell’s new website at www.troymitchellmusic.com
Source: First Fruits of Zion
