Twinkie ClarkLive and Unplugged (CD/DVD)
Larry Clark Music (2013)
By Bob Marovich for The Black Gospel Blog
Live and Unplugged is an intimate gospel music performance by Elbernita “Twinkie” Clark and a small band of musicians.
Recorded at Detroit’s Charles H. Wright African American Museum on July 21, 2012, the CD and accompanying DVD feature Clark singing and playing a grand piano on a handful of songs that have the Clark Sisters contemporary sound in their DNA.
Of special interest is the fascinating, psychedelic “There is a Word.” Its melody and repetitive chorus about the Word drying every tear get more captivating with each successive listen.
Of special interest is the fascinating, psychedelic “There is a Word.” Its melody and repetitive chorus about the Word drying every tear get more captivating with each successive listen.
As with most Clark-related projects, the production is a family affair. Larry Clark, Twinkie’s nephew, produces, plays keys, and sings on the album. The Clark Sisters gather for a congregation rousing remix of “Hallelujah.” Karen Clark Sheard reprises her prayerful “Speak Lord.”
But the rest belongs to Twinkie, especially when she switches to the B3 for an instrumental of “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” and proceeds to play the stops off the organ. She cascades notes in, around, and under the melody in a tour de force that leaves the listener wanting at least one more instrumental from her before the disc stops spinning. She clearly appreciates the audience’s reaction to her technical prowess.
The companion DVD is a video presentation of most of the recording session and a music video of “Awesome God,” featuring Larry and Twinkie Clark. The liner notes apologize that the unplugged portion of the program did not end up on the final product, but there is enough music that only the attendees will care what content is missing.
Live and Unplugged, led by Twinkie’s easy-going style, has the ambiance of a pleasant Sunday afternoon program in a church sanctuary.
Four of Five Stars
Pick: “There is a Word,” “Hallelujah.”
Written by : Bob Marovich
Bob Marovich is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host. Founder of Journal of Gospel Music blog (formally The Black Gospel Blog) and producer of the Gospel Memories Radio Show.
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