The Clark Sisters - A Clark Family Christmas (2009)

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    A family that prays together stays together. What a joy to see the Clark Sisters and their respected, talented family members united for their second holiday project, Family Christmas. This time, J Moss and Kierra Sheard join the cast along with Bill Moss Jr. on an eleven-track project fused with both live and studio offerings. Most of the features contain Asaph Ward's jazzy contemporary gospel style embedded in familiar holiday treasures like "Do You Hear What I Hear" and Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas;" which the latter showcases J Moss's spellbinding vocal riffs and a closing gospel tag. Twinkie Clark delivers her share of arrangements on the angelic "Oh Come Emmanuel" and a gospel choir-styled version of "Silent Night," but the absence of her legendary organ skills are too hard to ignore.
    A family that prays together stays together. What a joy to see the Clark Sisters and their respected, talented family members united for their second holiday project, Family Christmas. This time, J Moss and Kierra Sheard join the cast along with Bill Moss Jr. on an eleven-track project fused with both live and studio offerings. Most of the features contain Asaph Ward's jazzy contemporary gospel style embedded in familiar holiday treasures like "Do You Hear What I Hear" and Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas;" which the latter showcases J Moss's spellbinding vocal riffs and a closing gospel tag. Twinkie Clark delivers her share of arrangements on the angelic "Oh Come Emmanuel" and a gospel choir-styled version of "Silent Night," but the absence of her legendary organ skills are too hard to ignore. Probably the album's strongest effort is the humorous, impromptu performance of "The Chipmunk Song." The girls are just a joy to hear interacting with one another, especially on the closing seconds. Karen plays the role of Alvin, while the other girls mend their closely-knitted harmonies together for one of the best interpretations of the kiddy holiday classic. Absent from Family Christmas is a definite original composition, even though J. Drew Sheard tries his best with Kierra Sheard on the urban jazz of "Beautiful Christmas." While not as memorable as the Clarks' triple-Grammy winner, Live: One Last Time (and pales in comparison to your gospel holiday classics) it still stands as a mighty triumph over their 1978 holiday LP, New Dimensions of Christmas Carols.

    Notable tracks: "The Chipmunk Song," "This Christmas," "Do You Hear What I Hear," "Silent Night"

    Vocals: 3.0 stars
    Lyrics: 2.5 stars
    Music: 2.5 stars
    Production: 3.0 stars
    SoulTracks Call: Recommended

    By J. Matthew Cobb