Hezekiah Walker & LFCC VIDEO - Family Affair
Bookended by church shouts and Brooklyn street jams, you'll also find nearly
everything else in between on this video offering from Hezekiah Walker.
With the expansive Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge, Virginia as the concert setting,
Hez and his Love Fellowship family bring 80 minutes of mass choir visuals to the
small screen on this home video that serves as a visual bonus to his
Family Affair project. (See review)
The tape starts rolling with an unexpected and extended 5-minute instrumental jam medley, which brings a
smattering of Hez hits from over the years, some of them from waaaaay back.
The camera zooms in to capture the intricate fingerwork of Melvin Crispell
on Hammond B3, and the confident technique of Reggie (4 strings) Parker on
bass, with Walker in the background nodding his head and reliving
the glorious moments of hits gone by.
After an intriguing spoken introduction and tribute to the late O'landa Draper
from Walker, video director Don Moore and his camera crew have their
hands full in filming the boisterous Love Fellowship Tabernacle Church Choir
tackling Draper's churchy classic, "I've Got A Reason".
Dressed all in black, and with Craig Wiggins in
full vocal flight, the energy is classic, albeit traditional, Hez.
From there, the flagship Love Fellowship Crusade Choir takes
to the stage, resplendent in their black and turquoise robing.
"Wonderful Is Your Name" and "The Will of God" (with first lady
Monique Walker's lead vocals) are each given an extended
ride beyond that heard on the CD.
The highlight of the video is surely with the new David
Frazier tune, "I Will Fight", where LFCC mainstay Kirvy
Brown takes his time in delivering melting vocals as the
anointed slow ballad unfolds. This song didn't make the final
cut on the CD, so the fact that this video is the exclusive
home of the cut makes it extra special.
LFCC continue their ways with their hit "Power Belongs to God",
with Kirvy Brown taking the house down again on "Never Leave Me
Alone", before giving way to The Love Fellowship Celebration Choir
on "Patiently Waiting". As the adult church choir of the Love
Fellowship family, you know they can hold their own based on
what you heard on the CD. This video confirms it, as their
purple and white colors blur with all the moves going on.
Donald Lawrence takes the mic on the smooth worship
ballad "Oh, I Feel Jesus", as the Love Unlimited (with Heather Covington's georgeous lead)
combines with
LFCC on the cut. Diversity in styles in certainly becoming
the strong suit of this renowned Brooklyn church family.
The camera fades out fades out to the concept video of
the "Let's Dance" remix. With Abdul Abbott directing the
camera work, and with PAJAM taking care of the
remixing, you don't find Gospel getting more
urban than this. B.B.Jay on rap and former BLACKstreet
member Dave Hollister on vocals join in the festivities with
LFCC, Hez and Monique as they get their dance on.
Technically, you can't find much to shake your head at with this video offering. Live event
co-ordination from the award-winning Omega Production staff combined with Don Moore's renowned
video direction expertise ensure smooth camera work, great angles, and a nice mix of closeups,
pans and audience shots.
On the minus side, the inclusion of some more of the urban material would have rounded the set out
a little more, and it would have been great to see included some of the
songs where Dave Hollister takes vocal lead.
One of the marks of a good Gospel home video is the inclusion of extended or
altered interpretations of songs on the CD. With the brand new
"I Will Fight" and several lengthened takes of other compositions,
this one is a winner, hands down.
Video Producer: Don Moore
video release date: March 21, 2000 Verity Records
—
reviewed by Stan North —
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