Like a delicious chocolate truffle melting in your mouth you close your eyes and savor the flavor of each new song that caresses your audio palate from Twila Paris' new live worship album He Is Exalted. This is a beautifully textured musical landscape whose strength lies in the choral arrangements and the passionate sensitive vocals of Paris as she lifts her praises heavenward.
It is difficult to believe that in a career that has spanned nineteen albums this is the first live album Twila Paris has created. The opening track "Lifted Higher" demonstrates Paris' excellence in songwriting as she implores all God's creation to render the praises due Him. The song strikes a good balance between worship and more of a quick tempo. She says of "Lifted Higher," "It's just a very honest 'from the heart' moment of worship that happened as I was driving the car--very simple, very singable and heartfelt."
Although eight new Twila Paris originals adorn this album one of the most beautiful songs is her previously recorded "He Is Exalted." Paris along with producer David Hamilton (Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, FFH) has redressed this modern hymn using John Catchings' cello, David Davidson's violin strings, some nice work on percussion by Eric Darken and Hamilton's own splendid work as the pianist.
"Our intention was to give them a new context for a new time," says Paris of "He Is Exalted". While listening to "He Is Exalted" I was reminded of something one of our young people said while we were preparing to celebrate the Lord's Supper, "Prepare your hearts for an intimate meeting with God." The words seem appropriate in describing this fine song from the pen of Paris.
Lisa Bevill, Nirva Dorsaint and Mandisa Hundley are part of the cast of backup vocals who lend their voices to this CD. Recently the same three artists helped make Bart Millard's Hymned No 1 a resounding success. The voices in the choir belong to individuals from Bellevue Community, Bethel World Outreach Center, Brentwood Baptist, Fellowship Baptist, Gracepoint, and Grace Point SDA.
"We Have Seen Your Glory" inspired by John 1 inspires our worship; "Jesus full of grace and truth / Jesus we will worship You / Jesus one and only Son / We have seen Your glory." With her live CD He Is Exalted Twila Paris keeps our hearts and attitudes pointed heavenward.
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2005Reviewed by Brian A. SmithCCM veteran Twila Paris has changed labels. Now with Integrity, the match between a longtime worship music singer/songwriter, and a label that promotes almost nothing else would seem to be one made in Heaven. Given her long history (almost twenty-five years in music, songs such as "The Warrior is a Child" and "God is in Control"), it is surprising that Paris has never released a live album. Eight…Similar sounding releases
1996Susan AshtonA Distant Call
2005The MartinsDecade
1995Wes KingCommon Creed
1996David RobertsonSomeone Who Cares
1998Nikki LeontiShelter Me
1995Crystal Lewis[Hymns:] My Life
