Take Five With Tina E. Clark

Meet Tina E. Clark:

A triple threat Singer/Songwriter/Producer residing in Dallas, Texas by way of Shreveport, LA.



Instrument(s):

Keyboards.

Teachers and/or influences?

Quincy Jones, Diane Warren, David Foster and Michael Jackson.

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I was in third grade!

Your sound and approach to music:

My sound is a mixture of pop, adult contemporary with a hint of gospel topped off with smooth jazz.

Your teaching approach:

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.

Your dream band:

I would love to work with Quincy Jones, David Foster, Diane Warren and Peter White.

Road story: Your best or worst experience:

Forgetting the words to a song I wrote before a live audience!

Favorite venue:

College auditoriums for great acoustics and great audience.

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

"Pearl," an instrumental smooth jazz song, my best work to date. It's a tribute to my mother, who passed of diabetes complications.

The first Jazz album I bought was:

Quincy Jones I Heard That.

What do you think is the most important thing you are contributing musically?

Using my music for a good cause. Partnering with an organization that brings awareness to diabetes and donating a portion of sales to that organization.

Did you know...

I am very shy.

CDs you are listening to now:

Ben Tankard Play Me In Your Key (Verity);

Peter White Good Day (Peak Records);

Kim Waters Love Stories (Shanachie);

Sade Soldier of Love (Epic);

Kenny G Heart and Soul (Concord).

Desert Island picks:

Keith Jarrett Invocations;

Paul Bley, Mr. Joy (Limelight);

Andrew Hill, Timelines (Bluenote);

Herbie Nichols, Lady Sings The Blues (Bluenote);

Herbie Hancock, The Imagine Project (Hancock Records).

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

Not as strong and relevant as it use to be. Icons didn't leave a legacy.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?

Make use of current technology thereby exposing more people to it.

What is in the near future?

Working on single tracks for the upcoming CD Nikki Ruth.

By Day:

Music Producer.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:

Music Business Consultant

Photo Credit

Courtesy of Tina E. Clark.