Take Two on Take 6
March 09 2010

Does the Constitution of the Blogiverse prohibit double dipping?

The Pianobabbler has rhapsodized before about the glories of Take 6: the six man gospel-jazz-soul-snapcracklepop-funk-spiritual-anythingwecandotheycandobetter a cappella group.

If repetition does violate the Blogstitution, the Pianobabbler wears his transgressor’s guilt proudly. Sue me.

There walk on this Earth six men who have torn down music and rebuilt it part for part. From note to bar to phrase to song, from song to songs to overall sound, they have assembled a new music from old.

Don’t think the Pianobabbler finds himself perseverating here. Dumbstruck, gripped by a newfound musical fixation. Babbling dismissable rhetoric.

Nope. Feral fire does not explain the verbal heat here. A twenty year torch of listening to Take Six does.

You’ll find no new musical grammar in Take Six. The rules of the Western diatonic system suit them fine. Good enough for Mozart, hymnals, and (the non-gospel) Madonna, good enough for them.

Like many titans of art—J. S. Bach, Art Tatum—Take Six has not invented anything ex nihilo. It has taken existing ways and means, and refined them. It has not given birth, but revived. It hasn’t pioneered, it has taken us to the promised land.

And like many titans of art as well—Bach, again, Duke Ellington—religion serves as the flowerbed in which Take Six’ music blooms. Their Seventh Day Adventist Christian faith, roots their work. Spirituals and hymns, such as Wade in the Water and Shall We Gather at the River define their repertoire. Not exclusively, though. Pop songs like Takin’ It to the Streets and any number of jazz standards make themselves heard in their work.

Take Six: Alvin Chea- the arabesque bass. Cedric Dent- the Ph.D.-endowed baritone (and a fine pianist.) Claude McKnight- first tenor and founder. Dave Thomas- sweet second tenor. Joey Kibble- uber-gifted lead arranger and first tenor. Mark Kibble-passionate second tenor.

Virtuoso singers individually, every one of them, the six men blend in ways choirs can only dream of. Their rhythms, however layered, however complex, land precisely. Their harmonies move across intervals not humanly possible but, thanks to them are, and sweetly lick the ear. Arrangements deliver surprises in abundance, but never overwhelm. Melody rules. And like true virtuosi, they toss off as vocal baubles what mortals work years to master.

Just listen to their Wade in the Water. You’ll find it all there.

Throughout, though, the music stands behind the spirit. They dance, they have fun, they create beauty, they preach a bit. Above all, they sing. At moments, the Pianobabbler cannot believe mere humans are capable of making the music they make. But capable they are. Take Six.

Amen.

The Pianobabbler has babbled.

blog comments powered by Disqus