Take 6 Live [Live, Import]

Take 6 | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 18, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Live, Import
• Label: Warner Bros UK
• ASIN: B00004ST3A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #262,812 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Vocal sextet Take 6 bring their tight jazz harmonies and Christian message to their first live recording, from Tokyo's Blue Note in October 1999. The distinctive a cappella style they established early in their career is preserved in the swingers "If We Ever Needed the Lord Before" and "Mary" from their groundbreaking first album and the luscious "I'm on My Way" and the lickety-split "So Much 2 Say" from their 1990 follow-up.

To spotlight individual members of the band, the Miles Davis classic "All Blues" finds Cedric Dent on piano accompanying the five voices imitating instruments, including Joey Kibble's dead-on rendition of Miles's Harmon mute. Fans of the band's more commercial sound, which debuted when they added instrumental support with 1994's Join the Band, will enjoy hearing Dent stay at the piano for Charlie Chaplin's classic "Smile" (though with a lot of jazzy filigree) and "Over the Hill Is Home," a brand-new song by Dent and Alvin Chea that offers a reassuring message of hope though less of a musical challenge. Not everyone enjoys both faces of the band, but the song list has enough variety to please almost any fan. In addition, the 12-minute final track, "I've Got Life/Spread Love," allows the group room to stretch out and get in some interplay with the audience. --David Horiuchi

From Jazziz

One of the great joys of this largely a capella sextet is that, while their spiritual message is at the center of everything they do, their presentation never comes across as heavy-handed. The group's recordings and live shows are invitations to share its joy. This exquisite live date (recorded at Tokyo's Blue Note in October 1999) features the well-planned balance of the R&B, jazz, and gospel that made Take 6 famous, combining tunes that are all vocal texture (like the buoyant "If We Ever Needed The Lord Before") with pop tunes redirected towards their faith ("Smile" and "How Sweet It Is") that feature gentle accompanying instrumentation.

Most impressive amidst the joyful, churchy grooves is the break into a tribute to a lesser god, chief influence Miles Davis. The cover of "All Blues" features a vocal bassline and gentle vocalese over intimate piano work by Take 6 member Cedric Dent, before breaking for a wailing trombone solo by Claude McKnight. The tune then explodes vocally as various members of the band scat trombone and muted trumpet parts. Another clever moment comes on the lengthy closer medley "I've Got Life/Spread Love," when the six split into a vocal trio and a percussive trio to create what sounds like a full-blown, hip-hop drum-machine track.

--- Jonathan Widran, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only for diehard fans, August 24, 2000

By 

S. M. Ferguson (Grew up in St. Paul's Crocus Hill, now in New Jersey) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Take 6 Live (Audio CD)

I love Take 6. Their ministry is an incredible blessing, and listening to their music has brought me a lot of joy and comfort.

Having said that, I really think that although the performance on <i>Live</i> CD is amazing, the CD is hugely disappointing from a technical standpoint. The miking is terrible -- popping P's and nasty sibilants and gobs of prox effect on the bass. Just listen to "I'm On My Way" -- the bass is in your face and the lead line sounds like it's being sung from the back of the hall. (Yes it's live, but miking for a cd should be different than miking for sound reinforcement.)

I get the feeling that this CD was rushed to market. If Reprise/WEA really cared about the quality of their product, they should have given the project a little more thought. If this is your first exposure to Take 6, buy another of their CDs first, like <i>So Cool</i> or one of the two Christmas CDs.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY! EXCITING-DIVERSE-YET ALWAYS REVERENT., April 21, 2000

By 

R. McRae (Saugus, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Take 6 Live (Audio CD)

At last, the wait is over! When I first heard rumor of a first-LIVE Take 6 recording, I was ecstatic. And after about a year of anticipation, it's "ALL THAT!" Some may call it "a bit jazzy," but "taste and see" that it is SO SO GOOD. Like any TRUE Take 6 fan, I had to find it on the day it was released. In recent years, the Gospel and Contemporary Christian communities, have been accepting of so many new trends. I hope with the release of this new project, renewed respect is given to these innovators, who have played a major role in the meteoric rise in popularity of Christian music.

Recorded in Tokyo, at the popular jazz venue: The Blue Note(for they are also considered one of the worlds greatest jazz vocal groups), these brothers are not afraid to witness of the love of Christ anywhere! In this setting, they could have sung the "secular" version, of the Marvin Gaye hit: "How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You" Track #3. But there is nothing "secular" about this cut. Track #12: "Mary" a popular standard for them, will astound you with the vocals of both Kibble brothers; Mark and Joey. See if you can tell which-is-which. But what will probably prove to be most popular, is the deeply moving and inspirational Track #7/8 "Over The Hill Is Home." THIS RECORDING SHOULD BE COVETED BY CHRISTIAN, JAZZ, AND ALL TRUE MUSIC LOVERS FOR YEARS TO COME!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just heard it and WOW!, June 11, 2000

By 

John Von Glahn (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Take 6 Live (Audio CD)

What else can you say about this group of six men? I have yet to see these guys live and FINALLY a live album! These guys have taken songs that I have listened countless times and continually switch the structures around - it's like hearing it for the first time all over again. Best tracks have got to be "Mary" and "Spread Love"; Alvin Chea is amazing; Cedric on piano - OH MY!; Mark Kibble and Claude McKnight are still cracking glass with those high notes (how do they do that?) - This is a MUST BUY for anyone who loves the art of vocal/a cappella jazz music! (Next time they're in concert - count me THERE!)