Take 6 So Much 2 Say CD

Take 6's second recording is almost the equal of their first. The six singers (Mark Kibble, Claude V. McKnight III, Cedric Dent, David Thomas, Mervyn E. Warren and Alvin Chea) perform some near-miraculous ensembles on a variety of original material, all of which contains gospel-oriented lyrics. Take 6's first two CDs are their strongest, before the innovative group started to water down both their message and their jazz-influenced harmony sound with the addition of occasional instruments. ~ Scott Yanow

This second release from 1990 extended the stunning originality of Take Six. Most of the songs on So Much 2 Say are originals, again enhanced by the groups willingness to use any musical tradition. Particularly notable is the marvelously sophisticated use of vocal and body percussion and the vocal horn intro in "I'm On My Way". Occasional sound effects sweetening just seems to enhance the messages and character of the songs, but never fear, the unbelievably tight harmonies and sublime intonation which are the trademark of the group is still the substance of the material which, once again, is mostly written by and always arranged by the members of the group.

Recorded at Eleven Eleven Sound, Javelina Studios and Digital Recorders, Nashville, Tennessee.

Take 6: Alvin Chea, Mark Kibble, David Thomas, Cedric Dent, Claude V. Knight III, Mervyn Warren (vocals, live vocal percussion).

Additional personnel: Matthew Morse (Synclavier); James Blair (drums, percussion).