| Gospel, Jazz |
**Take 6 Joins Bayou Blue Radio’s “Gold List” with One of Their Finest Albums, “Join The Band”**
Take 6 has entered Bayou Blue Radio’s “Gold List” with one of their most beautiful albums, “Join The Band.” Praised by the great Quincy Jones himself, the group boasts an impressive tally of 10 Grammy Awards, 10 Dove Awards, 2 NAACP Image Awards, a Soul Train Award, and more. Comprised of Claude McKnight, Mark Kibble, Joel Kibble, Dave Thomas, Alvin Chea, and Khristian Dentley, Take 6 continues to deliver extraordinary vocal performances to their global audience. In April 2018, they released their sixteenth album, aptly titled “ICONIC” (SRG/Universal), and made their debut on a special PBS show, “The Summit,” alongside The Manhattan Transfer.
It is clear that we are dealing with a soul/funk reference, one of the most impressive vocal groups that occasionally stands out with magnificent covers. From their rendition of Christopher Cross’s “Sailing,” Khristian’s melodic and memorable singing on Norah Jones’s “Don’t Know Why,” to a jazz cover of The Beatles’ “Got To Get You Into My Life,” they impress consistently. They pay tribute to their friend Al Jarreau with their interpretation of “Roof Garden” and stay true to their gospel roots with the hymn “Nothing But the Blood.” Their first single, “Change The World” (Eric Clapton), was the most added track in Smooth Jazz upon its release.
“Join The Band” is undoubtedly one of their finest albums, a reference where the group reaches vocal peaks and drives us crazy with the track “My Friend,” where they vocally ensure the musical part with the legendary Ray Charles in solo, as you can hear here:
This kind of group showcases a craftsmanship that comes directly from churches, which have been and still are in the USA a real training center for this type of voice that makes the whole world dream. Often classified as a religious group, they are not; their songs mainly deal with love and friendship, propelling them worldwide as a vocal group of reference. Take 6 states: “We are a family in the sense that we deeply care for each other, which helps us stay together. There are times when it’s tough, but we pull through thanks to the love and respect we have for one another. The group’s willingness to let members pursue other projects also adds to the brand and cohesion of the group,” says Joey Kibble. Kibble is a motivational speaker, and Alvin Chea does voice-overs and sings in sessions for dozens of TV shows, movies, and commercials with his unique and recognizable bass voice. Two members have solo projects underway, others produce outside artists, Mark Kibble arranges for top artists, and McKnight is working on a documentary. “This adds even more credibility and depth to the group as a whole, enriched by each of our skills and outside experiences,” adds Kibble.
Although this group certainly doesn’t need our ranking in the “Essentials,” we award them this reference for their entire career..
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, July 14th 2024
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