Take 6 is another of my favorite a capella groups. Comprised of 6 African American men, they've been around for about 20 years. Their sole Christmas album, He is Christmas is a near classic in the world of a capella jazz and gospel. Does it have classic favorites? Are the songs well produced and performed? Is it a true holiday classic for all audiences?

Read on, Dear Reader...

Take 6 is a band with roots firmly grounded in gospel and it comes out in nearly every song they sing, this album included. The album starts off with a nearly unrecognizable version of Silent Night which I routinely skip because it is really a jazz song. I don't dislike Jazz, but to have a song as reverent as this one being performed as vocal jazz doesn't do it for me. Certainly the arrangement is solid and the vocal work flawless, but it isn't what I expected to hear on a Christmas album.

The next song is not a capella, but is one of the catchiest songs on the album. An original composition, the song is upbeat and shows off the gospel inspirations in terms of both lyrics and melody. Like other Gospel music, it is a song that unapologetically praises God while at the same time getting you up on your feet clapping your hands and singing along. This is a fun song and well worth adding to your holiday rotation.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and O Come all ye Faithful are the most traditional a capella songs on the album and are absolutely flawless. I get shivers every time I hear the high soprano notes on the chorus of Hark, the finest rendition of this song I've ever heard. And remember, these are all men singing. This song really shows off the sonic range of Take 6 and why these men are the gentlemen masters of the a capella world. Nobody is better than Take 6 at what they do and these 2 songs are proof.

Amen is a cover of a song by the Impressions and is not really a Christmas song. While it mentions the birth of Jesus, I find it strange to hear this song included on the album. Another old-time spiritual that has nothing really to say other than Amen! Not my favorite of the album, but certainly a fun one to listen to and can be enjoyed throughout the year.

And then there is Twas Da Nite, the jazziest song on the album. Bordering on scat, this is a song I almost always skip. Consisting of the lyrics to The Night before Christmas, it is performed rapid fire along with goofy sound effects, a jolly Santa laugh and some kids begging to be told the story. Silly and somewhat annoying, this song does not do the album any favors in terms of showing off Take 6's vocal abilities or catering to a mainstream audience. For fans of vocal jazz only.

Diverting completely from the a capella stylings of most of the album, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen is a jazz song through and through. So much so that the jazz band, Yellowjackets, performs the backup instrumentation. While not as weird as Silent night, this rendition is fairly different from the classic version many listeners will expect. Certainly not a bad song, and the vocal harmonies are spot on. But it takes a certain mood to want to hear this song in this incarnation.

As a whole, this album is a mixed bag, consisting of a few classic gems that traditionalists will adore and some gospel and jazz that aficionados of those genres will enjoy. The problem is that because the album spans such a wide variety of genres, it's hard to know exactly which audience this album is designed for. And many listeners will be turned off by some of the songs that don't fit into the same genre as the other songs on the album that do.

Conclusion
This album is hit or miss. When they miss, I skip to the next song, When they hit, it goes out of the park.

This is an entry into Mark's Christmas Music Write-off

Recommended: Yes