Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration (CD - 1992)

Personnel includes: Mike E. (rap vocals, guitar); Tom Hemby, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Mark Douthit (saxophone); Dwayne Adell (piano); Greg Philinganes, George Duke (keyboards); Cedric Dent (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Ben Tankard, Joe Hogue (keyboards, programming); Mervyn Warren (piano, keyboards, drums, programming, background vocals); Victor Caldwell, Jackie Street (bass); James Blair, Ricky Lawson (drums); Donna McElroy, Bob Bailey, Vicki Hampton, Chris Willis (background vocals).

Producers include: Mervyn Warren, George Duke, David Pack, Take 6, Gary D. Hines.

Engineers include: Tony Sheppard, Erik Zobler, Barry Rudolph.

Personnel: Jamecia Bennett (vocals, soprano); Core Cotton, Carrie Harrington (vocals, alto); Terrence Frierson, Patricia Lacy, Kimberly Brown (vocals, tenor, tenor saxophone); James F. Wright (vocals, baritone); David B. Young, Michael L. Bowens (vocals, bass voice); Mervyn Warren (vocals, piano, keyboards, drums, programming, drum programming, background vocals); Richard Smallwood (vocals, keyboards, programming); Donna McElroy, Howard Hewett, Angela Wright, Patti Austin, Take 6, Vicki Hampton, Chris Willis, Kim Fleming, Bob Bailey (vocals, background vocals); Commissioned, Daryl Coley, Jackie Ruffin, Dianne Reeves, Janice Chandler, Melvin Warren, Dennis Sawyers, Caroline Evans, Carolene Evans, David Young, Pat Lacu, Michael Weeks, David Young, Darlene Simmons, Al Jarreau, Michelle Weeks, The Richard Smallwood Singers, Stevie Wonder, Tevin Campbell, The Boys Choir of Harlem, The Clark Sisters , Tramaine Hawkins (vocals); Mike-E (rap vocals, guitar); Leaders of the New School (rap vocals); Jayne Bell, Jayn Bell Porter, Angela Henderson, Cherly Reeves, Sandra Harris, Dorothy Brown, Manecia Bennett, Renee McCall, Elizabeth J. Turner, Wanda Lewis, Ann Nesby (soprano); Jennifer Whitlock (alto, brass); Dorothy J. Townes, Shirley Marie Graham, Beverly Mahto, Alecia Russell, Dorothy Shelby, Valerie Johnson (alto); Robert Edwards, Russell Knighton (tenor, tenor saxophone); Bill Airey Smith, Dr. Robert Jones, Bill Smith , Craig Taylor, Craig "Niteman" Taylor (tenor); Trenon Graham, Billy Steele (baritone); Freddie Winston, Rev. Joseph Young, Jr. (bass voice); Paul Jackson, Jr. , Tom Hemby (guitar); Daniel Kobialka (violin); Kirk Whalum, Mark Douthit (saxophone, brass); Bob Mintzer (saxophone); Eberhard Ramm, Leslie Norton (French horn); Dennis Good, Chuck Findley, George Bohannon, Dan Higgins, Gary Grant, George Bohanon, Gerald Albright, Jerry Hey, Kim Hutchcroft, Larry Hall , Larry Williams , Robert Green, Sam Levine , Chris McDonald, Tom "Bones" Malone, Jeff Bailey , Charles Loper, Denis Solee, George Tidwell, Lew McCreary, William Reichenbach, Michael Haynes (brass); Michael O. Jackson (piano, organ, keyboards, drum programming); Dwayne Adell (piano); Fred Vaughn (organ); Charles Mims, Jr. (keyboards, synthesizer); Greg Phillinganes (keyboards, bass synthesizer, percussion, background vocals); Robert Sadin (keyboards, keyboard bass, programming, drum programming); Fred Hammond (keyboards, keyboard bass, drum programming); William Kennedy (keyboards, drums); David Pack (keyboards, percussion, background vocals); Mark Kibble (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Joe Hogue, Ben Tankard, Bryant Pugh, Cedric Dent (keyboards, programming); Eddie Howard, Jr. , Timothy Carpenter, George Duke, Russell Ferrante (keyboards); Steve Croes (Synclavier); Chuck Tilley, James Blair , Ricky Lawson (drums); Eric Darken (tambourine); Elmore Brantly, Terry McMillan, Rock Deadrick, Mustafa Abdul-Aleem (percussion); Dave Darlington, Jeffrey K. Dovner (programming); Mark Hammons, Mark Hammond (drum programming); Jim Gilstrap, Phil Perry, Roy Galloway, Sounds of Blackness, Raymond Davis, Gayle Mayes (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Chris Flam; Jeff Sutcliffe; David Pack; Erik Zobler; Lisa Keller; Jess Sutcliffe; John Jaszcz; Mike McCarthy; Mick Guzauski; Ray Bardani; Steve Hodge; Axel Niehaus; Tony Shepperd.

Liner Note Authors: Gail Hamilton; Mervyn Warren; Norman Miller.

Recording information: A&M Studios, Hollywood, CA; Bass Hit; Chung King; Conway Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; Flyte Tyme studios, Edina, MN; Hummingbird Recording, Nashville, TN; La Gonk's West, Los Angeles, CA; Mama Jo's Studio, North Hollywood, CA; Mama Jo's Studios, NY; Nighingale Studios, Nashville, TN; Nightingale Studios, Nashville, TN; Omega; Omni Studio, Nashville, TN; OMNI Studios, Nashville, TN; Pack's Place, LA, CA; Pack's Place, Los Angeles, CA; Platinum Island; Power Station; Quad Studios, Nashville, TN; RPM; Sixteenth Avenue Sound, Nashville, TN; Star Gem, Nashville, TN; The Enterprise, Burbank, CA; Track Record, Los Angeles, CA; Track Recording, Los Angeles, CA; Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA; Woodland Digital, Nashville, TN.

Director: Walter J. Turnbull.

Ensembles: Leaders of the New School; The Richard Smallwood Singers; The Clark Sisters ; Yellowjackets.

Illustrator: Martin Ansolabehere.

Unknown Contributor Role: Bob McChesney.

Arrangers: David Pack; Michael O. Jackson; Dwayne Adell; Gary Hines; George Duke; Charles Mims, Jr.; Greg Phillinganes; Shelton Kilby; Joe Hogue; Mark Kibble; Mervyn Warren; Patti Austin; Richard Smallwood; Yellowjackets; Robert Sadin; Cedric Dent.

Contemporary soul-pop artists, including Patti Austin, Tevin Campbell, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jone, Take 6, Howard Hewett, and Dianne Reeves, take a pop-song approach to Handel's classic Christmas oratorio. Handel's wonderful melodies are updated with synthesizers, drum machines, and slick pop production from Quincy Jones and Take 6's Mervyn Warren. ~ All Music Guide minimize