He Is Christmas (CD - 1991)

Engineers: Robert Charles, Mike McCarthy, Warren Peterson.

Recorded at Javelina, Javelina West Recording Studios, and Eleven Eleven Sound, Nashville, Tennessee.

Personnel: Jonathan Hamilton (spoken vocals); Jet Penix, Mark Kibble (sampler).

Audio Mixers: Mike McCarthy; Greg Parker.

Recording information: Eleven And Eleven Sound, Nashville, TN; Javelina Recording Studios; Javelina West Recording Studio, Nashville, TN; Javelina West Recording Studios.

Illustrator: Martin Ansolabehere.

Translator: Amos D. Chea.

Unknown Contributor Roles: Alvin Love; Jet Penix; Jimmy Haslip; William Kennedy; Bob Mintzer.

Arrangers: Claude V. McKnight III; David Thomas; Joey Kibble; Mark Kibble; Alvin Chea; Cedric Dent.

This CD finds the somewhat miraculous a cappella sextet Take 6 emphasizing the religious side of the holiday season. One of the world's only gospel jazz groups, Take 6 uses advanced harmonies and sophisticated improvisations while always keeping "the message" in the forefront. However, this Christmas set is rather brief (just 35½ minutes) and, even with a few highlights (the Yellowjackets' guest appearance on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and a drum machine used to humorous effect on the bizarre "'Twas Da Nite"), the results are not all that essential. ~ Scott Yanow minimize