(April 26, 2018) Take 6, the harmonious six-time Grammy-winning jazz-gospel sextet, are legends of the acappella vocal tradition. And with thirty years in the music game, it’s not totally surprising to hear the legendary group tackling other classics using that same formula.
For their 2018 project Iconic, the gents take on Christopher Cross’s 1980 dreamy soft rock staple “Sailing.” It’s a smart choice that blends the ubiquitous lyrics of paradise and miracles with Take 6’s spirituality (“Oh, the canvas can do miracles/just you wait and see, believe in me”). Although the absence of instrumentation limits this rendition to a Pentatonix assignment, the soul-stirring vocal swoops, acapella symphonies, finger snaps and the sultry crooning of Mark Kibble caress our ears with contemporary jazz delight.
Check out this cut in this SoulTracks First Listen. And mark your calendars for the group’s album release of Iconic, hitting stores April 27.
By J. Matthew Cobb
Take 6 – “Sailing”
