We Wish You a Merry Christmas
The follow-up to the Grammy-winningHe Is Christmas,We Wish You a Merry Christmasfinds Take 6 at their finest. The sextet's a cappella melodies paved the way for R&B; boy groupsBoyz II Menand may recallManhattan Transfer's multipart harmonic convergence, yet they continue to be unmatched in their ingenious take on popular jazz-vocal gospel. This outing finds the Seventh Day Adventist-affiliated outfit firmly locked into their signature vocal blend, augmenting their doo-wop a cappella styling with the occasional piano, light-handed bass, guitar, drums, and the cool blue saxophone of Kirk Whalum. A few songs are embellished by a triad of female harmonies andBrian McKnight(brother of founding member Claude McKnight) appears on "The Christmas Song." Chestnuts like "Silver Bells," "Go Tell It on the Mountain," and "Joy to the World," while happily recognizable, ring out especially merry as rendered by these fresh fellows.--Paige La Grone