CASA - The Contemporary A Capella Society

“When we were originally going to put out the album “Feels Good”, we thought we had it all worked out.” says Dave Thomas, second tenor, arranger, and songwriter. “Then we hooked up with Chris Palmer. He used to work with us at Warner Brothers years ago; he was Vice President there. He said he wasn’t doing anything at the moment so we reestablished that relationship and now he runs our label. He came to us before we had released “Feels Good” with two or three pages, single-line pages of things we had not covered. ‘Before you put it out, he said, you should consider these issues.’ So he’s been very helpful in getting us past the high learning curve on this new expedition of ours.”

There were a few other surprises as they said farewell to the big record labels that control the industry these days. “At first we thought running our own label would allow us to just go into the studio, sit back, and know that the deadlines are not as hard as they seem.” laughs Dave, “We are learning that to have a well-performing record company those deadlines, even if implemented by yourself must be hard and firm. We’re not quite as free as we thought.”

Aside from the business challenges however, starting their own label has brought Take 6 incredible creative freedom. “We can actually do what we love and not focus on any particular aspect that the record company wants us to focus on for a particular album,” says Dave. “I have to say that Warner Brothers has been very kind to us over the years, according to conversations we’ve had with other artists, as far as giving us the freedom to do what we wanted to most of the time. But we love our fans and it’s time for us to give our fans what we feel we want to express directly from our hearts, without any other strings attached.

“That kind of freedom has pumped up the creative juices.” And over a period of a year and a half, with this new infused enthusiasm, Take 6 was in the studio creating “Feels Good.”

All six members of the group are in consensus about the new album. “As far as we’re concerned,” says Dave, “this is the best album we’ve ever done.”

“This one feels like us,” says Mark Kibble, first tenor, speaking on a Take6 video on www.youtube.com, “This one comes straight from the heart.”

“That’s why we’re even more proud of it, why it means so much. Our personality is tied into it,” says second tenor Joey Kibble.

“The first album was ground-breaking because it was the only thing out there like it. We feel this is the album that should have followed up the first album,” says Dave Thomas.

The album is a smooth and energetic blend of all the genres Take 6 is famous for: jazz, gospel, R&B, and pop all coming together through soulful harmonies. The guys know each others voices and styles so well that they often seem to sing as one voice. This comes perhaps from the great respect they have for one another. There is also the unique fact that in 20 years they have changed members very rarely and have been the current six men since 1991. There are the breath-taking arrangements by Mark Kibble. “Mark Kibble is the world’s greatest vocal arranger. He’s just naturally gifted,” says Dave. “Working with Take6 over the years, Mark has had the perfect laboratory to express himself and try new things.” Also at the heart of their music is a shared, deep faith in God. There is love and inspiration in every song.

The track, “More Than Ever,” is a great example of all these Take 6 elements, as well as a result of their new creative liberty.

“Mark and I were sitting in the studio working,” says Dave. “Joey had come up with the beautiful tune but had recorded it with just a guitar and vocals. Mark suggested we try something we hadn’t tried before, a sort of neo-soul kind of feel, an earthy feel. We were trying some experimentation with the song and then we said let’s conceptually think about what it is you feel in this song. On the demo, Joey had recorded a lead and a couple other tracks answering back. I said why don’t we just make the rest of the group the voices of angels so that when Joey is calling for help they come in with support. That’s kind of how it came about.”

The result in “More Than Ever” is a weaving of different lead lines and different rhythms coming together to make great harmony. “That’s just the perfect thing.” says Dave “That’s kind of how it is for us once we allow ourselves to touch into that creativity that God has given us. He just blesses us. That’s how it’s been throughout our career. We really can’t take all the credit.”

All the tracks on the album are notable in some way, but other standouts are “Come On,” the title track “Feels Good,” the funky and soulful “You Can Make It (Go On!)”, and for a cappella big chord lovers, a Cedric Dent arrangement of “Lamb of God.”

With the exception of some acoustic guitar played by Dave Thomas on the song “I’ll Never Turn Back No More,” every song on the album is a cappella. “If you are a fan of a cappella,” says Dave, “I would have to say this is a must have for your collection. And it’s spiritually uplifting at the same time.”

For Take 6, it’s also getting back to their roots. Formed by Claude McKnight as an a cappella quartet at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama in 1980 the group became a quintet when Mark Kibble happened to walk by the large men’s room they rehearsed in and started harmonizing with them. He performed with the group that very night. They soon added a sixth voice and the sextet—a rarity at the time—first known as Alliance and then Take 6 was born.

Now 20 years later, an added challenge for the experienced group besides managing their label is balancing their careers. “Individually, we are all very dedicated to the group. But we always said that this group would also be a springboard for us to go off into the entertainment industry and accomplish individual goals.”

Bass Alvin Chea just released his book, Basslines, an inspirational reflection about his experiences with Take 6, raising a child as a single parent, and other aspects of his life. Dr. Cedric Dent is an active professor of music. Claude McKnight also does voiceover work. All of them write and produce for other musicians.

But what’s next for Take 6?

They will be releasing albums by other musicians on their new label. “The next year or so we’ll concentrate on Take 6, make sure the machine is well-oiled and running before we take on new artists. New artists don’t always have the patience to deal with some of the stuff we are now used to.” And before that, watch for the first Take 6 DVD. “We have a live DVD we’re going to put out hopefully for the 2006 holiday season,” says Dave.

And how do they balance all this, plus touring, and the rest of their lives?

Dave Thomas says, “Like I said, all throughout our career God has blessed us and when we continue to lean on Him for support, he always guides us to the answers and things work out for the best.” The fellows in Take 6 love what they do and they spread the gospel through their music, and that’s got to “Feel Good”!

Learn more about Take 6 and listen to their tracks at their Web site www.take6.com and at their new MySpace www.myspace.com/take6.