Pop Music : Take 6 Preaches A Cappella Gospel

Look at the a cappella gospel group’s list of credits, and Take 6 takes on the appearance of a sextet of expert show-biz schmoozers--what with TV theme songs, TV talk shows, jazz festivals, movies with Spike Lee, an endless list of recordings with hotshots. Impossibly friendly and grossly talented, they’re the utter darlings of the industry.

All of which makes it at least a slight surprise when Take 6 comes to their biggest local headlining gig to date--a sold-out performance at the Wiltern Theatre on Saturday-- and is found to be still preaching it--as in “if you don’t know whether or not you’re on your way, it’s time for you to decide.” Even those who don’t share Take 6’s evangelical Christian beliefs might have to admire their ability to not water down what they do. Industry darlings and pop mavericks too.

Few among the Wiltern crowd seemed to be hard-core a cappella fans; the broad-based crowd looked an even blend of black and white, of those born again and born once. All factions were in equally strong voice in “Spread Love,” the rare audience participation segment that is also a genuinely musical highlight.

Though these Nashvilleans are adept at creating instrumental sounds vocally--especially Alvin Chea, who for effect plucks his mike cord as if it were bass strings--they’re also instrumentalists on their own time, and a brief piano-accompanied segment gave teasing preview of how terrific they might sound singing non-a cappella R&B; and jazz. For now, though, they’re sticking to their original vocal intent almost as strictly as to the original message.