Chaka Khan - ClassiKhan
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Free Music Notes for ClassiKhan
Free Music Review: Chaka Was Born To Sings These Songs - AMAZING !!
Hit: 5 Stars
Always putting her vocal stamp on everything she touches, "Lady Chaka" once again comes up in spades on this classic collection of American standards. These are some of the most thrilling pop songs written in the last 50 years. Just when you thought you heard "Round Midnight" sung for the 100th time, here Chaka makes the song all her own. With age, her once pure stratospheric voice has attained some lower register growl and sass that now adds a sexual edge to each song not always present in her early Rufus years. The sexual edge is fully present on these wonderful 13 songs (on the Japan special issue "To Sir With Love" is included as a bonus track).
Giving the likes of Willie Nelson, Shirley Bassey and Peggy Lee a full run for their money, Chaka delves into their canon of treasures and plunks her own individual stamp on songs not many have dared to touch in the last 50 years. On the Bond title song, "Diamonds Are Forever" Chaka matches Shirley Bassey note for note, sass for sass on the Welsh diva's signature tune. Daring to go into Peggy Lee's signature "Is That All There Is?", Chaka once again remakes the song into totally her own. With all respects to Peggy, Chaka really adds some much-needed emotional punch to this song from 1969.
Only on the other Shirley Bassey bond song "Goldfinger" does Chaka slightly stumble. Not quite attaining the vocal highs of Shirley's pow-wow-bam interpretation, Chaka comes off second best on "Goldfinger". But again, her courage is to be applauded for tackling a song that almost no other singer has dared to touch since the Welsh diva's definitive interpretation from 46 years ago.
All in all, "Classikhan" is just that. A Classic with a Capital "C" and these songs fit "Lady Chaka" like hand in glove. Special mention must go to the great orchestration and arrangements that accompany Chaka. Tasteful but enough energy and sass to keep it from being boring, a word that never applies to Lady Chaka.
Free Music Review: All Classics...All Chaka
Hit: 5 Stars
Recipe for an incredibly sensual, joyous musical journey. Take the greatest living soul singer of our day, add a full symphony orchestra, along with instrumental contributions by Joe Sample and Sheila E., among others, and then turn the whole collective loose on some pop and jazz standards of our day. The result is perfect.
Go right to "To Sir With Love" - its a song Chaka has always loved, and the arrangements will make you forget how classic Lulu's original was. Chaka rips this song up, tossing in some trademark wails and sounding better than she has in ages. Then check out the Bond doubleheader, "Diamonds Are Forever" and "Goldfinger". Again, CK takes these tunes hostage. Recording with the strings of the London Symphony adds just the right touch, and makes you think that Clare Fisher (CK's string arranger for years) would be really proud.
"Hey Big Spender" is less lively, but more intimate than any version I ever heard before, and "Crazy" picks up the beat a degree or two. The only song that is less than perfect on this disc is the cover of Peggy Lee's "Is That All There Is" - Chaka has far too much emotion in her voice to ever capture the disaffected nature of the original.
There is even a CK original to close the disc - and "I Beleive" is right up there with other classic Khan jams.
The entire track listing, which isn't yet posted here at Amazon, is:
1. Hey Big Spender
2. Hazel's Hips
3. The Best Is Yet to Come
4. Crazy
5. I'm in the Mood for Love
6. Is That All There Is
7. Stormy Weather
8. Round Midnight
9. Teach Me Tonight
10. To Sir With Love
11. Diamonds Are Forever
12. Goldfinger
13. I Believe
Free Music Review: ClassiKhan...A Timeless Collection!
Hit: 5 Stars
Chaka Khan has finally delivered the project that Warner Brothers prevented her from doing many years ago. This new set is a collection of songs that Chaka personally picked, and I'm happy to announce that the Diva IS in fine voice. The listener will hear the full range of Chaka's vocals - strong, smokey, and passionate singing in a jazz context! Chaka's trademark pipes injects new life into these pop standards, and my favorite standout cuts include 'Stormy Weather', 'Hey Big Spender', Round Midnight', and so many more, including 'I Believe', which is the only original song on the CD. Chaka benefits from having top notch production, and quality musicians in the London Symphony Orchestra, who impressed me with thier ablity to give Chaka that big brassy jazz band sound, which she sounds so comfortable with. Chaka has always loved jazz, and I hope that there'll be future editions of 'ClassiKhan' to feature other gems, like a fully orchestrated version of 'My Funny Valentine' (for example) as opposed to the synthesizer laden song from the 'Waiting To Exhale' SDTK.
In closing, I didn't expect to enjoy Chaka's new CD because older pop standards aren't my type of music, but Chaka made most of these songs HER OWN, and it was a pleasure listening to her in such a comfort zone (a big Jazzy Zone!!). I'm looking forward to future jazz CDs from Chaka, and maybe this type of music will help her escape the huge shadow of hits like 'I Feel For You', which should be retired. 'ClassiKhan' is a sophisticated collection of tracks, and Chaka must be applauded for her overall performance here!
Chaka's.
Peace, Sean D.
(of 'Chaka's World')
Free Music Review: A singer shows how to belt and handle jazz songs
Hit: 5 Stars
I have listened to a lot of singers who simply "belts", and I am also familiar with singers who sing good jazz (Cheryl Bentyne, Ann Callaway, Jane Monheit, Cleo Laine). Honestly, I really think that most of the songs in the CD does not need so much belting. Also, given the textured voice of Chaka Khan, there would definitely no need to belt. She of course, occassionally belts.
Does this CD make it not at par with good jazz albums? No!. This CD showcases how good belting (with purpose), can highlight songs. There are songs in this CD that I think would be better with less belting (e.g. Peggy Lee's Is That All there is), but overall the vocal technique is well-employed.
Good thing she is backed by a tight orchestra (London Symphony).
Chaka Khan can outbelt and outsing the best jazz and broadway can offer (e.g. Lillias White, and others). Even in her high notes, her words and notes are clear and precise. Her low notes are just divine (e.g. Teach Me Tonight).
For those looking for the Chaka Kahn who really BELTS like there is no tom, sorry to say this CD is not for you (unless you listen clearly to the song and not so much focus on the singer). If you are looking for a good jazz CD, this is definitely a good buy.
Good versions here are : The Best is Yet to Come (try to listen also to Ann Hampton Callaway's version in Signature), Teach me Tonight (Jacqui Dankworth also sang this wonderfully), To Sir With Love (just listen to the wonderful shift midway).
An aside, i though i would NOT like Goldfinger song. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it.
Free Music Review: The Most Pleasant Surprise Of The Year In Music
Hit: 5 Stars
Chaka Khan is one of the greatest vocalists of all time. But with the exception of her 1992 disk The Woman I Am, her solo albums have been extremely uneven. Thus, CLASSIKHAN - her new album of standards and pop culture favorites - must rank as one of the year's most pleasant surprises. An undeniable winner from start to finish.
The London Symphony Orchestra suceeds with Khan where so many others have struggled since her days with Rufus by providing tasteful accompaniment that never detracts from Khan's sublime, out-front vocals. While the instrumental arrangements tend to vary little from the best known renditions of these classics, the tracks come off sounding fresh thanks to Khan's vocal stylings.
The eclectic, thirteen track lineup - all selected by Khan - is dominated by jazz standards (Hazel's Hips, The Best Is Yet To Come, I'm In The Mood For Love, Stormy Weather, Round Midnight, and Teach Me Tonight). It also includes a broadway show tune (Hey Big Spender from Sweet Charity), '60s country (Patsy Cline's Crazy) and pop (Peggy Lee's Is That All There Is) classics, and the themes of film favorites from Khan's youth (To Sir With Love, Goldfinger, and Diamonds Are Forever). The collection then concludes with an original Khan composition "I Believe" - an exquisite ballad that returns Khan to the present.
Though I love all of the tracks on this collection, my personal favorite is easily Khan's take on Is That All There Is. While Peggy Lee's version is somber and resigned, in Khan hands it becomes sassy and defiant. A strong reminder of what a unique talent she is.