Queen Latifah - Trav'lin' Light
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Free Music Notes for Trav'lin' Light
Free Music Review: She's Only "Trav'lin' Light" 'Cuz She's Here To Stay!
Hit: 5 Stars
Queen Latifah can SANG! I'm not sure how I always forget that as I own her exceptional debut vocal album "The Dana Owens Album" and have heard the vocal tracks she's contributed to the soundtracks of movies she's starred in like "Chicago", "Living Out Loud", and Hairspray" and she even sung the theme song to her '90's sitcom "Living Single" and of course there's all the singing scattered throughout the rap albums of her early career. On "Trav'lin' Light" she shows that her vocal repertoire goes way past the schmaltzy jazz thing, which some people still unbelievably consider some kind of gemic. She also covers R&B, pop and soul standards on this outing and even in contemporary R&B fashion throws in a little gospel at the end. All of this makes for an even better album than the first and one of the best I've heard this year.
The album starts out with the smooth, guitar strummed "Poetry Man" and then glides into the beautiful jazz ballad "Georgia Rose" where Queen is accompanied by the legendary Stevie Wonder on harmonica. Her voice sounds so crisp on this song and the title track "Trav'lin' Light" that you could snap it in half.
"Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars" is a smooth bossa-nova flavored song whose lyrics glide effortlessly over the live backing band. The next track "Don't Cry Baby" is a beggy blues ballad where Queen asks her beau to be "sweethearts again". I love the emotion in her voice.
Latifah shines her brightest on big band numbers such as "I Love Being With You" and "I'm Gonna Live 'Till I Die" where here diction and personality on these songs would make you swear they were recorded in the '20 or '30's. Her larger than life personality and vocal style commands these songs. I can almost see her in the shimmering dress with the flower her hair in front of the 50 piece band like Lady Day or Pearl Bailey.
"I Want Some Sugar In My Bowl" vocally has to be Latifah's best jazz track ever, she effortlessly slides from her lower register up to her high falsetto while still retaining her brassy vampish vocal style while ginving us sex appeal and wit all at the same time. But just when I thought "Sugar" was good "I'm Not In Love", left me absolutely speechless. This is Latifah's first foray into R&B/Pop on this album and it's amazing. She uses the strength and power behind her voice here mixed with a soft emotional vulnerablity than she has in her jazzier works and it has made for an amazing song. The horns in the background bring the song to a perfect crescendo.
Queen even goes motown, smoothly covering Smokie Robinson's "What Love Has Joined Together" and then playfully covering The Pointer Sisters "How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side)". She even updates the song by mentioning "YouTube" in the ending adlibs.
To end the album Latifah beautifully covers Roberta Flack's "Gone Away", the strings, blaring electric guitar, and spoken word portion provide the dramatic climax to the album. The last track is the gospel-flavored "I Know Where I've Been" from the "Hairspray" soundtrack complete with backing choir and all. A great way to end a great album.
If you must download, download: "Georgia Rose", "I'm Gonna Live 'Till I Die", "I Want Some Sugar In My Bowl", "I'm Not In Love", "Gone Away"
Free Music Review: Amazing Versatility
Hit: 5 Stars
I must admit I never thought I'd but a Queen Latifah cd. Her earlier music was not to my taste and I really wasn't overwhelmed by her performance in CHICAGO. Then I saw her sing the song from HAIRSPRAY on tv and I was blown away. I quickly went to Amazon and ordered her latest - TRAV'LIN' LIGHT. Am I ever so glad I did. This cd was nominated for a grammy and I certainly understand why. There is not a miss out of all the 13 tracks. She tackles true classics from many different decades of varying styles and puts it all together in a very cohesive collection held strong by her amazing vocals.
The cd begins with a true classic POETRY MAN and her take is soft, moody and totally effective. It sets you up for all the amazing music to come. She uses her skills on some bluesy, lilting emotive ballads like QUIET NIGHTS OF QUIET STARS, DON'T CRY BABY and GEORGIA ROSE. She hits the mark right on with the jazz uptemo numbers I LOVE BEING HERE WITH YOU and I'M GONNA LIVE TILL I DIE. The cd ends on an amazing high note with two belting ballads and Queen Latifah is amazing and stands up there with the best of the belters. GONE AWAY and the exceptional I KNOW WHERE I'VE BEEN, the uplifting gospel ballad from HAIRSPRAY will astound you.
I am 47 and grew up with the music of the 70s and must admit my favorite tracks are her remakes of I'M NOT IN LOVE by 10cc and HOW LONG originally done by The Pointer Sisters. I thought they would be campy and she totally makes them her own. That is what she does on this whole cd. There are many artists out there covering the classics and they are basically redoing songs where your thoughts still remember how the original artist was better. Queen Latifah is better than that here. It is obvious she has picked songs that mean something to her. It fully comes across in her delivery and she makes each song an original - her own.
Queen Latifah has grown into an artist with amazing range and versatility. I highly recommend this cd.
Free Music Review: QUEEN LATIFAH'S SINGING SPECTACULAR
Hit: 5 Stars
Five WONDERFUL Stars. Grammy-winning and Oscar-nominated triple-threat star Queen Latifah once again demonstrates that she is a wonderful, dramatic singer in this spectacular set entitled "Trav'lin' Light". This is a marvelous extention of the music of her previous CD recorded under her birth name: the Grammy-nominated The Dana Owens Album. It also shows very intelligent and eclectic song selection that goes from jazz to blues to soul to bossa nova to Broadway, showing a wide-ranging vocal capability. Using great musical arrangements, a huge orchestra, and a hip vocal chorus, the Queen DELIVERS!! BIGTIME!! (BTW selections from both CD's were performed by Ms Latifah in front of a wildly enthusiastic, sold-out audience at the Hollywood Bowl.) She demonstrates flawless time, swing, and delivery in impressively selling each song with a soulful flair.
The best performances begin with a heartfelt version of Smokey Robinson's "What Love Has Joined Together" with a hot arrangement and the Queen delivering a sincere, touching performance and it went straight to my iPod. "Poetry Man" is so good, it may give you chills. She sings dynamic versions of two rarely performed songs: Roberta Flack's beautiful "Gone Away" and 10cc's "I'm Not In Love". From Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars" (Corcovado) to "Georgia Rose" (with Stevie Wonder's soaring harmonica) to a salutary "I Know Where I've Been" from her own role in the movie version of the Broadway show "Hairspray", Queen Latifah has an attractive, dramatic way with a song that deepens with each listen. Let's hope she continues to deliver these types of vocal performances, while she pursues the other highly successful elements of her career. This CD gets My Highest Recommendation!! All Hail the Queen!: Five ENJOYABLE Stars!!
Free Music Review: Fabulous CD!
Hit: 5 Stars
For those of us who missed "Dana Owens" -- don't fret -- we'll just add it to our collection later. As all of us Pisceans know, we rarely do anything in moderation, and Queen Latifah makes this fellow Piscean proud! "Trav'lin Light" kicks butt from the beginning -- Ms. Latifah's rendition of "Poetry Man" is awesome! I'm old enough to remember liking the song as a teen, but Queen Latifah injects the "Soul" component as Phoebe Snow could never do. And, I won't even talk about her cover of Smokey Robinson's "What Love Has Joined Together" -- she oughta quit! As if that wasn't enough, "I'm Not In Love" is so soulful and sultry, it makes me WISH I loved a man that much -- even if he's breaking my heart! "Gone Away?" Donny, I know you're smiling wherever you are. The creme de la creme is "I Know Where I've Been." I don't attend church, but I assure you, this cut will make you say TAKE ME TO CHURCH and let me get my praise on!!!
So, please do yourself a favor and add Trav'lin Light to your collection. I'm a die-hard R&B, Jazz, Reggae lover, and this CD does not disappoint -- even for those of us born in the 1950s!
Dana Owens - aka Queen Latifah -- darling, you've got it going on, and I love you much. I didn't know you could SANG. Billie Holiday -- move over, there's a new legend in town!
Free Music Review: The ubiquitous queen works her musical magic in a jazzy disc!
Hit: 5 Stars
Everywhere you turn, there she is: on television, in the movies, in print advertising, and even on billboards. Queen Latifah can do it all and her vocal prowess is shown at its best in "Trav'lin' Light," homage to R & B, pop, blues, and jazz. At first listen, she sounds a bit like Patti Austin. Like that singer, Latifah is comfortable in a variety of musical settings, from sultry ballads to pop standards to scat-heavy jazz.
The album is mostly a collection of covers but Latifah adds her own spin on them. She is especially good on "Poetry Man," "Georgia Rose," the title cut, "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars," "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl," "I'm Not in Love," and the heavenly "I Know Where I've Been."
Backed by such musical luminaries as superstar Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Paul Jackson, Jr., Oscar Castro-Neves, the legendary Toots Thielemans, Jerry Hey, and co-production by Ron Fair, Tommy LiPuma, and Marc Shaiman, respectively, the singer has made a truly outstanding contribution to the musical garden.
She's, most definitely, not "trav'lin' light"; she's laying it on heavy and succeeds marvelously.