Chaka Khan Classikhan CD

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 She Comes To "Conquer"
With her latest release, "ClassiKhan", Chaka Khan brings to bear her "vocal ammunition" for a "dust up" of the music scene. Long overdue, her foray into the jazz world, had only been hinted at in past efforts, as an aside...such as her Grammy nominated 1982 effort, "Echoes of an Era".....here, she hits the ground "running" paired with The London Symphony Orchestra, and sideman extraordinaire, Joe Sample. The lush orchestrations only lend to the amazing quality of her voice on "Hey Big Spender", "The Best is Yet To Come", I'm in the Mood For Love, and the two covers of the James Bond movie theme songs, "Diamonds are Forever, and Goldfinger". Her nuances and fresh interpretations elevate these standards to "new heights"...also intimating that rumors of her recently "fragile" and "endangered" voice, were gross exaggerations. She can still soar into the statosphere, with those ear-piercing wails. What a delight for the listener for her to have conjured up the obscure, "Hazel's Hips", a sassy joint about a sassy waitress. What diva in her right mind would even attempt to try Patsy Cline's "Crazy", much less Lena Horne's "Stormy Weather", as those are signature pieces????...well, never fear, Miss Khan does them proud. Phoebe Snow's "Teach Me Tonight", was darn near a signature piece for her....well, she'd better find another, as Khan puts her mark on this, as well. "To Sir With Love", and "'Round Midnight" are the sleeper hits here... she infects them with smoky vamping and straddling of the jazz and the pop fences, in one fell swoop. "I Believe" is a personal anthem to rival "Love Me Still", her contribution to the soundtrack of the movie, "Clockers". From the album's opening strains to the last blood curdling wail, Chaka Khan wins the war, "effortlessly"...and we're glad she did. ACC
Submitted by aaronssongs (Houston, Texas, USA) 
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