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The Jazz Channel Presents Chaka Khan (BET on Jazz)

The Jazz Channel Presents Chaka Khan (BET on Jazz)

List Price: $9.99
Your Price: $9.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Funk-Jazz from a great singer/expert band!
Review: A mellower set from Ms.Khan than some fans are used to but no less emotionally gripping! This project is an interesting & pleasing fusion of jazz standards filtered through a funky musical contraption. I quite enjoyed it! Expertly executed by a band of top LA studio musicians and funkstress, Khan. Of greatest interest to disciples of Chaka Khan, Vinnie Colaiuta, & Melvin Davies (etc.) than to jazz purists. Comparison to Ella Fitzgerald is stretching- but Chaka's funky arrangements & delivery are no less engaging. The original tunes are well crafted instrumentally, though the lyrics are at times sophomoric. Make no mistake, this is a improv-skilled rock band & singer interpreting jazz standards, not straight-ahead jazz. This is along the same pop/funk/jazz blend as Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, or "DeJohnette, Hancock, Holland, Metheny in Concert".

The band kicks (EVERY member plays stirring solos)! They include:
Chaka Khan - Vocals,

Melvin Davies - Bass,

Vincent (Vinnie) Colaiuta - Drums (playing a lovely Gretsch Burnt Orange kit!),

Mark Stephens - Piano,

Andy Weiner - Trumpet. Enjoy!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great Funk-Jazz from a great singer/expert band!
Review: A mellower set from Ms.Khan than some fans are used to but no less emotionally gripping! This project is an interesting & pleasing fusion of jazz standards filtered through a funky musical contraption. I quite enjoyed it! Expertly executed by a band of top LA studio musicians and funkstress, Khan. Of greatest interest to disciples of Chaka Khan, Vinnie Colaiuta, & Melvin Davies (etc.) than to jazz purists. Comparison to Ella Fitzgerald is stretching- but Chaka's funky arrangements & delivery are no less engaging. The original tunes are well crafted instrumentally, though the lyrics are at times sophomoric. Make no mistake, this is a improv-skilled rock band & singer interpreting jazz standards, not straight-ahead jazz. This is along the same pop/funk/jazz blend as Cassandra Wilson, Diana Krall, or "DeJohnette, Hancock, Holland, Metheny in Concert".

The band kicks (EVERY member plays stirring solos)! They include:
Chaka Khan - Vocals,

Melvin Davies - Bass,

Vincent (Vinnie) Colaiuta - Drums (playing a lovely Gretsch Burnt Orange kit!),

Mark Stephens - Piano,

Andy Weiner - Trumpet. Enjoy!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Chaka Rocks Jazz!
Review: Chaka Khan flexes her amazing vocal chops and proves she can sing jazz with the best of them. Yes, Chaka even scats (quite well I might add) on several of the numbers on this live recording. Although this video is probably not for the jazz purist, it's definitely a must-have for any Chaka fan! Chaka handles herself well on the jazz front, but don't expect a traditional jazz performance a la Ella Fitzgerald. Some of the arrangements are a bit hokey and the band isn't exactly tight. But I bought this for Chaka and she is in top form. She sings in the low and middle tones with enough subtlety and nuance to counterbalance her incredible bursts of trademark belting when she sings in the higher registers. The video shows that, at this point in her career, Chaka Khan has become a seasoned vocal performer with few rivals and one who can tackle almost any musical genre with aplomb.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Awesome Vocalist!!
Review: Chaka Khan is one of the great vocalists of this generation.The Jazz selections only cement my opinion, and I love the 'human element' involved-her voice is a marvel even though it misses a FEW notes.She is a gem!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: chaka is a amazing vocalist
Review: FINALLY CHAKA HAS A LIVE CONCERTOUT ON VHS AND DVD.CHAKA SINGS JAZZ AS IF SHE REALLY IS A JAZZSINGER.I MUST SAY I WAS IN AWE OFHER STAGE PRESENCE AND THOSE WONDERFUL VOCALS.KHAN DID A INCREDIBLE JOB ON MAN FROM MARSGOING HIGHER AND HIGHER ON EACH NOTE.FOR SOME REASON CHAKA SEEMSTO BE MORE COMFORTABLE WITH JAZZ.OVERALL THIS IS CHAKA AT HER BESTAND IS MUST HAVE.THE BAND IS ALSOGREAT.CHAKA THE GREATEST VOCALISTEVER.MARK.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Lousy
Review: I didn't care for this DVD at all. It wasn't the usual Chaka Khan.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Chaka Does It All!
Review: I first saw this video on a big screen at BB King's club in Times Sq, NYC and as a CK fan, I had to own a few copies. I found it most inspiring because she sings the standards, the funk and pop tunes in her own inimitable style. Anyone who is a CK fan will love this DVD.

Also Recommended: Dee Dee Bridgewater's Keeping Tradition/ Tania Maria's Viva Brazil

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: uptown saturday nite
Review: I like to see this move in dvd

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Chaka sings the jazz standards
Review: I wasn't quite sure what to expect when this DVD dropped through my mail box. However, I was pleasantly surprised to see top jazz musicians playing alongside a soul diva. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Roland keyboards being played and a trumpet also being played by the same musician. Mark Stephens on piano is truly outstanding....his playing is inspirational. Chaka is very sexy and confident in her renditions of the old numbers.....many of which would have been popular long before she was born. The audience looked as though they expected a lot and they got it.....great DVD....

My wife and I have now watched this many times and just think it gets better and better with each viewing. Amazing vocals and such an exciting voice.....when can we see her again??

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the Greats
Review: If you are a Chaka Khan fan, then these few words have echoed in your ear a thousand and one times. "Chaka Khan is a true Diva!" Her love for music is what I identifiy with when I hear her belt out a tune. My appreciation for her work in the jazz/blues genre has now been rewarded with this once in a lifetime session captured on DVD by the folks over at BET on Jazz.

I was fortunate to have watched the broadcast of this program, but will enjoy it at my liesure when I'm in the mood to hear this diva at her best.


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