Customer Reviews

BET on Jazz: The Jazz Channel Presents Chaka Khan

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This was a good concert. Chaka's in great voice, the backing band is hot,and the song selection / arrangements have high
creative value. However,(and I hate to say this) the one missing
ingredient I felt when watching this was Khan's little rapport with her audience. She seems shy,hiding behind all that hair. You can see the faces in the audience-she's got them eating out of the palm of her hand yet she seems oblivious to it or not engaging it. Maybe this was done when she wasn't feeling jovial or maybe she's not that emotionally involved with her audience-which is her choice . But the fire between performer and audience that makes performances really warm seems lost without that to me. In other words, it just feels like she's going through the motions. I can imagine that she still performs many dates per year and that can probably become tedious. I would still go to her live. Highlights are her reading of "Man From Mars", her mean scat on "Them Their Eyes" and her touching performance of "Love Me Still". The last song sounded sincere as if she were asking the question from her heart. And the answer is yes! Yes, Chaka we love you still!

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??

the show started off good&then around the middle of the show Chaka Khan just kinda went down from there.the Band was on point but Her vocals strayed&after a while it felt like She was just going through the Motions.if this Performance had have stopped early after a few songs then it would have been tight but it goes a bit to long.the Musicianship was tight throughout nevertheless.

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.

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!

This is when you know a singer has it all. This is not your R&B Chaka. This is Chaka in a smooth Jazz setting with a band that is tight and complements her. She gets right down to buisness after the bands runs off a piece by themselves, which is really setting you up for Chaka's performance which is flawless. Not a lot of talking, she gets right down to Jazz music.
REMEMBER, this is not R&B, this is her in a different setting and I was totally impressed. Check out her song "Reconsider" on this DVD and you will see what I mean. Patti has nothing on this woman. JAZZ LOVERS, GET THIS.

The reason Chaka doesnt really "shine" on this DVD is because of the band. Though they are good musicians, I think they are BET studio musicians or something. I've seen this on other BET DVDs that I own. I am pretty sure that Chaka didnt pick the band on this production. As such, I think she seems uninspired because the band doesnt give her a goal to hit. I know if you brought out members of her previous live encounters you would really have something here. She knows how to sing jazz and anybody who thinks otherwise has got rocks in their head.

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

Somebody get this woman in the studio. Jazz is truly her calling. This DVD is testament to greater things to come from Chaka Khan.

Warning- this is done in Dolby Digital and DTS "surround"....... I put the disc in and heard nothing from the centre channel- thought my set up was faulty- but no - this is the way it seems to be recorded. Nevertheless fabulous concert and good sound quality. So- for the actual content 5 stars but degraded to 3 because of the technical confusion and poor menu.