Customer Reviews

ClassiKhan

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

ClassiKhan, Chaka's latest outing of standards is really like a breath of fresh air. Interestingly enough, the title is rather misleading for diehard Chaka fans would be expecting smooth, funky, grooves, that she is known far and wide for. But her jazz afinity/expertise has always been relegated to the back burner for obviously commercial and unforgivably negative reasons.

Chaka is one of the all-time premiere vocalists and it is terribly unfair to pigeonhole her or any other artist for that matter whose craft transcends cateogrization.

This is a wonderful, jazzy set of standards that true music aficianados will readily appreciate as well as enjoy. There are no surprises here in terms of vocal performance - Chaka can get as smoky, and sensual, and exhilarating as anyone out there and she is more than capably backed up by the London Symphony Orchestra no less. On a very good sound system, this is the bomb! Top-notch production which gives you the feeling of being in a grand concert hall with Chaka blowing you away while you sip luxuriously on your favorite cocktail and enjoy a good cigarette.

The only complaint I have is the choice of selections. Chaka put out a jazz album in the early days with Chick Corea and Ron Carter which is ample evidence that she can indeed carry a jazz standards album with absolutely no problem. Even some of her R&B stylings indicate an enormous range. As a matter of fact, the whole time I listened to this I was reminded when Aretha did the very same thing releasing Soul 69, quite possibly her best Atlantic recording. This was an album of standards as well with Aretha literraly blowing you away with smoky renditions of blues and jazz cuts, but with an earthier selection. Diana Ross did the same when she recorded Lady Sings the Blues which I believe helped her find her true voice.

While Chaka's rendition of Stomy Weather is deep, her reading of To Sir With Love inspired and her interpretation of Teach Me Tonight is quite simply superb, one has to wonder why she felt the urge to include TWO James Bond themes. The CD ends with a beautiful ballad she penned, showcasing again, what we just love about Miss Chaka.

In the final analysis, there are some artists who deserve to be at least noticed no matter what you may think of the product. Moreover, an artist of Chaka's stature is forever adding to their body of work - it is futile to try to put a finger on the "best thing an artist has done" but rather, revel in the next level of the art form.

If you are familiar with jazz standards and appreciate the musicality of this genre, you will be quite pleased..

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.

First - I love this CD and would give it 10 stars if Amazon had them. I was raised with her music and my own daughter loves her also.

Second - in response to the reviewer who compares Chaka to Ashanti! You can not compare an artist like Chaka, who has recorded pop, r&b, jazz, fusion, and standards; and who has been a constant on the charts for more than 25 years; with a mostly electronically enhanced child-like image that has the tasteless nerve to wear what amounts to an enhanced bra on her Christmas CD! It's pure class over a simple piece of --s.

In a world with disposable music I'll take Chaka, Anita, Regina, and Barbra over Ashanti and her body bearing clones any day!

WOW! I have enjoyed Chaka Khan's music for years. However, ClassiKhan brings about a whole new appreciation for Chaka Khan and her awesome voice.
The London Symphony Orchestra is well matched for the power of Khan's vocals.

Khan's version of Stormy Weather is electric, raw and soul stirring.

ClassiKhan is a must have CD!

I've been a huge fan of Chaka Khan for decades and have practically all the stuff she's ever done on either LP or CD, including her work with Rufus, Quincy Jones, Lionel Hampton, Fourplay and a number of others I can't recall right now. I'm guessing I wasn't alone when there was talk - after many years of will she or won't she - of her releasing an album of jazz standards. I'm sure I wasn't alone in recalling, for example, her renditions of "The End Of A Love Affair" and "I'll Be Around" (featuring Miles Davis, no less) on her "C.K." album or "And The Melody Still Lingers On (Night In Tunisia)" on the "What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" album, "Be Bop Medley" on the album "Chaka Khan", "My Funny Valentine" on the soundtrack to the "Waiting to Exhale" movie or indeed, her ultimate jazz performance in my view, the "Echoes Of An Era" album she did with Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White.

And thus I'm sure I wasn't alone in being a tad disappointed with this set. Sure, it's Chaka, sure these are jazz standards, sure she belts (in places) and sure, she's even backed by the London Symphony Orchestra but something seems to be missing. I can't put my finger on it but it seems as if her heart wasn't in what she was doing and she was basically just going through the motions. Not even great support from Joe Sample (on three songs - "Round Midnight", "Stormy Weather" and "Teach Me Tonight") saves the album. The set is produced by Eve Nelson and I have to confess I've never heard of her. How come Chaka didn't turn to true and tested folk she's worked with on jazz tunes before? People like Arif Mardin or Russ Titleman?

I'll support Chaka Khan 'til the end and she is and will always be one of the few artistes out there who's stuff I'll buy without listening to it first. I just feel slightly let down by this CD. Come on girl, we all know you can do better than this.

I have listened to Chaka ever since she was with Rufus and have loved everything she has ever put out. I have her Echoes of an Era "album" and am so glad to hear that it is now avaiabile on CD. For those of the few people still out there in this world who have not heard of or listened to a Chaka CD let me just tell you that you are missing out on one of the greatest vocalist since Ella and Sarah. This new CD showcases her voice to the ninth degree. Man I was just blowen away when I friest heard that she had a new CD out. My best friend who is at least two hours away from me called me and said guess what Chaka has a new CD and man it is bad. After I stopped jumping up and down for joy I quickly went out and bought this masterpiece. The woman blows you away with her vocal stylization of such songs as "Crazy" "The Best Is Yet To Come" and her one original piece "I Believe" this woman proofs once again why every other young female and male artist out there "tries" their best to imitate her and make her style their own. Stand back ya and let the one and orginial do it her way. This has Grammy written all over it. And if you don't believe take your a** out there and listen to this great woman do some great music. She proves like all the other Divas out there that it ain't over tell she says it's over. Add this CD to your collection and you will need no other, sultry, stylish and soulfully hot. This woman named Chaka does it all.

Over the years Chaka Khan has dabbled in the jazz genre. Now, with the help of the London Symphony Orchestra, Chaka takes the next step to becoming one of the great ladies of jazz. She takes the theme from "To Sir With Love" and turns into to a jazz classic. She puts her stamp on the over recorded "The Best is Yet to Come" and makes it brand new. Another album with no promotion. I stumbled upon this cd my accident. It is a wonderful addition to any straight ahead jazz collection.

How do I begin to express how I feel about the Chaka Khan's 'ClassiKhan' CD, an eclectic mix of great pop and jazz standards, along with a few movie soundtrack theme songs and a new Chaka original.

Chaka Khan has managed to keep me transfixed with her unusually freakish voice, which captures the essence of the pleasures of sensuality, for over 30 years. Beginning in 1973 with 'Whoever Is Thrilling You is Killing Me'. From there she went on to create some of the most thrilling moments on record from 'Tell Me Something Good' to 'Once You Get Started' to 'Sweet Thing' to 'Everlasting Love' to 'I'm Every Woman' to 'Ain't Nobody' to 'I Feel For You' for fans of her funky brand of pop music.

Fortunately, Chaka's also had a penchant for jazz and standards and has been thoughtful enough to share her penchant on classic jems like 'And the Melody Still Lingers On (A Night in Tunisia' to 'I Love You Porgy' to 'Don't Go To Strangers' to 'The End of a Love Affair' to 'My Funny Valentine'. Little did we know that Chaka would indulge is in a magnificent display of her vocalese on an entire CD dedicated to great classic tunes, with the London Symphony Orchestra. That's a big deal and no other modern singer could match the output of this great project.

'ClassiKhan' is the best thing Chaka has recorded since her career started in 1973. With ClassiKhan, Chaka is showing us how a great set of vocal chords can evolve into a distinctively intelligent and knowing instrument, capable of eliciting moments of sheer sexiness, carnal inquisitiveness, delightful sweetness, and playful elation, along with liberal helpings of ferocious and brassy exclamations.

The best readings on ClassiKhan are 'Hey Big Spender', 'Hazel's Hips', 'The Best Is Yet To Come', 'Round Midnight', 'To Sir With Love', 'Diamonds Are Forever', 'Goldfinger' and 'I Believe'. That's almost the entire album.

My sentimental favorites are 'Crazy' and 'Is That All There Is?'. Peggy Lee and Patsy Cline would probably be a bit jealous if they were around to hear Chaka in her glory.

I agree with so many of the previous reviewers about the quality and sound of 'Classikhan' that I don't want to duplicate their opinions. I just wanted to add my two cents to encourage anyone interested in Chaka or great music to purchase this CD for yourself. The pleasure centers in your brain will get the point once they've been exposed to the voice of Chaka on 'ClassiKhan'. ENJOY!!!

It's great to see Chaka Khan get such a positive response for her new album of covers.

I have to admit I was getting a bit tired of standards albums, especially after Rod Stewart and Michael Bolton have released a number of them, but if there is one singer who could really pull it off, it is Chaka Khan.

Ms. Khan may be one of the best R&B singers in the world, but she is also an accomplished jazz singer. She brings her considerable talents to this album, featuring an excellent variety of songs including "Crazy", "Stormy Weather", "Round Midnight" to her double does of Bond covers, "Goldfinger" and "Diamonds Are Forever".

Her take on "Is That All There Is" is sublime as is her take on "To Sir, With Love" and her Bond covers are perfect for her stellar voice.

I fear this album will be overlooked but I hope the positive word of mouth spreads.

Okay...so lots of people love to 'dis Ms. Khan's choice of songs producers whatever....call me blind and deaf, but her sheer musicality of every project leaves me breathless.I would buy her signing the Chicago Yellowpages if it were available.
Having said all that, I was a bit reserved when in concert a week before this album's release she mentioned her album of "standards". Typically this means another middle age pop singer has run out of ideas and support, and will do anything to cash in on the nostalgia craze.
HOWEVER....why it's taken 30 years for her to get this album out is beyond me. This is the album Chaka was born to record.
I'm the first to admit that I still grove to early Rufus, and late solo Chaka....her voice has always begged to sign these standards.
Anyone can come out with an album of golden oldies, but I can't recall one that makes you forget the originals...as Ms. Khan does here.
Shake a pitcher of dirty vodka martinis...kick back and listen to "GoldFinger", "Hey Big Spender", Is That All There Is".
I for one hope this is the first installment of several more standards albums to come.....If THIS one goes by unnoticed it will confirm a conspiracy. Even if her record company does NOTHING to promote this (as they are want to do) word of mouth should win out...
Buy It!
Play It!
Share It!