Customer Reviews

Echoes of an Era

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The WAIT is over - I, for one, have been a huge Chaka fan/collector, and I have been waiting, like so many other true Chaka fans, for this long-delayed-on-CD stunning, brilliant "lost" album released in the early 80s on Elektra - it could be the most amazing album CHAKA ever recorded?! Featuring Chaka covering several jazz standards, every song is an instant jazz vocal CLASSIC, including the mind-blowing closer, "SPRING CAN REALLY HANG YOU UP THE MOST" - CHAKA belts out notes THAT AREN'T EVEN IN THE BOOK! Aided by legendary jazz musicians/artists like JOE HENDERSON, CHICK COREA, LENNY WHITE and a host of others, THIS CD should be mandatory in every household!! It just wonder why it took Rhino/Elektra/Atlantic TWO DECADES (!!) to finally release it on CD - was it because LP's of this album were selling on EBAY for [...]??!! Oh well, at the least we have it now REMASTERED, sounding better than ever AND the BONUS of CHAKA talking about the LP's creation at the final "hidden" track - I saw CHAKA do an all-jazz show in the mid-90s at The Strand in Redondo Beach - and I have always been frustrated that she never saw fit to release another jazz/vocal album - why why why? Well, at least we have THIS now for all to enjoy - Hooray!! FIVE STARS, no contest, bottom line.

Hearing Chaka sing straight ahead jazz on this project has brought me pure joy for years!! having the lp(which i played to death!)now that it has been reissued on CD, now it gives another generation of fans who missed this when it was first released a chance to hear Ms.Khan in a rare setting!! no this project was not perfect and who's is?? i love the human mistakes, it shows that the musicians and Khan were not out to make a 'perfect'record and the Grammys thought so too by giving this a nomination in the best female jazz catagory! I truly hope in the near future Chaka can continue to sing her favorite music(JAZZ)more!!!

The comments harsly critiquing Chaka's foray into Jazz are simply ill conceived. First, the jazz greats like Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Stanley Clarke, et.al., were the best judges to decide whether or not Chaka was up to snuff. Secondly, jazz, despite great efforts to the contrary, is not an elitist artform. There is not one right way to perform a piece. There is not one level of proficiency that legitimizes talent. There is abundant room for interpretation; this is at the core of jazz expression. It would be like comparing Ella with Sarah for the purposes of eliminating one. They were both talented, but their approaches and technical prowess were quite different; they each have their place in jazz history.

A more accurate way to describe Chaka's seminal jazz effort is to say that in these early recording she expressed a natural feel for jazz, but did not exhibit the fine expression seen in one singing jazz as a lifetime endeavor. That said and notwithstanding her need for woodshedding, she demonstrates a natural talent for jazz that some current jazz singers would kill for. It's also worth mentioning that they took no more than two takes on each of the recording to try to get a fresh and retro sound.

Producers like Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock have it right; get the artists together and let them create something new, perhaps unexpected, and replete with energy and enthusiams. For example, Christina Aguilera performance on "A Song For You". Hers is a worthy jazz vocal effort. Just like Chaka's venture into jazz a few decades ago. These efforts by non-jazz artists serve to influence and inspire young artists of every genre and attract a wider audience base to the the jazz genre in general.

Jazz is not what one thinks it ought to be. It simply is. It is alive and as such its boundries are shaped by the past, not limited by it. The problem with critics, such as those seen here, is that they forget that they themselves are limited by their personal experiences and understanding of something that is not the same as it was yesterday. In a word, they are suffering from a severe case of nostalgia These limiting attitudes about jazz are what may cause its demise. If jazz is going to continue as an evolving artform, it must be infused by views that are unique and sometimes tangential (like Parker). It must be inviting to both the listener and the performer alike.

So, is Chaka on a par with Sarah Vaughn with respect to jazz vocal/musicianship? No, but neithter was Ella. For that matter, Tony Benett is not on a par with Mel Torme's scatting ability, but both are legitimate voices in jazz. However, Chaka's "Echoes of An Era" is filled with fresh and richly unique interpretations of jazz standards. It will definitely find its place in your jazz collection.

By the way, Chaka recorded Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night In Tunisia" under the name "The Memory Still Lingers On"... and guess who played the trumpet solo?... that's right, Dizzy. You don't get a much better validation than that.

I purchased this album when it first hit the market in 1982, I believe. In my mind the only two women who could possibly bring Billie Holiday back to life is, Chaka Khan and Diana Ross. This album shows the unique talent of Chaka Khan and her ability to...on the spot, do just that. Record this wonderful album in only two days. Not to mention the talented musicians like, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Stanley Clarke, and Lenny White himself who supported and blended so well with her. Lenny White out did himself with this production. I have searched for this album off and on for years. Not long ago, I searched Amazon.com. I asked if you could please find this album. Out of sheer frustration, because my album is getting old, I checked again and to my surprise here it is! If you are a lover of music, no matter what era, this album will not disappoint you. Amazon, you have made my day!!
I now have to order two of them. One for myself and one for a friend.
Thank you sooooooooo much!!

Thank you Lenny White! Again.....
I had the LP when it first came out......happy to hear the reissue.
Worth the cost just for "Hire Wire - The Aerialist" and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most".

Yes, Chaka is a Jazz vocalist too.

Kennyb

...For someone who was never trained in jazz music, Chaka has
captured it's essence. This is most likely Chaka's greatest work.
She was the perfect choice for this project. Stanley,Chick,Joe,Freddie and Lenny jam so effortlessly it makes
your head bob and spin. They are flawless as usual. Chaka handles this work with a brilliance that rivals the great Sarah Vaughn.I for one was not surprised.From the up tempo to the ballads (Take The "A" Train-Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most)is spectacular.I am thrilled that she
took this project on. For all true jazz fans this will definitely not
disappoint. All the raw flaws are here to appreciate in there
glory. No more than two takes per song like it used to be recorded paid off. I could always hear the jazz flow in Chaka's
voice when she did her usual thing. Thanks to Lenny
White for dreaming up this project and thanks to Rhino for
reissuing it...better late than never!

"Echoes of An Era" was an interesting concept when this album was originally produced in 1982. The jazz equivalent of rock's "superbands", the project involved some of soul and jazz's most notable starts getting together over a period of two days and laying down unrehearsed tracks - in essence, a recording studio version of a live jam session.
The players on this project are some of the most noteworthy musicians of the late 70's-early 80's: Stanley Clark (perhaps the best bassist of his generation), Chick Corea (fresh off the successes of Return To Forever), Lenny White (a truly underappreciated percussionist), Freddy Hubbard and Joe Henderson. And for a vocalist, the project recruited the greatest soul vocalist of the era, Chaka Khan, who was rumored to be hungry to expand beyond her rock/funk/soul base.
The actual recording "Echoes Of An Era" had a difficult time living up to its billing. Listening to it with a fresh ear twenty years later, it's hard to believe that this project was not a bigger success. While unpolished, it is clear that a lot of love went into the recording of this project, and it's incredible that most of these tracks were recorded after one or two takes.
"Them There Eyes" just sparkles and bubbles with Chaka's vocals. "Take the A-Train" gives all of the musicinas a chance to jam out, and its clear that they had a blast laying down the instrumentation to this song. "I Loves You Porgy" is true to the original, and makes clear that Chaka would have fit in perfectly in the 40s and 50s performing at intimate smoky lounges. The two takes of "All Of Me" give Chaka a chance to really let her vocals shine through, and her scatting abilities are as good as anyone who has recorded in the post-Ella generation of jazz.
This album is essential listening for any fan of Chaka (or any of the players on the project). While not perfect ("Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" is a disappointment), it represents an honest attempt to expand boundaries and bring fans along for a ride into what motivates an artist. I'm glad someone finally realized that this recording was important enough to be rereleased on CD, and I hope people who never heard of this project get an opportunity to enjoy some magical music.

Very hard to find,I have the album, its a pure delight to get this CD.To me this is one of Chaka's greatest projects with some of the greatest musicians of all time.Return to forever members Chick Corea, Stanley Clark, and Lenny White,The great Freddy Hubbard and Joe Henderson, how can you go wrong, if you don't like this you don't like jazz. Been looking along time thanks Amazon.

THIS CD CONTAINS CHAKA'S RAWEST VOCALS EVER; IT REMINDS ME OF WHEN SHE FIRST STARTED SINGING (WITH THE ORIGINAL BAND MEMBERS OF RUFUS) IN 1972. ABSOLUTELY A BRILLIANT CAST OF FINE MUSICIANS (CHICK, FREDDIE H. AND MORE); WONDERFUL ART OF FINE MUSICIANS. THEY COMPLIMENT CHAKA'S BROAD RANGE OF VOCALS WITH ALL ARRAYS OF BRILLIANT COLORS.

EVERY SONG REMAINS IN MY HEART AND SOUL. I CHECKED WITH ALL MUSIC STORES AND AMAZON.COM JUST TO SEE IF I CAN RETAIN THIS ON CD. NOW I CAN STORAGE MY ALBUM OF ECHOES OF AN ERA WITH GREAT RELIEF! THANKS TO THE EXECUTIVES (AS WELL AT RHINO RECORDS FOR RECALLING THIS CD), THANK U VERY, VERY MUCH. **Angi**

It is about time this album was put in cd format. I discovered this album in 1983 as a teenager. I was already a Chaka fan, but had no idea she had recorded a straight up jazz album. It was recorded ol' school style and you hear the "imperfections" as if you there in the studio or better yet as if you were in a jazz club. I hope the "remastering" doesn't diminish the authenticity of the 1st recordings. True music lovers, if you don't have this one, get it, you will be glad you did.