Product Details

• Actors: Chaka Khan
• Directors: Gene A. Davis
• Producers: Dennis Hedlund
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Kultur Video
• DVD Release Date: August 30, 2005
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000A3XZ3G
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,853 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Great Women Singers of the 20th Century - Chaka Khan" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Chaka Khan has been singing for 35 years. The multi-platinum, Grammy Award singer began her career in the early 1970’s with the pre-imminent funk group Rufus. A beautiful and dynamic vocalist, Chaka was raised on Chicago’s South Side. She began her career as a solo artist interestingly, singing jazz. Her fame however, came with contemporary solo funk hits like "I Feel For You" and the classic "I’m Every Woman," which she successfully recorded 10 years before Whitney Houston’s cover version.

This 1992 live performance at New York’s famed jazz club The Blue Note, finds Chaka in the musical environment that she has always felt most creative. In great voice and surrounded by five great jazzmen, she performs a rare catalog of songs closely associated with jazz. Several of whichcannot be found on her recordings. She sings the Ellington/Strayhorn"Take The ‘A’ Train," Rodgers and Hart’s "My Funny Valentine," plus "Summertime" and "I Loves You Porgy" from Gershwin’s folk opera "Porgy and Bess."

This is a rare and exciting live performance, never seen before. And the combination of her definitive vocal talent, seen live, offers a great "ENCORE" concert performance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chaka Vocalizing With Energy & Flair!, September 1, 2005

By 

chakasworld "chakasworld" (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Women Singers of the 20th Century - Chaka Khan (DVD)

I just finished watching Chaka in all of her glory on the NEWLY RELEASED '20th Century Great Women Singers' DVD, and it is a must have for your collection. 1st of all, Chaka was in great (and I mean GREAT!) voice during this set (recorded in 1992), and unlike the B.E.T. show, Chaka was no ways tired! She was vibrant, and her voice sparkled. Chaka had some great vocal moments on the B.E.T. show, but she wasn't in good spirits. It was also a revelation seeing Chaka enjoy herself & to interact with the Blue Note audience on this new DVD. Her band was on point as well, but the only name I recognized was Gary Haase, who threw down on the acoustic bass.

After one viewing, I can't say which song was my favorite, but 'My Funny Valentine' (with a new arrangement), 'Carrie', 'Summertime', and 'Alfie' are definitely impressive in illustrating the FULL SPECTRUM of Chaka's instrument. I rate this DVD slightly higher than the BET set because Chaka has so much energy here, BUT this new DVD was mastered in 'mono', and that's the only beef I have. Chaka also looked much better on this new DVD, but I lost count on how many times she played with all of that hair!! Oh, you have to check out Chaka's banter while introducing 'Alfie'. She refers to Dionne Warwick as "that Psychic Bit**", and started laughing!! It was all in love though, and Chaka admitted her mouth was trouble!! PRICELESS!!!

In the end, I give the new Chaka Khan DVD 4 stars, and the 'mono' sound cost it a few points! 5.1 Coded DVDs (with surround sound') should be the standard by now. My verdict..a must for 'Chakaholics', and those who wanted more from Chaka's 'B.E.T. On Jazz' DVD.

Peace, SD
(from 'Chaka's world')

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm bias, but really.......this is a good dvd, November 15, 2005

By 

June Evans (Pleasant hill, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Great Women Singers of the 20th Century - Chaka Khan (DVD)

I love Chaka and I have written many favorable reviews for her. I am bias, but I try to be honest. This dvd was surprisingly good, real good. Chaka's energy is on full blast and she is engaging. I think Chaka has suffered from self esteem issues, but her performance on this dvd is of a confident, brillant artist that is having a lot of fun and wants you (the audience) to join in the merriment. Chaka fans must have this, but those who are not fully aware of her talents should enjoy this performance.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A dissapointment from a great singer, March 31, 2006

By 

E. Latty "Jazzbo" (Somerset, England) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Great Women Singers of the 20th Century - Chaka Khan (DVD)

I have listened to this DVD performance quite a few times before i decided to write this review. Ms Khan is no doubt one of the Divas of contemporary music--and that is why I am dissapointed that she allowed this DVD to be relesaed. The audio and video engineering is a shambles and almost suggests that this production was slapped together on the cheap. The flagship tracks (My Funny Valentine and Porgy) pale in comparison to the same versions on the Live at BET concert and the backup group here are no match for the studio group that was on the BET DVD. Admittedly Ms Khan seems to be enjoying herself more here but is seriously let down by some shoddy audio and lighting engineering. Just one more thing, I just wish producers would spend a little more time and care and give the public a little more for their money e.g. a simple thing such as liner notes. They do play their part in enhancing the overall customer experience. Sorry, but I think I will be giving my BET DVD more playing time than this one.