Pop Music

BY RICK MASSIMO
Journal Pop Music Writer

NEWPORT, R.I. -- So we know Chaka Khan is one of the great funk/R&B voices of all time, but the question before the opening concert of George Wein's CareFusion Jazz Festival 55 was, how well can she sing jazz?

Well, after hearing her for an hour and a half along with an announced crowd of 2,300 people, the answer is yes, no and maybe.

Khan, backed by an impeccable quartet led by pianist George Duke (with James Genus, bass; Ron Brunner Jr., drums; Jeff Lee Johnson, guitar), came out swinging (after an instrumental by the quartet) with a quick version of "Them There Eyes," singing near the top of her range with a trumpet-like quality but at the same time a nice warmth. Her deep notes on the following ballad, "I Loves You Porgy," were a little breathy and not as powerful, however.

That pattern continued for the rest of the set, with "Take the A train" punctuated by glistening high notes (and a nice bit with Genus singing along to his own solo), but with "End of A Love Affair" losing a lot of emotional punch with all the ornamentation that Khan put on, particularly compared to the Billie Holiday version she referenced before starting up.

"High Wire - The Aerialist," by Chick Corea, was a refracted standard from Khan's Echoes of an Era album of standards, and the ballad "Round Midnight" was more effective for a lack of coloration.

The crowd was calling for Khan to do her better-known funk and soul material, such as "Ain't Nobody" and "I Feel For You," all night, and after Khan returned from another instrumental break, funk and pop seeped into the jazz. The ease with which Khan delivered a knockout rendition of "To Sir With Love" (with Duke on Fender Rhodes and Genus on electric bass) was telling, And "My Funny Valentine" and "A Night in Tunisia" were as close to funk as those chestnuts are likely to get. A fusion-like version of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" closed it out.

A quartet led by the young clarinetist Anat Cohen and guitarist Howard Alden opened the show with sweet and straight-ahead standards, all in tribute to this year's centenary of Benny Goodman. Starting with the gentle Swing of "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Poor Butterfly," the quartet took flight on a lickety-split "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise," with Cohen displaying dazzling speed.

Alden's solo during "Memories of You" was laced with gorgeous harmonics, and the way Cohen picked up on Alden's descending line during "After You've Gone" inspired festival impresario George Wein, no mean piano player himself, to join in, and stay for "All of Me."

"I had to get in there; it sounded so good," he told the crowd afterward, and as the man who started bringing jazz to Newport 55 years ago, who would stop him?

rmassimo@projo.com / (401) 277-7206

 Tags  Anat Cohen Chaka Khan George Wein jazz festival Newport RI

Comments

Christopher said:

I definitley thought Chaka Khan was in her zone. She was pretty powerful for an artist that has been performing worldwide nonstop for over 30yrs. I mean really, who does that? At the same time, she was sweet, feminine, and very modest. For the people comparing her ever-changing versions to the "soundtracks", you need to stop that. Don`t forget, this is ART. It`s on purpose. She could sing the same everytime, but I think to an artist, that could border "Boring". You don`t expect a painter to make every piece exact. I think she is magnificent, and I love her "real" human quality. Go Girl. P.S. If you want to hear her sing hits like "Ain`t nobody", or "I feel for you". Go to one of her performances. This was a Jazz Concert. Keep it Lucid. Thanks

Link | August 9, 2009 10:32 AM
Report Abuse

---

Leave a comment

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.