Can you imagine that the queen of hip hop soul and television could rock the Hollywood Bowl with jazz standards? Well, I wondered as well. I went to go hear Walter Smith III earlier in the week and he told me that he was in Latifah’s band along with musical director Christian McBride and quite a few other cats that I know can blow so I decided to go and see for myself and check it out. Actually, Dianne Reeves who just recently performed at the Bowl herself for the Playboy Jazz festival said that she was really interested in going so off we went!
Goapele is a laid-back love song, groove and soul singer with a soft peaceful spirit about her warm voice and her person. She sang a few tunes and gave birthday blessings to one of her people who came out to support her. I was waiting for her to soar after she opened up with some of her more mellow material, but it was all mellow. I wanted so much more, I wanted to feel her dig in, play with my emotions and ease me back down to earth. I did not get that. I am not saying she does not have a nice voice, all I saying is that is if she were a plane, she got me from LA to the Bay with not turbulence and a safe landing.
Before the end of the set we went backstage to say hello to Christian McBride, Laura Connelly, Dorothy Chan and a few other folks floating around backstage. Christian was making some last minute changes in the music before the performance. Got to get it right, get it tight! This was band that was hand picked by the Queen and there was quite a bit of rehearsal time for this engagement but, I heard that the rehearsals were a breeze. It was getting close to show time so we made our way back just in time for the big intro and hit!
I was so pleasantly pleased by what happened next. I have been to many performances and have witnessed many singers make their entry but, there was something very special and different about this one. I have never seen such a bright beaming glow of the perfect degree of confidence as she made her way to the microphone. In just an instant before any words were spoken or sung, you knew that you were in confident, competent hands and that you were really going to be entertained.
Now let me say something about jazz and entertainment. Usually, I am not fond of the combination and that is because the artist doing the entertaining is like a salesperson, or a juggler or someone spinning plates on sticks. We as lovers of this art form believe in the true essence of letting the performance speak to you and for it self. We don’t need to be tricked, fooled, hyped or set up to make sure we enjoy what we are about to witness. That shows a lack of respect for an audience and an air of insecurity about the person’s own ability to believe in the power of their own talent.
And then there was the Queen; beautiful, happy, graceful and steeped in so much honesty along with the integrity in which it is presented leaves you 100% satisfied. You really had the feeling of personally knowing her as if she where one of you dearest friends. Queen Latifah made the Hollywood Bowl her living room and all were more that welcome to make their selves at home and comfortable for the next hour.
Queen Latifah took control of the bowl and made is seem like she has been doing this for years and quite frankly, she has. Singing is how she began her road to stardom and now she using those skills to enhance her roles in movies and touch on other genres of the music. Her foundation has already been set in place. She is not trying to convince you that she is the next to be on the top of the jazz charts, she is just sharing all the talents of Dana Owens, the one with the dreams and courage to make all the things in her life come true.
When you listen to her voice you do hear her charming qualities and characteristics all well within a more than palatable range. Her delivery and communication with the audience is outstanding. I must admit, I did have a big question mark floating around my dome before I was enlightened by her charm but, now I see why she is so entertaining! It is her big ass personality that is so wonderfully captivating.
She takes songs like “I Put a Spell on You” and you know that she listened to Nina but, makes them expressly Dana and it works. Usually when you have more than one talent, people tend to relegate you to the one that pleases them the most and not allow you to thrive or blossom in multiple categories. Many times they are correct but, certainly not in this case. Tonight we all hail the Queen for being a strong, black, full figured fox spreading talent and love in all categories.
Everybody likes movies so a little cross promotion preview of the song “Georgia Rose” from her July 20th release of her new movie “Hairspray” was a nice way to sing and say go check out the movie. The song is about a young black woman being proud of who she is and “Teef”, you know we are proud of you! The girl is producin’ great content and getting paid from every corner of the artistic universe. The Queen said, “Thick girls know how to put it on your ass”. Ching Bling!
Many have approached the standards with their cheesy torch renditions of the traditional classics trying to get you to buy the facade but the Queen handles the standards with no fear, class and in a manner that says, “I have always loved this music and I am going to sing, be myself and have some fun!” Talent, confidence and honesty win every time!
For her encore, she performed Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” which she also sang impeccably for the film “Living Out Loud”. Queen Latifah has one of those extraordinary careers and she not only deserves the world, she is taking it!
LeRoy Downs
