"Well, good morning baby, welcome back to town…”
The music starts, and with those words, you are instantly transported to a smoky bar in New Orleans, maybe even to a softer gentler time, decades ago, when good music was passionate sax, piano and a sexy voice taking you to places that existed only in your mind.
This is exactly what The Dana Owens Album does to you, and you would be forgiven if you reached for the CD to check if the jacket actually pictured the lady you thought it did.
Yes, it is Queen Latifah the rap singer, the movie star, and now crooner of jazz numbers that set airwaves ablaze decades ago.
Remember the movie Chicago? Remember Queen Latifah’s sizzling number "When you’re good to Mama”? Did you think ‘Wow, where did that come from?’
I know I was completely entranced by that performance. At that time I had no clue that The Queen actually started her career in showbiz as a hip-hop artist. I didn’t know she could even hit three straight notes in a line! Then I found the Dana Owens Album
The Dana Owens Album is full of very pleasant surprises. It has 12 numbers, all covers of popular jazz numbers of decades ago.
“Simply Beautiful” a cover of the song by Al Green (he sings with her on this one too) is slow, soothing and quite, quite sexy. It is my favourite, even though this is where it is most obvious that Queen does far better with lower notes than those in the upper register.
“I Put a Spell on You” has some mind blowing piano (Herbie Hancock) that compliments the Queens husky voice beautifully. She also does a joyous, and surprisingly successful, bluesy rendering of the Mamas and Papas folk number “California Dreaming.” Her version of “Hard Times, ” (which segues from a scratchy LP effect to a full throated sultry sound, ) Bill Wither’s “The Same Love, ” (where she gives her voice a little bit of a free rein), the poignant “Hello Stranger” and “Lush Life” will have the original artists crowding about her to applaud.
It’s a great set and good from beginning to end. If I had to find fault with this gem I would say the Queen’s voice was meant for lower, huskier vocals. She shines in those numbers, and there are not enough of those in this album. If I had to find yet another fault, I would say jazz is all about freedom, of letting your voice soar free, and the Queen is a tad too restrained. But then this is her first foray into jazz, and she can be easily forgiven for it.
Don’t compare the Queen to Diana Krall, Natalie Cole or Anita baker or any of your favourite Jazz vocalists (I’m not even talking Etta James or Ella Fitzgerald here) Just listen to it for its own merits and prepare to fall in love.
Even if you’re not familiar with jazz at all, all you need to do is give The Dana Owens Album a chance to work its magic on you. It will grow on you so quickly, I promise you you will be hitting play on it again and again and again.
Unless you are a Himesh Reshammiya fan!
Sorry. Couldn’t resist that :)
This is music to relax to
This is music to slow dance to
This is music to seduce with
Go get the Dana Owens album. Enjoy!