Break out your purple Sharpie, place a couple circles around Monday, July 25 and maybe splash on a dash of glitter because Chaka Khan, The Queen of Funk, is coming to the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival. Ohhh, I just got the tingles! I’ll bet ya’ a whole truckload of toonies that this is going to be a party that’ll take you on a funktastical trip wayyyyyy down Boogie Blvd.
Need some proof? Here’s 10 reasons why you don’t want to miss it:
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Setlist.fm has 17 pages of Chaka shows dating back to 1974 but, guess what funk fans, not one of them took place in Ottawa. Doesn’t mean she hasn’t turned O-town into Funky Town before, but it’s fair to say that it’s been awhile with the closest thing we’ve had being the 2015 New Year’s Eve tribute show at Mavericks!
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Ok, I admit it, I shed me some tears back in ’92 at the end of The Bodyguard. Ahh, hell, I still do. Like many, I rushed to snag a copy of what still is the best-selling movie soundtrack ever. Now, while Whitney Houston’s cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” got the most attention on radio and became the school gym slow dance song of the year, “I’m Every Woman” hit #1 on the dance charts here in Canada. You don’t need to ask who Whitney was covering in that ever so dance'able cut…she tells you herself! Becoming a bigger hit than the original, the cover would not only introduce Khan’s music to the generation I was a part of but also showcase how huge an influence she’s had.
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Along with “I’m Every Woman”, she’s the voice behind sensual R&B cut “Through the Fire”, she got them movin’ in Breakin’ with “Ain’t Nobody” and was a big part of what made Steve Windwood’s “Higher Love” and Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” the mega-smashes they are. That’s a lot of love! Prince penned “I Fell For You”…for her! "What Cha' Gonna Do for Me" tore up dance floors in 1891 and “Sweet Thing” is still just as sweet as it was when released in 1975. So, yeah, the setlist is gonna’ be off the hook.
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Her 22 albums have sold 70 million records worldwide!
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While you can snag some of those Chaka albums to take home with you at the festival’s merch area, did you know that outside of being a music mega-star Khan is also an entrepreneur in other areas? She has her own line of gourmet chocolates, Chakalates, and a fragrance line for men called Khana Sutra. This also includes some candles so, you know, all that makes for a pretty interesting evening with your main squeeze after the show.
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“She sings like my horn,” said Miles Davis after hearing Chaka. Yeah, ‘nuff said.
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Why will this be a guaranteed feel good summer party night? Chaka Khan’s been creating this kind of vibe for over 4 decades!
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Besides showcasing her vocal chops in multi-genres like jazz, disco, soul, gospel and, of course, funk, Khan also plays a wicked bass and can even be seen smackin’ the skins at the drum kit from time to time as an accomplished percussionist.
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Seriously, how many times will you be able to say you saw a 10-time Grammy winner, Soul Train Legends Award recipient, Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame inductee, 2018 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee, funk Goddess who also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
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Because she’s Chaka ‘freakin’ Khan!
Chaka Khan
TD Ottawa Jazz Festival
Monday June 25 @ 8:30PM,
Top Shelf Main Stage /
Marion Dewar Plaza
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