What's hot!

Ebony, Nov, 2004

QUEEN LATIFAH is back with a hot new album, but this time the multifaceted entertainer is singing jazz, blues and ballads rather than rapping. On QUEEN LATIFAH--THE DANA OWENS ALBUM (Flavor Unit/Universal), she delivers great performances on her favorite songs. She opens the set with the sassy Dinah Washington hit, "Baby Get Lost," followed by Cannonball Adderly's jazzy "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and the bluesy Nina Simone-inspired cover of "I Put A Spell on You." Among the standouts is her sensual cover of Al Green's bluesy "Simply Beautiful," which features Green.

Latifah also delivers a beautiful performance on James Moody's "Moody's Mood for Love," for which the master lends his sax. The set reminds listeners of Latifah's memorable performance in the hit movie Chicago. At times she is brassy like Mama Morton, yet Latifah demonstrates a stylistic range that is refreshing and surprising but also enjoyable.