Chaka Khan Warner Theater DC

Sunday November 11, I had the pleasure of seeing Chaka Khan in concert at the Warner Theater in Washington DC. Having recently moved here from Los Angeles, I was looking forward to feeling the DC energy and I was not disappointed. Now I have been a die hard Chakaholic/Khannoisseur for about 30 years and I can definitely say that show was the finest that I have seen. She graced us with a show filled with spontaneity, humor and gratitude. Through whatever trials she has withstood and fires she has been tested, Chaka has come out the better woman. And she doesn't mind telling it.

The show started with an instrumental version of "Stay", featuring Tony Maiden on guitar. What a treat to see Tony in his element doing his sizzling solo treatment of the Rufus classic. He was aided by 3 dynamic background vocalists. Historically, Chaka's background singers have been quite notable ...Vesta, Penny Ford, Sandra St. Victor and Lisa Fischer, to name a few. So you know you better be an A-game singer to hang. Well Tiffany, Sharita, and Will earned their rightful place at the mic. They supported Chaka mightily throughout the show.

Chaka entered to a thunderous ovation and immediately sang two of her biggest hits: "I Feel For You" and "Ain't Nobody". For anyone else, that would have been the climax, but not tonight.

Chaka moved into a tender version of "Everlasting Love". The low notes on the first verse (When I feel you dreaming) were as powerful as the soaring highs on the last one (Each time you pass me by). Then she sang “One For All Time”, her new single from her phenomenal new CD Funk This! From here she continued with more crowd pleasing Rufus classics, ”Do You Love What You Feel”, “Pack’d My Bags”, "Tell Me Something Good", “You Got The Love” and “Sweet Thing”. When she did another track from the new CD, “Will You Love Me?” I had to laugh as I looked around the room and noticed all the DC heads bobbing and shoulders shaking to that undeniable funky beat! That song is essential Chaka.

The high point of the show was her Testament. Alluding to the biblical characters Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, Chaka spoke about them being placed in a fire by the king, but coming out unharmed and unsigned, protected by a guardian angel. This was a lesson she wanted to share for anyone who maybe going through some issues. As she began to sing “Angel” the audience was in a state of expectant bliss. When she sings this song, you can certainly feel her connection to its lyric and we all know the universality of its sentiment. Who isn’t “inconsistent, flying blind” at least some of the time? She sings this song with uncommon abandon. It just draws you in.

Chaka’s easygoing manner, spontaneity and humor were in full effect. Just as she finished her rapturous song, basking in the reverie of a standing ovation, a fan made his way to the foot of the stage with a huge stuffed dog with an ostrich feather boa around its neck. Chaka voiced the thought that was in my head when she said “Oh, Lord” and reached down to received her gift. She snuggled it and said, ”I was expecting an angel, but that’s OK. Oooh it’s so soft”

Continuing her story, Chaka proudly proclaimed her resilience and ours, “Look at us. We’re still here!” Then she and the packed house sang “Through the Fire” at the top of our collective lungs. She ended the testimony with shouts of “Hallelujah” , arms raised skyward. Then she bid her good-byes and blew air kisses as she shook hands with fans at the foot of the stage before making her exit. After thunderous applause and shouting she came back, sans cowboy boots, for the triumphant encore, “I’m Every Woman”.

I have seen many of Chaka’s shows over the years, from small venues like The Roxy (LA) and Mikell’s (NY), to larger venues like Gibson (Universal) Amphitheater (LA) and Beacon Theater (NY). But this night she came with the total package. She sang every note with complete ease and facility. She danced her trademark Chaka side-to-side step (you know the one) with an occasional kick for good measure. She seemed more “in-the-moment’ than ever. She engaged the audience with stories and gave her of heart. An added treat was a continous feed of photographs of Chaka at various stages of her career projected on a large screen at the back of the stage. I'm talking about from leather, feathers and a tiny waist right through the gorgeous Funk This! shots.

It is obvious that she has come to a very comfortable and grateful place in her life because the sharing of her extraordinary gift was absolute. As she prepares to grace the Broadway stage as Sophia in The Color Purple, Chaka Khan has reached a loftier peak. I was glad to be on that mountaintop with her that night.