Last week was an especially Chaka-licious week: as though her well-received new album (blogged about by roc in August) and AfterEllen.com shout-out weren't enough, producers also announced that Chaka Khan is about to join the Broadway cast of The Color Purple, along with American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones.

The show may have gotten a mixed review from AfterEllen.com Contributing Writer D. Williams for its handling of Celie and Shug's relationship, but folks haven't much complained about the singing and it looks like they aim to keep it that way with these additions.

While Khan has done theatre in the past, Jan. 9 will be her debut on the Great White Way. Perhaps she's looking to add a Tony to her lengthy list of awards; the role of Celie's neighbor Sofia (with gospel star BeBe Winans as husband Harpo) should allow her to be as fierce as can be. … continue reading

"Tell Me Something Good." Well, OK! Next month, Chaka Khan will release Funk This, her first studio album in 10 years. "Tell me that you like it, yeah." Oh, I'm sure I will, because the album is being promoted as a return to Ms. Khan's earlier funk-infused days — or is that daze? The thing about Chaka Khan is that "Once You Get Started It's Hard to Stop" digging her funk and soulful flow. I mean, really, when you listen to Chaka Khan back in the Rufus era or some of her earlier solo albums, "Do You Love What You Feel"? I know I sure do.

Funk This is scheduled for a Sept. 25 release. The album is in the hands of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, producers who know how to bring both the funk and the hits. The album will consist of original songs and a few covers — done Chaka-style, of course. She offers her version of Prince's "Sign 'O' the Times," and the last time she Chaka-tized a Prince song, "I Feel for You," she earned a Grammy for her efforts. She also sings a duet with Michael McDonald (his classic "You Belong to Me"), covers Joni Mitchell's "Ladies' Man" and Jimi Hendrix's "Castles Made of Sand," and even does a little Rufus medley.

Of the original songs on the album, the one generating a buzz is “Disrespectful,” sung with Mary J. Blige. Khan's MySpace page also has the first single, "Angel." The more I hear and the more I read, the more I am anticipating the release of the album. … continue reading