DANA OWENS ALBUM,THE

THE DANA OWENS ALBUM is Queen Latifah's first non-rap vocal album. Personnel: Queen Latifah (vocals); David "Fathead" Newman , Al Green (vocals); Frank Vignola, Paul Jackson, Jr. , Sherrod Barnes (guitar); Raul Mid?n (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Eun Mee Ahn, Songa Lee, Gil Romero, Katia Popov, Robin Olson, Alan Grunfeld, Phillip Levy , Rene Mandel, Mari Tsumura, Tamara Hatwan , Mario de Le?n, Lily Ho Chen, Ralph Morrison III, Sara Parkins, Horia Moroaica, Charles Everett, Joel Derouin, Patricia Johnson , Sid Page, Richard Altenbach, Jacqueline Brand , Roberto Cani, Yvette Devereaux, Bruce Dukov, Peter Kent, Natalie Leggett, Sheldon Sanov, Armen Garabedian, Darius Campo, Josefina Vergara, Berj Garabedian, Ronald Clark, Charlie Bisharat, Endre Granat (violin); Dan Neufeld, Victoria Miskolczy, Marlow Fisher, Matthew Funes , James Ross , Robert Becker, Brian Dembow, Harry Shirinian, Samuel Formicola, Denyse Buffum (viola); Dan Little, Robert Adcock, David Shamban, Larry Corbett, Stephen Erdody , Armen Ksadjikian, David Low , Cecilia Tsan (cello); Louise di Tullio (flute); Pamela Sklar (bass flute); Emily Bernstein (clarinet); Tom Boyd (oboe); Jon Clarke (English horn); Gary Bias, Larry E. Williams (saxophone); James Moody (alto saxophone); Bob Burns, Jr., Charles Davis (trumpet); Andy Martin , Bryant Breyers (trombone); Jerry Hey, William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (horns); Herbie Hancock, Tom Garvin, Robbie Kondor (piano); Shedrick Mitchell, Tim Carmon (organ); Steve Skinner, Emil Richards (vibraphone); John "J.R." Robinson , Lewis Nash , Omar Hakim, Will Kennedy , Ralph Rolle (drums); Joe Porcaro, Gordon Gottlieb, Kevin Ricard (percussion); Joe Mardin (programming); Durell Coleman, Jackie Simley, Lloyd Williams, Arnold McCuller, Valerie Pinkston (background vocals); John Goux (guitar); Dan Higgins (saxophone, horns); Joel Peskin, Pete Christlieb, Brandon Fields (saxophone); Gary Grant (trumpet, horns); Larry Lunetta (trumpet); Richard Taylor "Dick" Nash , Bruce Otto (trombone); Jim Cox (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ); Mervyn Warren (piano); Peter Erskine, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Luis Conte (percussion). Audio Mixers: Dave Reitzas; Michael C. Ross ; Michael O'Reilly; Bob Brockman. Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY; Capital Studios, L.A., CA; Conway Studios, L.A., CA; Henson Recording Studios, L.A., CA; Nervous Music, New York, NY; Nunoise Studio, New York, NY; O'Henry, L.A., CA; Record Plant Studios, L.A., CA; Right Track Recording, New York, NY. Photographer: Tony Duran . Arrangers: Arif Mardin; Mervyn Warren; Harold Wheeler ; Jerry Hey; Joe Mardin. Throughout a career that started in the early days of hip-hop, Queen Latifah has consistently proven herself a woman of kaleidoscopic talents. The ultimate evidence of her versatility came in 2002, when she took on the role of "Mama" Morton in the film version of the musical CHICAGO, displaying acting chops polished enough to earn her an Academy Award nomination. In that movie, Queen Latifah also revealed an exquisite and powerful singing voice. The latter is put to good use on her 2004 record THE DANA OWENS ALBUM, a collection of (mostly) standards given full orchestral treatment. To Latifah's credit, THE DANA OWENS ALBUM is an immense success, boasting her tremendous voice and an intelligent, provocative song selection. To put things in perspective, on "Simply Beautiful," she duets with the song's writer, the incomparable Al Green, and not only holds her own, but plays off him in the most natural of styles. On the most precarious cover on the record, she re-arranges the Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreamin'" into a breathy torch song, while retaining just a touch of the folk-imbued original. Queen Latifah closes the set with a masterful performance of the classic "Lush Life," a fitting ending to an entirely anachronistic record.