Diva Update

Hey Kyle I am sorry your having a bad week and I know I promised to keep you updated on this but it slipped through the cracks. To anybody in the area for this weekend who loves some good music check it out!

Fiery Singer Gracefully Steps In to Relieve Her Friend Natalie Cole

Washington/Baltimore's Premier Contemporary Jazz & Soul Event just got a little funkier and jazzier with the addition of the one and only Chaka Khan, filling in for a recuperating Natalie Cole who in May had the good fortune to receive a much-needed kidney. Ms. Cole, who will hopefully return for Capital Jazz Fest 2009, shall recuperate while Chaka dazzles the crowd with four decades of hits, a generous helping of her jazzier material, plus songs from her acclaimed double-Grammy-winning latest CD, Funk This.

The 17th annual Capital Jazz Fest - which is nearly sold out – is happening June 5-7, 2009 in the lovely wooded setting of Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. A thrilling line-up of vibrant contemporary jazz and R&B is coming on two big stages where music is certain to materialize. The Pavilion Jazz Stage will be graced by Chaka Khan as well as S.M.V. (bass virtuosos Stanley Clarke, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten), George Duke, Al Jarreau, Lalah Hathaway, Fourplay, Norman Brown, Roy Ayers, Will Downing, Kirk Whalum, Pieces of a Dream with special guest Phil Perry, Guitars & Saxes (f/ Jeff Lorber, Euge Groove, Jeff Golub and lady saxophone newcomer Jessy J), Regina Belle, Marion Meadows and trumpeter Joey Sommerville.

Meanwhile on The Soul Stage at Symphony Woods (a.k.a. "The Party Stage"), R&B lovers will be treated to a double dose of divas: the 20th anniversary reunion of "The Funky Divas" - all four original members of En Vogue (Terry Ellis, Cindy Heron, Maxine Jones and the returning Dawn Robinson) - as well as the soulful new all-star trio "The Underground Divas" (Maysa of Incognito, N'Dea Davenport of The Brand New Heavies and Caron Wheeler from the original Soul II Soul). Also sprinkling the smooth R&B flavor will be Peabo Bryson, Angie Stone, Rahsaan Patterson, Leela James, Gary Taylor, Raheem DeVaughn, Anthony David & Mike Phillips, singer/saxophonist Pete Belasco, English duo Swing Out Sister, and Atlanta duo Daysahead.