The Queen of Funk decided to “Tell Me Something Good’ with a banger of a Tiny Desk Concert as part of NPR’s celebration of Black Music Month. During the bite-sized concert series that has highlighted some dope, surprising, unique, and sometimes weird performances (yes, the was a Weird Al pun), Mizz Chaka Khan laid out her legacy like a Juneteenth spread for all of us to gobble up. Joining her on the stage to perform bonafide classics like “Tell Me Something Good”, “Ain’t Nobody” (a personal favorite of mine), and “I’m Every Woman” was guitarist Rob “Funksta” Bacon, bassist Mevin Lee Davis, accompanying vocalists (Tiffany Smith, Audrey Wheeler-Downing, and Tina Broussard) Jesse Milliner on the keys, and drummer Jay Williams with Euro Zambrano on percussion. Chaka Khan’s Tiny Desk concert was produced on June 11, 2024 and the musical crew showed up and showed out for Black Music Month, underscoring Black women’s contributions to music. And the small, intimate crowd was jumping like an early-2000s nightclub (you know the ones…), further showing that Mizz Khan has and always will possess a showmanship that is hard to match.
Article Highlights
- Chaka Khan’s Tiny Desk Concert featured hits like “Tell Me Something Good” and “Ain’t Nobody.”
- The performance included guitarist Rob “Funksta” Bacon, bassist Mevin Lee Davis, accompanying vocalists (Tiffany Smith, Audrey Wheeler-Downing, and Tina Broussard) Jesse Milliner on the keys, and drummer Jay Williams with Euro Zambrano on percussion.
- Ever the show-woman, the concert allowed Mizz Khan to show off her prowess and connect with the audience.
- This amazing entry is a prime example of the legacy of Black women in music.
- The show concluded with the empowering anthem “I’m Every Woman.”
A Queen’s Legacy
Chaka Khan’s legacy has never been one to turn your nose up at. She’s been on the scene since the 1970s when she exploded into our ears with the funk band Rufus. But she didn’t stop there – she amassed a solo career that garnered 22 albums, 10 Grammy Awards, and approximately 4,572 baby-making sessions from everybody and their mama (don’t act like you never got down to “Baby Me” – we know you’re lying). She’s a trendsetter as well, never being locked into one genre – she explores jazz and theatre, but also collaborates with icons such as Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Prince (RIP), and Quincy Jones. In 2023, her legacy was cemented not only in our minds, but in stone when she FINALLY (don’t @ me) earned her place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (I’ll scream how overdue that was until I’m blue in the friggin’ face). Mizz Khan is more than a musician; she’s a work of art, a guiding light of creativity, a picture of resilience, a constant inspiration to those who came after, and someone who my retired mother will go out to see live whenever possible. Imitated, but never duplicated, I say!
The Goods
The concert showcased a wild performance as the musicians on the stage seamlessly swam from song to song, filling our earholes with her signature vocal prowess. The only people who seemed to be having more fun than the audience were the actual musicians (and I love that for them). The trio comprising the accompanying vocals created scintillating moments that enhanced the heck out of classic hits such as “What Cha Gonna Do For Me,” “Tell Me Something Good,” and “Ain’t Nobody”. One of the better perks of a Tiny Desk Concert is the fact that it’s such an intimate setting that if this took place in middle school, the principal would show up with their ruler demanding “leave room for Jesus!”. But to have this setting and being able to groove to Mizz Khan live – only a few feet away from your face – no…no, I’m not jealous, YOU’RE jealous! That’s right – the only note I have, the only negative point in this session is that I wasn’t able to BE there. Other than that, this performance is right up there with H.E.R., Anderson .Paak, and Mac Miller (again, RIP).
The Powerful, EnpowerING
Chaka Khan ended the session with a powerful rendition of “I’m Every Woman” that blew the wood off the tiny desk (see what I did there?). This anthem has always served as a timeless celebration of badass, “slay, girl, slay” female strength. But coming out of the pipes of this bonafide legend still made it feel fresh and new (queue me bringing up the 28-minute mark and the “Go Chaka, Go Chaka” chants that had me vibing). And she did something that we old hats love to see: as the camera panned to the audience, there were more people dancing along and less folks with their noses buried in their cellphones. MUSIC IS BACK, BABY (I’m kidding; it never left). But this performance of “I’m Every Woman” felt like another positive notch on the version list, joining her own original rendition in a long line of versions that have entered our universal psyches, from Whitney Houston to Taylor Swift. But ending her session with “I’m Every Woman” showed that she still holds in high regard the power that women have and the importance of highlighting that in her work.
Tiny Desk Concert
Tiny Desk has long been a premier destination for musicians across all genres, artists across all walks of life, but their celebration of Black Music Month has highlighted their commitment to honoring artists such as Mizz Khan whenever they can. She joins an already excellent 2024 lineup and this session exemplifies the fact that our artists never disappear – they just soak up the job well done. But as seen in this performance, Chaka Khan also proved that she does, and always will, have the “sauce”.
The concert was produced by Bobby Carter and Mitra I. Arthur on June 11, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET. The event is one honoring Black Music Month, and highlighted the significance of Black women in music. The aesthetic was immortalized by photographer Zayrha Rodriguez, and the production team earned every flower in the world for the seamless sound, visuals, and setdec. All our legendary vocalist had to do was show up and blow us away. And my GOD, she did that.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wait, Chaka Khan started WHEN?
- She rolled through in 1972 with the band Rufus (if you don’t know, now ya know)
- Her powerful voice and dynamic stage presence quickly garnered attention. She quickly gained attention with her powerful voice, dynamic stage presence, and massive sex appeal
- By 1974, she’d picked up her first Grammy Award with “Tell Me Something Good,” launching her into stardom
- She never forgets her roots, always giving props to her time in the band for cementing her legacy
Who Are Her Inspirations?
- She was exposed to jazz, soul, and funk at an early age
- This shows in her discography: she’s had iconic collabs with the likes of Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Joni Mitchell
- Her career spans over five decades, blends genres, and blesses us with her distinctive voice
What Famous Collabs Do You Mean?
- If she doesn’t wanna brag, I’ll do it for her:
- Prince: They worked on multiple tracks together, but the most notable was 1984’s “I Feel for You”
- Stevie Wonder: “I Was Made to Love Him”….’NUFF SAID
- Joni Mitchell: “Hissing of Summer Lawns” was a part funk, part soul, all epic joining of Khan with Joni Mitchell.
- Quincy Jones: These two worked on various projects as Quincy Jones had his pulse on the music industry.
How Has She Evolved?
- Oh I’m so glad you ask. I could write a dissertation, but my editor would cut it down….
- Her 22 albums expanded past the funk of Rufus to include jazz, R&B, and pop. Her collaborations have also spanned a wide range of genres. If it can be created, Mizz Khan has stuck her hands in it.
- We love our 10-time Grammy-winning, versatile QUEEN.
What Impact Has Chaka Khan Had on Younger Generations of Musicians?
- Artists like Mary J. Blige, Janelle Monae, Sam Smith, and Lizzo have all cited Chaka Khan as inspirations for their music.
- Her songs continued to be re-imagined to this day (“Ain’t Nobody” has been sampled or covered over 100 times!)
- Khan’s powerful voice has inspired countless musicians, with her song “Ain’t Nobody” being covered or sampled over 100 times.
