Queen Latifah - Trav'lin' Light

Trav'lin' Light, Queen Latifah's follow-up to her first collection of pop standards, The Dana Owens Album (2004), is, if anything, even better than that Grammy-nominated set. Contemporary performers often get into trouble when they take on music of the pre-rock era, but this one, who is by now so far removed from her origins that she probably should be referred to as a former rapper, not only has the vocal talent to carry it off, she also has put in the hard work with producers, arrangers, musicians, and (no doubt) a vocal coach to create a more-than-credible album. Previously, Queen Latifah made the jump from rapper to Oscar-nominated actress, and her acting classes also seem to have come in handy here. In song after song, she has come up with a character to portray through the lyrics, and that helps make her interpretations convincing. Sometimes, it is the songwriters themselves she seems to be channeling. "Poetry Man," the leadoff track, is not far removed from Phoebe Snow's original, although Queen Latifah wisely undersings where Snow elaborated. Similarly, on "I Love Being Here with You" and "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl," she seems more than familiar with the originals by authors Peggy Lee and Nina Simone, and her versions are affectionate annotations on them. She probably knows the '40s song "Don't Cry Baby" through its '60s revivals by Etta James and Aretha Franklin, and without competing against those greats gives it an enthusiastic treatment. And, of course, the title song dates to a Billie Holiday recording with Paul Whiteman; Queen Latifah suggests Holiday's style without aping it. She is ably assisted by some expert studio supporters including producers Tommy LiPuma and Ron Fair and arrangers Jerry Hey and John Clayton; no expense has been spared in filling several studios with dozens of musicians, including full string and horn sections and such name soloists as Stevie Wonder (featured on harmonica on "Georgia Rose") and Joe Sample (piano on "Georgia Rose," "Trav'lin' Light," and "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl"). A great deal of thought has gone into the song choices (executive producer Monica Lynch is thanked specifically for her suggestions), which range from the '20s all the way up to "I Know Where I've Been" from the 2007 Hairspray soundtrack. Finally, however, it is the singer herself who deserves the credit for making the album work. As with her acting, Queen Latifah's singing is most laudable for not trying to do too much; she may evoke James or Simone or Holiday (or Smokey Robinson or the Pointer Sisters), but she never tries to outsing them; rather, her versions are glosses on the greats she and her producers so admire. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abe Laboriel, Jr. Drums Abraham Laboriel Bass Al Schmitt Mixing, Engineer Alan Grunfeld Violin Alan Pasqua Keyboards Alex Al Bass Alexander Iles Trombone Allen Sides Engineer Anatoly Rosinsky Violin Andrew Duckles Viola Andy Martin Trombone Anthony Caruso Digital Editing, Assistant Engineer Anthony Wilson Guitar Antonio Resendiz Assistant Engineer Becky Bunnell Violin Bernie Grundman Mastering Bill Airey Smith Engineer Bill Hughes Orchestra Manager Bill Reichenbach Jr. Tuba, Trombone (Bass) Brian Dembow Viola Bruce Dukov Violin Buffy Hubelbank Production Coordination Cameron Mizell Release Coordinator Cecilia Tsan Cello Charlie Bisharat Violin Charlie Owens Sax (Tenor) Christian McBride Bass Christine Ermacoff Cello Dan Higgins Sax (Alto), Flute (Alto), Sax (Tenor) Dan Tobin Smith Cello Darrin McCann Viola Doug Sax Mastering Eric Weaver Mixing Assistant Evan Wilson Viola Evelyn Morgan A&R Fred White Vocals (Background) Gary Bias Sax (Tenor), Flute (Alto) Gary Grant Flugelhorn, Trumpet Gayle Levant Harp George Bohanon Trombone George Duke Piano, Fender Rhodes Gilbert Castellanos Trumpet Greg Mathieson Keyboards, Organ Hollis King Art Direction Irina Voloshina Violin Jack Joseph Puig Mixing Jacqueline Brand Violin James Ford Trumpet Jeff Clayton Sax (Alto) Jeff Hamilton Drums Jerry Hey Arranger, Conductor Jill Dell'Abate Production Coordination Jim Cox Keyboards Jim Ross Viola Joe McEwen A&R Joe Sample Piano Joel Peskin Sax (Baritone), Flute (Alto), Sax (Tenor) John Clayton Arranger, Conductor John Goux Guitar John Newcott Release Coordinator Jonathan Merritt Assistant Engineer Josephina Vergara Violin Julie Baker Hair Stylist Julie Gigante Violin Katia Popov Violin Keith Fiddmont Sax (Alto) Kevin Ricard Percussion Lamont VanHook Vocals (Background) Larry Corbett Cello Larry Hall Trumpet, Flugelhorn Lee Callet Sax (Baritone), Clarinet Lisa Hansen Release Coordinator Luis Conte Percussion Marc Shaiman Producer Mario Diaz de Leon Violin Mark Cargill Violin Matt Funes Viola Maurice Spears Trombone (Bass) Michael Landau Guitar Michael Thompson Photography Mike "Angry" Eleopoulos Mixing, Engineer Monica Lynch Executive Producer, A&R Natalie Leggett Violin Nate Hertweck Mixing Assistant Niki Haris Vocals (Background) Oscar Castro-Neves Guitar Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar Peter Kent Violin Peter Mokran Mixing Phillipe Levy Violin Ramon Rivas Assistant Engineer Reggie C. Young Trombone Rick Baptist Trumpet Robin Olson Violin Ron Fair Producer Ron King Trumpet Ronald Clark Violin Roxanna Floy Make-Up Ryan Kennedy Mixing Assistant Sachico Asano Graphic Design Sara Parkins Violin Sarah Thornblade Violin Shakim Compere Executive Producer Shari Sutcliffe Project Coordinator, Music Contractor Shawn Mann Viola Sid Page Violin Songa Lee Violin Stephane Sednaoui Photography Stephen Erdody Cello Steve Genewick Digital Editing, Engineer Stevie Wonder Harmonica Susan Moses Stylist, Wardrobe Suzie Katayama Cello Tal Herzberg Digital Editing, Engineer Tommy LiPuma Producer Tommy Vicari Mixing Toots Thielemans Harmonica Valerie Pinkston Vocals (Background) Vicki Miskolczy Viola Wayne Bergeron Flugelhorn, Trumpet Yvette Devereaux Violin