After finding success in the world of movies with hits like Chicago, Barbershop 2 and Bringing Down The House, Queen Latifah returns to the music scene but in a way most wouldn't expect.   This recent release is not a Hip Hop album but a singing one for the Queen called appropriately: The Dana Owens Album, after her given name.

The album features Queen singing tunes from a host of genres including Blues and Jazz and you get hear the voice that many loved in the Chicago movie.   The LP is 12 tracks and 45 minutes of music that can get you up or lay you down depending on your mood.  

Queen brings in the production talents of Ron Fair in five songs like "Hello Stranger" written by Barbara Lewis and Arif Mardin in songs like the classic songs "I Put A Spell On You" and "Moody's Mood For Love".   This along with plenty of instrumentation and a clearly talented Latifah makes for a nice debut (of sorts).   Latifah gets help from legends like Al Green (vocals) on " Simply Beautiful", Herbie Hancock (piano) on "I Put A Spell On You", James Moody (alto sax) on "Moody's Mood For Love", David "Fathead" Newman (alto sax) on "If I Had You" and Mervyn Warren (scat solo) on "Close Your Eyes".   Latifah does her best work on "California Dreamin", "Simply Beautiful" and "Close Your Eyes", song in which her range stays in the lower tones.  

This album is one you can enjoy and Latifah doesn't play herself on the microphone showing that this idea can last more than one LP.   While I think the Queen still has a place in Hip Hop she definitely can make herself a host of new fans with this and future efforts.

I'll give the LP 3 Globes. This album is a nice start to a second career.