‘Queen of Funk’

NuWave Entertainment, the promoters of the event, hosted a media launch last week at the Trinidad Hyatt Regency, Port-of-Spain to introduce the sponsors of the event and provide details about the superstar’s visit.

“Chaka Khan: Every Woman” promises to be an experience to change the expectations of concert goers. Opening for the woman known for her big voice and big hair will be true Calypso royalty in the form of David Rudder. “Rudder has never failed to impress with an appeal that is universal: a few verses into the show and the audience is on its feet, arms raised and extended, held captive by the soca power,” the media release explained.

NuWave promises star treatment along with the star power on stage, especially for stage front guests. “The entertainment starts on entry to the venue, the atmosphere will be filled with a tangible anticipation that could have the heads of stage front guests dizzy with excitement long before their sip of complimentary wine. Professionally trained ushers and waiters cheerfully attending to requests, making patrons stop and pinch themselves, just to be sure,” the release stated.

The concert promises to deliver all the passion, strength and no-nonsense commitment to the soul-searching delivery of tracks that has become Chaka Khan’s trademark. “From ‘Tell Me Something Good’, the 1974 Grammy award winning hit written by Stevie Wonder, that launched her into notoriety with the band Rufus; to ‘Disrespectful’, her 2008 Grammy winning collaboration with Mary J Blige, after four decades of writing and performing hits, this American recording star continues to perform to packed audiences across the globe.

NuWave, in fulfilling its social mandate to give back to the community in unique and creative ways, will also feature Chaka Khan at their Symposium on May 10 at the Hyatt. Chaka Khan also has a passion for fighting against injustice and being a voice for the voiceless.

This will be evident at the symposium which will focus on sensitising the public to the effect on communities and families of losing a loved one to gun violence. The symposium will be hosted by Margaret Sampson-Browne, head of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service Victim Support Unit. Contributions will be heard from mothers of victims, NGOs and community leaders.

“The initiative is a collaboration between all official concert sponsors and the NuWave Entertainment team, who have made an unfaltering commitment to a socially responsible component in all their events, with a focus on positively influencing or affecting the youth of our country,” the release stated.