Her nine-piece band consists of two brothers in the rhythm section on acoustic and electric bass and drums, two keyboardists, a percussionist and three horns flute/sax, trumpet and trombone. Born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, Latifah (which means gentle or kind in Arabic) proves that tradition continues among great African-American song stylists.

The three background singers, Mayana, Charlotte and Romeo, are exquisite! They never overshadow Queen s lead, but they blow dynamic riffs, when she presents them. Queen opened Wednesday night with I m Gonna Live Till I Die , in the big band flavor used by stars like Natalie Cole, Liza Minelli and Barbra Streisand. She followed with an all-time favorite, I Love Being Here With You .

Then, she asked permission to sing a blues song titled, Baby Get Lost , causing me to ask Is she Bessie Smith or Ethel Waters reincarnated? I m taking you on a musical journey, she describes it, when she calls for the band to play it funky on Why You Wanna Make Me Cry? Now, I think, this girl is doing a musical revue! After getting Derrick to rip the funk on his electric bass, she calls Mad Money Mike out to jam on his guitar.

Then, she introduces her CD, also the title of her tour, Trav lin Light . She does breathy covers, including the beautiful ballad, Georgia Rose. On the CD, Stevie Wonder plays harmonica. Onstage, the muted trumpet solo is real music to my ears! The song is a tribute to black women. Queen sings to them, Don t be blue cause you re black! Next, she sings the airy title tune Trav lin Light , featuring the trombonist, pianist and keyboardist on string ensemble that was as free as a breeze.