Pellau Magazine

"Ain't nobody" could have joined international superstar Chaka Khan on stage for her final number except reigning Soca Monarch Machel Montano who surprised the hundreds who turned up for the "Every Woman" Concert at the Queen's Park Savannah on Saturday night.

Judging from audience response however, Chaka was no match for calypso icon, David Rudder who was the first big act of the night. The concert, hosted by Nu Wave Entertainment, attracted a sizeable crowd judging from the filled Special Reserved area and the large number of seated patrons in the general admission area at the Grand Stand at the Savannah. 

Promptly at 9 pm, Rudder's band warmed up with a melodic groove which brought the calypso heavyweight to the stage. Rudder, who performed at the recently concluded Tobago Jazz Experience began his set with "It Doesn't get too Much Better than This" which had some audience members on their feet from the word "go". He went back to his early repertoire, giving the "small but mighty" crowd "Permission to Mash up the Place". 

As the voice of the men on the night, Rudder switched up his performance and dedicated his rendition of "To Make You Feel My Love" to all the mothers in the audience. From there, the energy from the stage grew and affected all patrons who could not help but move to "The Hammer" and "Mad Man's Rant". The energy crescendoed with his last number, "High Mass" when he left the stage, stepped up onto the barrier separating the stage front area and special reserve and continued his performance from there. Patrons were on their feet but no one could out-dance one exuberant man who took his place close to Rudder and twisted and turned so much Rudder could not help but sing a line or two in his direction. 

After a full hour, Rudder left the stage to make way for the main act of the night. Close to an hour elapsed before Chaka Khan took to the stage in all black. With fans blowing in her direction, she began her set with "Clouds" which received a warm response from the crowd. She continued with "What Cha Gonna do for me" before dedicating her night's performance to all mothers. While Chaka's big voice was outstanding on the night, some members of the audience found it difficult to understand the lyrics for most of her songs. They were however able to sing along to their favourites including "Sweet Thing", "Through the Fire" and the funky "Tell me Something Good". 

The Grammy Award winner, who spent almost a week in Trinidad and Tobago before the concert, said she felt right at home. "It feels like I'm singing for family," she said while commending Rudder for his performance earlier. "I like him," she said with a look to show she was clearly impressed. 

Chaka allowed her band to shine during the performance by singing "Happy Birthday" to two of her back-up singers and by taking a break mid-way through her performance during which each musician displayed their talent on their instrument. 

Chaka became a bit religious while performing "Through the Wire", telling the crowd of her experience with drugs and how her children and God helped her back on track. After performing "Every Woman", patrons were leaving the venue on their dancing feet but Chaka returned to the stage then with Montano in tow. He thanked Chaka for her performance on behalf of the country while presenting her with a bouquet of flowers and his own ex-tempore lyrics to "Ain't Nobody". Chaka took over for the second verse and the two shared the stage before embracing and ending the musical experience.