New Projects On Tap For Khan, Warwick

Chaka Khan is recording her own take on the standards. The newest member of the Mesa/Blue Moon roster will be singing classic jazz and contemporary songs on an album due later this year, according to label president George Nauful.

Look for the London Philharmonic Orchestra to accompany the former Rufus frontwoman. Among the standards getting the Khan treatment is 1967 hit "To Sir With Love." Lulu sang the original, which was the title song to a movie starring Sidney Poitier.

According to her publicist, Khan's intense work schedule on the upcoming album was partly to blame for her off-key live performance with Kanye West last week as part of the MTV Video Music Awards. She had canceled a performance two days earlier in Park City, Utah, but received a cortisone injection to ease strained vocal chords so as to not cancel her VMA plans.

Khan isn't the only veteran R&B vocalist starting fresh with a new label. As previously reported, Dionne Warwick is the first artist to sign with newly established DMI Records. Her inaugural project for the Pasadena, Calif.-based label, "My Favorite Time of the Year," will also be her first Christmas album.

Due Oct. 26, the set comprises traditional and new holiday songs and features the legendary singer collaborating with Gladys Knight, BeBe Winans and saxophonist Dave Koz.