Queen Latifah

A good vocal pop singer should sound simultaneously grounded and carefree, and Queen Latifah's got it down. What might have been a passing fad on The Dana Owens Album takes a pass at becoming the Queen's calling on this latest release. The lady's got a voice -- supple, versatile, untroubled -- that does justice to every classic she undertakes. Whether it's a '70s soft rock cover or a Billie Holiday standard, she brings the same clear-eyed confidence to it -- and some surprisingly sophisticated phrasing. She even gets a hint of a growl on the more soulful pieces.