Kevin Ryan, dallasobserver.com: Chaka Khan emerged like a flamenco dancer, fluttering a silken hand-fan with “CHAKA” etched into its folds. She was the surprise guest for The Roots’ collaboration with the Dallas Pops at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory on Tuesday night, and when she strode onto the stage an hour into the show, the audience lost their minds. Behind her, a 50-piece orchestra sweated in tuxedos. “OK, this next song I’m sure most of you over 30 are familiar with,” she said, her gold sequin dress reflecting light. Chimes rang. Strings undulated. Robert Glasper spun - one-handed - through a synth lead in a beanie, fingers spidering across the keyboard. It took a moment for the crowd to recognize the song “I Know You, I Live You.” With the orchestra, it sounded like Les Fleur-era Minnie Riperton. The beat wasn’t the electronic pulse of the original; it was exotic. Khan sang in perfect bursts, with a rowdy but angelic voice that induced shivers. She didn’t even need a microphone. The show had begun much quieter, with a lone synth and a sample from a poem about death, possibilities and dreaming. Black Thought dove into “Web” over strings, which animated the song. The beat stomped hard as the cellos swayed with Sam Cooke grace. A sea of heads nodded to the sweeping sounds of violins. Each song blended seamlessly into the next. No stops, no chatter, no politics, no time wasted - just music. The Roots’ “Star” melded into Miles Davis, melded into “20 Feet Tall.” Erykah Badu strode onstage in a Tom Petty top hat and majestic jewelry. As a band, the Roots are sharper than ever. They practice every day, and their performances are downright athletic. They can glide through styles and genres with ease. When Badu started “You Got Me,” trumpets brightened the song. Flutes crescendoed alongside Sonic Youth guitar. Guitarist “Captain” Kirk Douglas bee-bopped into a jazz-soaked hip-hop solo. At one point, he lifted his ruby Gibson SG with gold pickups toward the crowd and soloed one-handed. MP3 Version + + + + + Thanks to RandyBayers for sharing the show at Dime. Disc 1 01. Intro 2:23 02. Web 3:29 03. Game Theory 5:31 Irving 2017 And Friends Roots The 04. Concerto Of The Desperado 3:38 The Roots: 05. Long Time 4:53 Questlove - drums 06. Panic!!! 3:21 Black Thought - MC 07. Star-Jam (with Robert Glasper) 6:33 Captain Kirk Douglas - guitar, vocals 08. 20 Feet Tall Mark Kelley - bass (with Erykah Badu & Robert Glasper) 4:38 Ray Angry - keyboards 09. Afro Blue (with Erykah Badu & Robert Glasper) 8:33 James Poyser - keyboards 10. You Got Me (with Erykah Badu) 14:29 11. Break You Off 7:13 Damon “Tuba Gooding Jr.” Bryson - 12. Orchestral Interlude 1:06 sousaphone 13. Drums-Stro Elliot drum machine solo 6:15 Jeremy Ellis - drum machines 72 mins Stro Elliott - drum machines Ian Hendrickson-Smith - saxophone Disc 2 David Guy - trumpet 01. Jeremy Ellis drum machine solo 1:42 02. Act Too (The Love Of My Life) 3:19 Friends: 03. Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop) Miguel Atwood-Fergusion - conductor The Roots And Friends Irving 2017 And Friends Roots The (with Erykah Badu) 3:35 The Dallas POPS Orchestra 04. Silent Treatment 9:36 Robert Glasper - keyboards 05. Bilal Intro 2:00 Erykah Badu - vocals 06. Dear God (with Bilal) 3:39 Bilal - vocals 07. Sometimes (with Bilal) 2:29 Chaka Khan - vocals 08. It Ain’t Fair (with Bilal) 7:07 ? - background vocals with Chaka Khan 09. Earth Song (with Chaka Khan) 9:10 10. Egyptian Song (with Chaka Khan) 6:08 ? - background vocals with Chaka Khan Naughty Dog 11. I Know You, I Live You (with Chaka Khan & Robert Glasper) 8:39 12. The Next Movement 6:23 13. Clones 6:09 Naughty Dog 70 mins Trade Freely. Not For Sale..