Mama Spanx review…November 24, 2017….

MAMA SPANX

STATE OF GROOVE

IDEAL SCENE MUSIC

ROCKET–WILD EMOTION–CRAWL–BEING BEAUTIFUL–WRONG SIDE OF THE GARDEN–ALLIGATOR BOOGALOO–THINKIN–ANYWHERE YOU ARE–STATE OF GROOVE

New York Blues Hall Of Fame inductee Nikki Armstrong loves a good groove and folks who know how to play it just right.  She’s assembled a seven-piece, bi-coastal funk band to back her, and they call themselves Mama Spanx.  Their debut set is called “State Of Groove,” nine cuts of classic, old-school funk and soul the way it was meant to be played.

Nikki collaborated with soul/jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks for several years prior to his passing in 2011, and it was he that coined the band’s moniker, and to whom the set is dedicated.  Nikki wields her supple vocal style to easily bring the funk to life on these nine cuts.  The set starts (and concludes) with the sound of a needle dropping onto a slab of vinyl, and Nikki draws the comparison of being in love to “a Rocket, and I’m never gonna stop.”  But, when things go south,  rock-bottom is often hard to “Crawl” away from.  “Thinkin” has overtones of vintage James Brown, with the horn section getting in a fine funk workout, and  Steve Johnson’s guitar scratchin’ it just like ol’ Jimmy Nolen used to.

Nikki’s got a softer side, too.  Through the use of only Harlan Spector’s piano and her vocal, she gets in that torchy, “quarter to three” mood for the tender “Anywhere You Are.”

Our favorite was easy.  A cool cover of Lou Donaldson’s “Alligator Boogaloo” has Nikki hittin’ just the right amount of sass, brass, and class for this red-hot  dance floor funk bomb.

The set closes with the band’s credo of spreading the funk and good times with each member contributing their individuality to create the whole package.  Hey–you can’t lose in this “State Of Groove,” and, spank you for listening, from Mama Spanx!  Until next time…Sheryl and Don Crow.