For many years singer Nikki Armstrong worked with legendary soul and jazz guitar player Melvin Sparks Unfortunately Melvin died in 2011 and it is now when Nikki has decided to gather some good rhythm and blues, funk, soul and blues musicians to form her own band, Mama SpanX, whose name becomes a tribute to her lost friend and, of course, sign this recording This is the band debut album and includes eight original tracks co-written by Nikki and several collaborators, plus a version of Alligator Boogaloo coming from jazz sax player Lou Donaldson All the songs cleverly move with an extreme good taste along funk, jazz, soul and rhythm and blues roads, on a good combination of these musical styles, together with colourful arrangements full of beautiful nuances and a good dose of restrained energy The warm, sensual and powerful voice of Nikki Armstrong shines at a very high level, showing a straight compact strength, perfectly backed by her excellent musicians, Steve Johnson on guitars, Harland Spector on Hammond B-3, organ, piano and moog, Steve Sadd on tenor and soprano sax, Julie Sax on alto and baritone sax, Russ Mullen on trumpet and trombone, David Abercrombie on six-string bass and Uncle Ben Beckley on drums, percussion and musical direction