N’Dambi | Pink Elephant

On N’Dambi’s “Pink Elephant” CD, her first for the newly reactivated Stax Records and fourth solo disc overall, she stretches the boundaries of R&B with her funky, soulful, gut bucky, sensual, yet smooth vocals. Produced by legendary producer/musician Leon Sylvers, III. This 12 song setlist are comprised of songs that run the gamut from heartbreak to joy and pain, to deception and celebration.

First offering off this brilliant disc is entitled “L.I.E.” Co-written by N’dambi, alongside longtime late ’70’s and ’80’s Solar Records artists,staff writers and artists in their own right during that time, Lakeside member Steve Shockley and Dynasty member, the aforementioned, Leon Sylvers, III, is a upbeat, funky little ditty ! Feel good groove for driving! The very soulful and  smooth vocal performance from N’Dambi,sung lyrics of someone living a lie !

“What It Takes” with it’s snaky funky bass and guitar lines throughout, the hand claps, along with the layered lead and background vocals of N’Dambi, this song has a shuffle, sway back and forth sort of feel, it’s work great for partying!

“Nobody Jones”, co-written by Leon F. Sylvers IV (Leon’s son), N’Dambi and Leon F. Sylvers III. You’ll certainly hear the grooves and chords from that fruitful Solar Records era, if you listen very closely! Very smooth, very funky, very, very, soulful! This rhythmically dynamic track will have you singing the choruses and verses by songs end.

“Oooo Baby” Mellow, laid back, smooth, smoky ! With the Hammond B3 in the mix gives this track a desire to be home relaxing !Great vocals, sensual lyrics, about the obvious, will certain set that moment off right . Flowing bass lines, great string arrangement,and in the pocket drum pattern, will make a great song – a great song …and this is a great song !!!

“Mind Blowin” is another track co-written, by N’Dambi and Leon. To me, I hear that sound that made Solar Records very successful. Great melodic, feel good, funky songs!…. I immediately thought of Carrie Lucas at first, but then I said,”what a minute?! ” …. This is N’dambi ! Great vocal performance onlead and background vocals.

“The One” using the classic Isaac Hayes track, “Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymistic” as the backdrop, the feel of the song is what really gets you going, and this laid back,smooth, ….. yet once again, “snaky” feel of the song, is what’ll get you going ! N’dambi’s lead and background layered vocals are as tight as ever ! Good song !

“Take It Out” finds N’Dambi sounded beautiful as ever! Her heartfelt lyrics and vocal delivery will certainly conjure up emotions of a past time in ones life. Very laidback, chilled, sing a long choruses! Nice song! You’ll like it !

“DaisyChain” – A Memphis soul groove opus! Live drums very present and soundedgood ! Real bass, guitar, Hammond B3, Strings (However played,electronically or live, it works) … N’Dambi’s vocals sounded great asever ! Another emotion fueled track vocally performed Southern Style,it works !

The first single and lead video, “Can’t Hardly Wait”,is another laid back, smooth, feel good groove song. Sing a long lines, handclaps, Strings, Fender Rhodes, funky bass lines !!! Great performance from N’Dambi ! Nice layered background vocal parts, fills, she nailed it !

“The World Is A Beat” with it’s tribal drum opening, underneath a funky groove! Tights vocals all around !Melodic, feel good, sway, groove, they’re performed magnificently throughout the track!! Funky guitar licks ! This track certainly has that World Beat groove going here.

“Imitator” finds N’dambi is a jazzy mood. N’Dambi vocals are performed with emotion of a woman scorned, broken down, and just plain fed up of his, you know what……. Shuffle drum groove, Steely Dan-esqe guitar licks, smooth basslines. N’Dambi stretches her vocal ability on this one. From a smooth groove then working her up to a intense level ….. the bringing it back down. That she did ! Great song !

This great CD closes with“Free Fallin'” ….. It had me thinking Peggy Lee’s chestnut “Fever”,though not the same song in any sense of the imagination, this song captured that “feel” of Fever. Drums, background vocals, Organ,Acoustic Bass (If used), and N’dambi’s vocals are sounding great !

A great CD, a must have ! …… Great job N’Dambi & great job to everyone involved in the making of this CD !!

Randy Mahon
The Urban Music Scene