Mama Tokus & The Sons Of Bitches (UK)
On The Ragtime
©Mama Tokus 2011
The Sons of Bitches are:
Mama Tokus/vocals, songwriting, percussion, samples
Clare Pettinger/backing vocals
Tom Wildy/saxophones and harmonicas
Kate Blackwell/backing vocals
Anna Batson/flute
Guest bitches are:
Vince Lee/guitars, lapsteel and bass
Sebastian Boleslawski/drums
Paul Harris/organ, piano and clavinet
Ian Pettit/horns and horns scoring
Andy Williamson/saxophones
Dave Quinn/bass
Pete Nicholls/drums
Amanda Bluglass/viola
Cathy McCabe/violin
Becca Langsford/backing vocals
Andy Blackwell/backing vocals
Nick Kitto/backing vocals
Peter Griffith/backing vocals
DJ XL/scratchin'
Lacey/beatboxin'
Expect cheeky rhythm’n’blues, new-gospel, saucy swing, fruity funk and rude blues from the ladies’ perspective from this electrifying debut. Original songs penned by Mama Tokus tackle eye-rolling subject matter including: love for older men, a celebration of bigger butts, wifebeating and on the plus-points of choosing a child-free lifestyle.
Ingenious covers are dotted throughout, including a blues mash-up of a Sex Pistols number, a reheating of 1937’s If It Don’t Fit Don’t Force It, plus a beatbox-boosted version of the Pointer Sisters’ classic Yes We Can Can.
Mama’s memorable songs are presented with great vocals and musicianship from an ensemble cast of superlative musicians.
Mama Tokus is entertaining, edifying funky and funny, writing/playing original tunes and sly interpretations.
She writes and sings gospel, soulful blues and R&B tunes (old, proper Ray Charles-style R&B, that is), nu-music-hall ditties and humorous (but always groovy) tunes – memorable originals and interpretations.
She hails from that wellspring of blues and UK R&B, the Thames Delta (think Ian Dury, Dr Feelgood and Zoot Money).
She is influenced by:
Dinah Washington; Sarah Vaughan; Tina Turner; Barrelhouse Annie; Burt Bacharach; Earl Okin; Cole Porter; Noel Coward; the Rolling Stones; WAR; Georgie Fame; James Booker; Sister Rosetta Tharpe; The Meters…and many more groovy people.
“Like Dr John in a three-way with Shirley Bassey and Eartha Kitt”
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