N'dambi

N'dambi (meaning The Most Beautiful)
N'dambi at the Vienna Jazz Festival 2010
Background information
Born	Chonita Gilbert Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals, Piano
Labels	Concord Music Group2006-present, Cheeky-I (independent)1995-2002
Associated acts	Erykah Badu, Keite Young
Website	NdambiOnline.com

'N'dambi is an American soul/jazz singer.

Biography

N'dambi (born Chonita Gilbert) is the ninth of eleven children born to a Baptist minister and missionary. Her father was a minister and singer in a quartet group. She got her professional start singing with Gaye Arbuckle, a local gospel singer, touring with Arbuckle for two years (from the ages of 18 to 20). Shortly thereafter she sang as background singer and collaborator with Erykah Badu. ^[1]

She released three independent albums: "Little Lost Girls Blues", "Tunin' Up & CoSignin" and "A Weird Kinda Wonderful". As a result of her success as an independent artist. she was signed to the re-activated Stax Records (Concord Music Group) in 2006 and released her 2011 Grammy-nominated album, Pink Elephant in 2009. ^[2]

The name N'dambi was taken from a Central African language. It means "Most beautiful", N'dambi told RNation.com.^[3] NDambi is not uncommon as a name in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. As a model, N'dambi has posed for fashion photographer Marc Baptiste^[4]

Albums

N'dambi delivered her debut solo CD Little Lost Girl Blues in 1999.^[5] Since then she has released the two-disc set Tunin' Up & Cosignin', which focused more on a live and jazzy sound and contains new versions of several songs from her debut. After this, in 2005, she released A Weird Kind Of Wonderful, which contained funkier and more rock-influenced tracks. It was released in Japan only, which made it a very sought-after collector's item on eBay. These projects were released independently by N'dambi. Around 2005, she has collaborated with R&B singer Keite Young. Her debut album for the Stax label is called Pink Elephant and was released in 2009. ^[6]

Little Lost Girls Blues

N'dambi debut soul album Little Lost Girls Blues was recorded in 1996 in Oak Cliff, which is a community in Dallas. It was independently released in 1999 and went on the receive critical acclaim throughout the world. It sound scanned over 20,000 units and sold over 70,000 units worldwide. The album was primarily marketed via word of mouth lifestyle marketing, press and college radio.^{[citation needed]}

Tunin' Up & Co-Siginin

This two disc set contains live recordings from Little Lost Girls Blues and new recordings. The album was recorded in Dallas with a group of local musicians.

"A Weird Kinda Wonderful"

This album was released in Japan only. It was recorded with a live band in Los Angeles, California. It has a more funk, rock, soul vibe with more influences of Mother's Finest and Tina Turner.

Pink Elephant

Pink Elephant was recorded in Santa Monica, California with producer Leon Sylvers III. N'dambi insisted the record have a modern sheen yet adhere to the sturdy influence of classic R&B and soul artists like Slave, Heatwave, Michael Jackson, Betty Davis, Isaac Hayes, Smokey Robinson, and The Sylvers. On December 2, 2010, Pink Elephant was nominated for a 2011 Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album.^[7]

Discography

Albums:

Little Lost Girl Blues First studio album Released: September 7, 1999 Cheeky-I Productions

Tunin' Up & Cosignin' Two-Disc Set Released: August 14, 2001 Cheeky-I Productions

A Weird Kind Of Wonderful Released in Japan Released: November 16, 2005 Village Again/Coco Red Music

Pink Elephant Released: October 6, 2009 Stax Records Single: "Can't Hardly Wait"

Remixes/Singles:

Call Me (Yam Who reworks) Release 2003 label: Yam Who[8] 12" Vinyl, Unofficial Release

Can't Change Me (Ron Trent Remix) Release 2007 label: R2Records[9] 12" Vinyl

If We Were Alone with Keite Young (AaronCarl Mix) Release 2008 label Wallshaker Music[10] 12" Vinyl

References

1. ^ "Meet N’Dambi! Badu’s Back-Up Singer Makes A Name For Herself"
2. ^ "Dallas singer N’dambi nominated for a Grammy"
3. ^ RNation, March 23, 2000: The Spirit Of N'Dambi
4. ^ Marc Baptiste, Beautiful, Nudes, 2001, ISBN 0789306468
5. ^ Dallas Observer, 2001: Soul Alone
6. ^ "Dallas singer N’dambi nominated for a Grammy"
7. ^ "Dallas singer N’dambi nominated for a Grammy"
8. ^ discogs entry for Call Me
9. ^ 12 inch NDambi Can't Change Me
10. ^ discogs entry If We Were Alone

External links

• Ndambi page on MySpace
• Ndambi page on Concord
• N'dambi interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 2011
• Dallas Observer, 1999: Lady sings the Blues, Chonita "N'Dambi" Gilbert is a back-up singer no more, N'dambi's early life
• Justsoul.com: N'Dambi
• List of life style magazines featuring N'Dambi
• discogs.com N'Dambi Discography
• Dallas Observer, 2001: Soul Alone

Persondata
Name	Ndambi
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1970
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death