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Nikki Armstrong
Singer/Performer Nikki Armstrong has been compared to a wide varied of singers such as Anita O’Day, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight, Bonnie Raitt and Janis Joplin. Noted for her soulful interpretations of material from standards to rock, she strives to perform every song in the “now”. Inspired by the great jazz singers, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Peggy Lee as well as the great Soul and R&B artists, James Brown and Tina Turner, She has studied music and voice in Boston, LA and New York, most notably with the great arranger Hal Schaefer (Peggy Lee, Marilyn Monroe). Writing and doing session work in Los Angles and Sydney, Australia for the first few years was fun, but it was live performing she craved and New York was the place to be.For the past 13 years Nikki has performed regularly all around the New York Tri-State area with her bands, Whole Lotta Blues (blues/rock/funk) and The Nikki Armstrong Project (jazz/blues). As featured guest vocalist, she has performed and or recorded with such artists as Melvin Sparks (Acid Jazz Guitarist) and the Great Les Paul (Father of the Electric Guitar). An important voice in the New York area Blues and Jazz scene Nikki was on the board of directors of the New York Blues & Jazz Society for over 8 years as Musician’s Liaison; coordinating, producing, and performing in successful Blues and Jazz events for venues such as Birdland in NYC, Sirius Radio as well as benefits for NOLA. In 2007 Nikki became a Deejay on the air with her own show Blues in the Grooves broadcasting every Wednesday afternoon on WFDU, 89.1FM from 1pm to 3:45pm.Nikki has four independent CD releases. She and her band(s) of musically accomplished musicians perform their unique arrangements of a wide varied of material as well as her originals. They can be seen most regularly at Lucille’s at BB Kings. Some of the acts Nikki has opened for are The Commitments, Joan Osborne, Dave Mason, Dickey Betts, Hubert Sumlin, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstafunk, John Tropea Band, Johnny A, Coco Montoya, Cornell Dupree, and Parliament Funkadelic.
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“The blues as Nikki sings them come mixed with jazz, pop, and folk rock, with a warm, rich contralto voice that she colors over a wide spectrum from intimate growls and passionate whispers to long haunting ballad lines, and a sparkling sense of fun!’’ ---Michael Lydon (Founding Editor Rolling Stone Magazine and Author, Ray Charles: Man and Music ) “Powerful/from the bottom of soul-filled song well with a serpents unpredictability, Nikki can sink her teeth into the skin of any style of song and make you want to get bit again.”- Mister G, DJ 91.7FM WHUS Storrs, CT “She’s got that smoky, sexy sound I love
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Nikki Armstrong
Instrument: Vocals
Born: August 16, 1969
