When the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Irma Thomas, first recorded with the funk outfit Galactic in 2010, the resulting single “Heart of Steel” became a staple in both of their respective live sets. While it took a while, they have pared back up for a whole album’s worth of goodness titled Audience with the Queen, which flourishes around all the participants’ combined strengths.
Starting on the pairing’s most unique tune, a cover of Nancy Wilson’s “How Glad I Am”, there is a stark focus on vibrating strings and Irma’s vocals, which build in front of a late-joining gospel choir. This artistic rendition of the soul song highlights the strength of Thomas’ voice, which, shockingly, at 84 years old, sounds as strong and gorgeous as ever.
The funky R&B kicks up for “Where I Belong,” which finds the band (Bass – Robert Mercurio, Saxophone – Ben Ellman, Drums, Percussion – Stanton Moore, Guitar – Jeff Raines, Keyboards – Rich Vogel, Trumpet – Eric Gordon) using upbeat playing and retro soul horn hits to support Thomas on this instant classic perfectly.
Galactic has long developed its electro-funk style, often deployed on the album as Thomas fits into the fold perfectly. The warbling “Love’s Gonna Find A Way Again” bumps joyously, the head-bopping/horn-hitting “Peace In My Heart” is impossible not to dance to, and album closer “Be Your Lady” is a sultry get-down jam with Ivan Neville (organ) and Mike Dillion (percussion) joining in on the fun.
More guests arrive on the expanded “Puppet on a String,” which enhances the theatricality with strings from Rick G Nelson and backing vocals from Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph and Boyfriend. The only misstep is “Over You,” which injects skittering vocals, synths, and layers of sounds and feels overwrought.
That said, when Galactic and Thomas set their sights on crafting vibrantly funky protest music, they knocked it out of the park. Bass and drums lead the hard-grooving charge around dynamite horn arrangements as Thomas lays down the wisdom, questioning if these are the end of days during “People” while “Lady Liberty” is the best of the bunch with shimmering guitar, powerful brass and funky beats around righteous vocals/lyrics. Both efforts are reminiscent of Allen Toussaint’s knack of bringing the problems he saw every day in New Orleans into mainstream music via a funky R&B route.
Audience with the Queen is a top-notch record that should put GRAMMY voters on notice. The collaboration is a late-career showcase for Irma Thomas, resulting in perhaps the strongest album of Galactic’s career and their definitive collaborative statement. Both New Orleans institutions work swimmingly well with each other, laying down infectious, funky soul with a consciousness that touches the heart and feeds the mind.
