The Alexis P. Suter Band – Just Stay High
A cross between Bessie Smith & Big Mama Thornton — no doubt Alexis P Suter has power, conviction & skill. But unlike Smith & Thornton, she’s backed by a haunting guitar by Jimmy Bennett. It provides quite a contrast & works well. The blues performance is stylistically vintage but evocative on “God Gave Me the Blues.”
Suter has style, even her toned-down moments like “Some People” has little of the wild Janis Joplin durability. There are 14 suggestions to not stay low but Just Stay High (Drops June 6/Nola Blue Records/54:59) on this Byron Isaacs (bass) & Will Bryant (keyboards/melodica) produced set, assisted by Vicki Bell (vocals) & the band. The 3-time Blues Music Award nominee Alexis P. Suter (vocals) recorded this LP in Marlboro, NY.
Funkier is “Breathe,” which has a creeping bass by Byron Isaacs with a Sly & the Family Stone touch of bassist Larry Graham in his fingers. It’s true the band manages to uniquely blur the lines between blues, soul & rock. Alexis would’ve been a good duet partner for Solomon Burke or Gene McDaniel.
“Be On Your Way” is slathered in the hot butter of ’50s blues. Alexis’s diction affords her blues a rich tone & follows the gritty dynamic guitar fills (with a touch of wah-wah, nice) & warm organ — wonderfully. It’s like dark chocolate & salty potato chips.
Acoustic guitar opens “My Only Need” & with a lower, pensive vocal, Suter maintains a gentle carbonation in a lovely ballad. Something folk singer Toshi Reagon is known for. It comes around again on “Ride All Night.” Alexis with a surprising gentleness that’s impressive. Each song comes in increments that exemplify the band’s diversified skills.
The basic blues has been denatured, electrified & driven from its traditional feeling – it’s all entertainment now. However, in the hands of Alexis, that theory may not necessarily always be true.
I was impressed when “It Ain’t Easy” came through my speakers. Damn! An old Ron Davies song made famous by English blues powerhouse the late Long John Baldry. It almost made me cry to hear a faithful version by Alexis. Both singers have passed, but the song lives on through Alexis.
Nice R&R spills through “4 Wheels Beats 2 Heels.” A cooking performance. “Love Always Wins” reminds me of the deep-toned vocals of Joan Armatrading.
This is a great album…fasten your seatbelt before listening.
The CD package is colorfully illustrated (by Mike Dubois).
Highlights – “God Gave Me the Blues,” “Some People,” “Breathe,” “Be On Your Way,” “My Only Need,” “It Ain’t Easy,” “4 Wheels Beats 2 Heels,” “Ride All Night,” “A Song For You” & “Love Always Wins.”
Musicians – Jimmy Bennett (guitar), Peter Bennett (bass/vocals), Ray Grappone (drums), Daniel Weiss (keys), with & Lee Falco (drums/percussion).
Color photo courtesy of their website. CD @ Bandcamp & https://alexispsuter.com/
