#387 : Alexis P. Suter Band - Be Love

2019 – Hipbone Records

By Phillip Smith; April 19, 2019

Be Love, the latest album from Alexis P. Suter Band is one hot record.  Suter, who carved out her career in New York, opening for The Levon Helm Band and B.B. King, knocks another recording out of the park with her powerful and soulful voice. Her band consists of Michael Louis (guitar,vocals,bass), Vicki Bell (vocals), and Ray Grappone (drums).

Suter pines for her loved one as she pours a smooth layer of deep Sixties soul on ballad “Lips Hips and Fingertips”.  The song has a warm nostalgic essence about it.  A revving rhythm topped with some bodacious slide guitar brings some fast-paced blues to ”Little Back Rider”.  It really hits the spot.  I love the hip-swinging blues of “Sway”.  This funk-filled line dance number is an absolute favorite.  I love the slow groove and cosmic atmosphere of “Dog Eat Dog”.  There’s a definite George Clinton/Eddie Hazel influence on the front end.  When it come to the title track, “Be Love”, there’s a lot of energy flowing through.  This is a sure-fire blues-rocker that begs to be heard loud.  Filled with horns, keys, and searing guitar, the song jams indeed.

Be Love, from the Alexis P Suter Band is a hit in my book.        

The Alexis P. Suter Band - Love the Way You Roll

2014 – American Showplace Music

By Phillip Smith; Oct 25, 2014

There is something magnificent about listening to The Alexis P. Suter Band’s new album, Love the Way You Roll.  It’s raw, swampy, bluesy and utterly fantastic.  Suter takes full command of her microphone, exquisitely belting out each song as her band, made up of guitarist Jimmy Bennett, drummer Ray Grappone, bassist Peter Bennett, and backing vocalist Vicki Bell, dishes out amazingly tight performances.  Also appearing on the album, is John Ginty with his Hammond B3 in tow.

“Nuthin’ In the World” ushers the listener into this funky energized album heavily steeped in the blues, with catchy hooks and outstanding musicianship. Suter and company shine on “Big Mama” as well.  I love it when J. Bennett breaks out the slide.  It sounds so good alongside Suter’s uniquely styled contralto vocals.  

Title track, “Love the Way You Roll”, is mesmerizing, as it seems to dip into the well of trance blues.  J. Bennett lets each strum of the guitar hang heavy in the air, adding to the psychedelic effect created by the hypnotic framework built by Grappone and P. Bennett.  It’s so cool how this song transforms into the oh-so-familiar “Rollin’ and Tumblin’”.  J. Bennett throws down another great performance on “Gonna’ Love You”. 

One of the most beautiful tracks on the album is “Anything”.  Soulful and slow, this one is so full of emotion it pulls on my heartstrings, much like Otis Redding’s “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”.  J.Bennett seems to extract tears right out of his guitar, as Sutter immerses herself fully into her performance.   

I can’t help but smile, when I hear the cover of Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips”.  It’s such a happy and fun track to listen to.  Love the Way You Roll, nothing short of a masterpiece, is certain to end up as one of my favorite releases for the year.