Alexis P. Suter Band Is The Blues

Music:

Member Since: 11/18/2005
Band Website: alexispsuter.com
Band Members: Alexis P. Suter-vocals, Ray Grappone-drums, Jimmy Bennett-guitar, Vicki Bell-vocals,Glen Turner-vocals,Linda Pino-vocals, Peter Bennett-bass, Bruce Katz-some bad ass keys
Influences: God,Mrs. Carrie (mommy) Suter, Levon Helm, Soloman Burke, the Band, Muddy Waters, Ray Grappone, the whole Stax record cataloge, Vicki Bell, Little Sammy Davis, Ollabelle, Elvis Costello, Howlin' Wolf, Hubert Sumlin, Allan Touissant, B.B. King, Big Maybelle, Larry Cambell, Emmy Lou Harris, Ruth Brown, The Staples Singers, Pine Top Perkins, Steady Rollin' Bob Margoline, Jimmy V and the entire Levon Helm Band,Pat Metheny,Donny Hathaway,Barry White,Isley Brothers,Linda Pino,Greg Payne,Crown Heights Affair,War,Mandril,Two Tons of Fun,Heat Wave,Tha Pac,Miche Braden,Harold Smith,Rev.James Cleveland,Mississippi mass Choir,Debbie Hawkins,Andrea Suter(oldest sister,R.I.P),The guy who wrote the theme song to the peanuts,The Kinks,The Meters,La India,Credence Clearwater Revival,Baby Huey and the Baby Sitters, Mos Def,Glen Turner,Mr.Drayton(PS 20 music teacher R.I.P),Mr. Motley"All city high school chorus),Lolita Holloway,Cream,The Intruders,The Stylistics,Carmen McRae,Billy Preston,The Pointer Sisters,Blind Melon,Sister Sledge,The O'Jays,Queen,Tears for Fears,Vicki Bell,Ray Grappone,The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band,Chuck Berry, Carl Carlton,Evelyn Champagne King,Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington,The natural and man made sounds of new york city,Otis Redding,Maze,Jefferson Airplane, Chaka Chan,Ray Charles,Slave,Ike Turner,Nona Hendrix,Sara dash,Pattie Labelle,Isssac Hayes,Crown Heights Affair,Joni Mitchell, Minnie Ripperton,Idzora Rhodes, Clinton Utterbach and the Utterbach Concert Ensemble, Frankie Beverly and Maze,Phillis Hyman,Joe Crocker, Simon and Garfunkle,DJ Rogers,James Brown, Gwen Fredricks, Tobacco Bad Kids, Sly and the Family Stone, plus all the great players and friends we have made playing at the Midnight Ramble, also Al Green, Wilson Picket, Music...love & light... their's just too many to list!
Sounds Like: MUSIC: THE NEWCOMER AND THE LEGENDAlexis P. Suter receives assist from Levon Helm Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/29/06 BY RICHARD SKELLY CORRESPONDENTAny blues singer will tell you there's a close connection between the blues and gospel music.Alexis P. Suter, an up-and-coming vocalist from Brooklyn, knows this. Suter was raised on gospel music and began singing in church as a 4-year-old with her mother's choir.In February 2005, Brooklyn's Hipbone Records released Suter's debut album, "Shuga Fix." She's accompanied on the record by the same musicians who'll accompany her Saturday night at the Sugar Shack in Highlands: drummer Ray Grappone, backing singer Vicki Bell, bassist Peter Bennett and guitarist Jimmy Bennett. A newer addition to the band is keyboardist Bruce Katz, who was sent their way by former Band member drummer/singer Levon Helm.Helm has gotten into Suter's corner in a big way: He features the Alexis P. Suter Band at his monthly Midnight Ramble sessions at his home studio in Woodstock, N.Y."He sees something in us and (we've) got to respect that," Suter said. "So we're grateful because we know that his knowledge of this business is worth more than anything you could purchase anywhere, from anybody."Suter's "Shuga Fix" is an amalgamation of styles that includes the classic blues of "Teacher Man" and "Rollin' and Tumblin' " as well as touches of gospel, rap and house music grooves. Hipbone Records, founded by Grappone and Bell, primarily was a house music label before shifting gears in recent years to include blues-based releases from the Bennett Brothers and other New York area musicians.Suter counts her mother, Carrie, and Ruth Brown among her biggest inspirations to become a singer."When I was very young I used to sneak and listen to the radio or watch Ruth Brown on TV, and that goes back as far as I can remember," Suter recalled, "and my mother is totally a gospel and hymns person. She's definitely not with jazz and blues, but she appreciates it, as long as it's about being creative."But I also have a lot of male influences, people like Barry White, Isaac Hayes, Cream and War," Suter said.Her forthcoming CD/DVD on Levon Helm Studio Records should be out by December, Suter reckons, "and hopefully by this time next year, we will be a nationally known act and doing more blues festivals. We're learning as we go along. Levon is our shepherd and we are his flock."
Record Label: Hipbone Records - Brooklyn, NY
Type of Label: Indie