Alexis Sutter Band, This Hole That I'm In

When the great Bluesman B.B. King first heard Alexis P. Suter sing a few years ago, he was visibly impressed – and said so after her opening set for him at BB Kings NYC. Shaking his head in wonder in his characteristic way, he remarked: "It’s a rare thing to share the stage with great talent like that young lady."

The Alexis P. Suter Band has earned similar accolades from other well-known musicians and performers, including Levon Helm of The Band.

A true vocal phenomenon, bass/baritone powerhouse Suter and her band began wowing audiences in the northeast 7 years ago as regular performers at Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble Sessions in Woodstock, NY. "She is one of those wonderful spirits, she's got her arms around you, you can feel that," Helm has said.

Since then, they have been in constant demand at North American festivals including, The Toronto Waterfront Blues Festival, The Cincinnati Blues Festival, FloydFest in Floyd, VA, The Kitchener Blues Festival in Kitchener, Ontario, Briggs Farm Blues Festival, PA; The Pocono Blues Festival; The Vermont Blues Festival, The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival in British Columbia and The Columbia Blues Festival in Columbia, SC.

2011 proved to be another busy year on the festival circuit with appearances at Bourbon Street Blues Fest, NJ, an encore performance at Briggs Farm Blues Festival, PA, Musikfest, Bethlehem PA, The Philadelphia Folk Festival 50th Anniversary, White Mountain Boogie & Blues Fest, NH and the first annual BLUESTOCK, Hunter Mountain ,NY.

During the fall of 2009, the band toured Italy as part of Blues Al Femminile. In 2009, the band was also showcased at New York City’s River and Blues concert series and at the New York State Blues Festival, where Dan Aykroyd joined them onstage for a rousing rendition of "Got My Mojo Workin’."

As special guests of The Levon Helm Band, the Alexis P. Suter Band played to sold-out audiences at the Beacon Theater in New York City, Bethel Woods Center For The Arts, The Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ and Central Park’s Summerstage. The band also appeared on Imus in the Morning. At Floydfest in 2010, where they played on the same day as the Levon Helm Band, Suter was invited up to sing on "The Weight", with Levon, which closed Helm’s show.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Suter came from a musical family. Her mother was a music teacher and singer who worked with Harry Belafonte, Mahalia Jackson, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and The Hall Johnson Choir. Early on, Alexis sang in recitals and Gospel plays and learned the power of her voice. In the early 90’s, Suter became a staple of underground garage music and the first African American woman signed to Sony-Epic (Japan). Her acclaimed song "Slam Me Baby" made her an underground star. Her debut CD, "Shuga Fix" on Hipbone Records was well-received by the music community and played on Triple A stations nationwide. In 2008 The band released their acclaimed CD/DVD "Live at The Midnight Ramble" on Levon Helm Studios Records. 2009 followed up with "Just Another Fool", which was widely received by, Triple A radio along with Blues & Roots Radio nationwide.

The Alexis P. Suter Band "Two Sides" on Hipbone Records is their new release for 2011. "Two Sides" has already received much praise from blues publications, Blues Revue, Living Blues, Elmore and Big City Rhythm and Blues. Legendary music writer Jim Bessman also gave "Two Sides" a rave review in The Examiner.

Suter says of "Two Sides", "We have a lot of different styles & influences in this band – Blues, Soul, Gospel and other roots music. It’s mostly original songs and a few of our favorite covers, "Two Sides" is a real band collaboration produced by APSB members Vicki Bell and Ray Grappone.

The CD includes the bands unique, powerful and moving rendition of Bob Dylan’s "Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door," which Suter sang this last New Year’s Eve at the Midnight Ramble in Woodstock, where people are still talking about it. More recently, APSB previewed some of their new songs at The Turning Point in Piermont, NY where the entire kitchen staff came out and lined the hallway to hear them.

In addition to Suter’s amazing & powerful stage presence & bass/ baritone voice, Her real secret weapon is the band… The Alexis P. Suter Band!!!

This Powerhouse band features seasoned NYC musicians,; At every show, audiences show their whistling, clapping & cheering appreciation for the APSB with drummer Ray Grappone’s funky beats; guitarist Jimmy Bennett’s searing leads, keyboard man Benny Harrison’s high-flying solos, Peter Bennett on down home solid bass. The band is rounded out by the very talented & gorgeous backing vocalists Vicki Bell and Linda Pino. The firepower of this exciting band has captured the attention of some of the best players around., and they are considered by their peers as one of the best LIVE Bands touring today!

Along with other hot & seasoned New York blues musicians, APSB were featured on the cover of the February/March issue of Big City Rhythm & Blues magazine. APSB along with many of the other artists featured in the article, performed in NYC as part of the Big City Rhythm and Blues Magazine’s Spring Celebration honoring among others The Holmes Brothers. On seeing APSB live for the first time, writer/reviewer Chef Jimmi of Blues 411 wrote "Man were we ever un-prepared for this band’s performance. Stunning baritone notes ring from Miss Suter’s diaphragm, as the ladies accompany her and fill in the cracks with soulful harmonies and stylistic shouts & moans. Each band member contributes to this effort, they seem almost as one giant quaking construct of the music itself".

The sky’s the limit for The Alexis P. Suter Band!!!

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