Review: Alexis P. Suter Band 'Just Stay High'

Review: Alexis P. Suter Band ‘Just Stay High’

By Jim Hynes

The force of nature known as Alexis P. Suter has returned, reuniting with longtime collaborators to deliver a wall rattling debut for Nola Blue Records, Just Stay High. If you’ve been fortunate to see the Alexis P. Suter Band (APSB) perform live, you’ll agree that it’s an unforgettable, chill inducing, at times highly spiritual experience. Recordings don’t usually live up to live performances of that kind but Just Stay High comes as close as it gets. The album is both a reunion and rejuvenation as Suter fronts her longtime colleagues, vocalist Vicki Bell and drummer Ray Grappone along with original bandmates from a decade ago, The Bennett Brothers, guitarist Jimmy and bassist Peter. Keyboardist Daniel Weiss has been in the band for a while now. Suter is a three-time BMA nominee, including the coveted “Koko Taylor Award” and she has been playing with the core group of Bell, Grappone, and the Bennett Brothers for two decades.

Bell and the band produced the album with former Olabelle and current Lumineers bassist Byron Isaacs, who has a longtime connection with APSB through the late Levon Helm’s Midnight Rambles at the barn in Woodstock. Will Bryant also co-produces, and, like Isaacs, plays on the album. There are a generous 14 tracks, most penned collaboratively or by Jimmy Bennett or Isaacs. The band, based in Brooklyn, has a ‘hometown’ venue a bit north of NYC, The Falcon in Marlboro, NY. Hence they recorded at The Building, owned by Lee Falco, who together with Bryant engineered and recorded. Falco is also a drummer who plays on select tracks.

Many of the songs were penned collaboratively during the pandemic as a way to keep moving forward. Suter calls them collectively ‘a message of consciousness for the the world to heal.’ She goes on to say, “This album is a deep reflection of our journey as a band…These songs are a testimony, and a front row seat into our psyche.” The uninitiated will discover that the gospel-trained Suter may well have the deepest and most powerful voice of any female blues vocalist, capable of going from whisper to roar in just seconds, all of it natural without any pretension at all. She is a contralto, the lowest singing voice type for a female. She was one of Levon Helm’s favorite singers, which speaks volumes.

The album kicks off aptly with Bennett’s “God Gave Me the Blues,” a slow blues with a chord structure and rhythm reminiscent of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You.” Suter’s booming voice and Jimmy’s ringing guitar give it a similar effect too. Isaac’s “Breathe” showcases Suter’s vocal power surging over Bryant’s spacey organ while Bennett’s standout “Be On Your Way” is a rave-up, guitar-driven, traditionally styled slow blues moan (“Tell me baby, where you gonna be when the morning comes”) that cuts deep. Bennett’s “My Only Need” proves Suter and band can dial it down effectively too. Suter’s gospel roots are on display in Ron Davies’ “It Ain’t Easy” with Peter Bennett and Bell delivering a formidable gospel chorus.

“4 Wheels Beats 2 Heels” is a wittily titled shuffle with Bryant’s Melodica adding a different color while “Big Girl Panties” is the female answer to Muddy’s “Mannish Boy.” The standout title track settles into Suter’s comfort zone, a slow, gospel-infused blues that urges us to be resilient. On the other hand, Bennett’s Jimmy Reed-like “Ride All Night” says there’s no shame in embracing freewheeling fun. Isaacs’ “Isolation” captures the stark, lonely nature of the pandemic and “Love Always Wins” is an anthemic blues that more than any, states the album’s theme.

Two of the strongest entries are the cover tunes with Suter bringing her signature gutsy touch to Leon Russell’s “Song for You,” adding an emotional ingredient than goes far beyond the original. Also, she and the band close with the gospel classic, “Piece of Clay,” Suter’s booming voice sapping what little listening energy one has left. If you’re not moved by this track, something must be wrong.

The Alexis P. Suter Band has delivered some great recordings, especially Love the Way You Roll (2014) and All for Loving You (2016), both on American Showplace. Yet, Just Stay High is unequivocally their crowning achievement.

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