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hitmanbluesband

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Playing original Modern Blues - blues of the 21st Century

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Hometown	Brentwood, NY
Genres	Blues
Band Members	Russell "Hitman" Alexander (guitar, vocals); Kevin ... » more
Achievements
Upcoming Shows	None

Contact Information:	Other Joanne Alexander joanna@joannasway.com 917-622-8643
# Years Experience Performing Live:	20
# Live Perfomances Past Six-months:	102
Market Draw:	Over 40: 201-250; UK: 151-200; France: 151-200; US: 101-150
Venue History:	Colne Blues Festival, UK - Colne, UK Riverhead Blues Festival - Riverhead, NY Maryport Blues Festival - Maryport, UK Plaza Hotel, NYC - New York City, NY St. Regis Hotel - New York City, NY Harley Davidson - Various sites, NY Dan Lynch Blues Club - New York City , NY Eel Pie Club - London, UK Dozens More - Eastern Seaboard, NY
Opener Experience:	Whitney Houston; Johnny Copeland; Smokey Robinson; The Coasters; The Ink Spots; Many others
Similar Artists:	Johnny WInter, Elmore James, Jonny Lang, Stevie Ray, Buddy Guy
Performing Rights Society:	ASCAP
Discography:	The World Moves On LP—2016; Blues Enough LP—2013; Pale Rider LP—2009; Live At Stonybrook LP—2006; Angel In The Shadows LP—2002; Blooztown LP—2000

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About the Artist

How do you become a Hitman? A sharp suit and a thousand songs. That’s what earned New York City native Russell Alexander his moniker, early in the vast musical career that made him the master guitarist, singer, and songwriter for the Hitman Blues Band...

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Music

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Achievements

Top 10 in Blues, January 2011

January 2010 Blues

Top 40 in Blues, December 2010

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Press Coverage

Russell "Hitman" Alexander by
Russell "Hitman" Alexander on the cover of the June 2017 edition of Blues In Britain, with an accompanying interview.

The Hitman Blues Band - Red Arrow Music Club by Simon Green
This was an evening that brought about two pleasant new experiences, a new band I hadn’t seen before and a brand new venue based down in sunny Ramsgate that with the right support should build up a big following. Anyone that starts a Blues club deserves huge kudos, especially in these times of doom and gloom. Promoter Geoff Pine kicked things off earlier this year with some top acts like The Cinelli Brothers already gracing the stage there, and more excellent groups are booked for the rest of the year. To top it off the venue serves ridiculously well priced (and very lush) beer from the local Gadds Brewery. With its welcoming atmosphere, it’s a nothing to dislike situation. I’ll be going back and I’d highly recommend checking it out. From what I’d briefly heard of the band in advance (thanks to Spotify) I was looking forward to seeing what they could produce live and, boy, they didn’t disappoint. The New York band are led by frontman Russell ‘Hitman’ Alexander, who sings and plays lead guitar superbly well and immediately caught the eye in trademark undertaker’s hat, long black jacket and shades. As well as delivering a set of killer songs the band exuded personality in spades and the Hitman had a nice line in dryly amusing between song patter. Mike Porter on bass had already schmoozed his way around the audience before the show and just about charmed everybody, so the scene had been set. You can’t beat a three piece horn section to provide that authentic soulful groove as well as full on brass power; while the New York Horns may have looked like they’ve been picking up their pensions for many a year, they certainly knew their stuff. Saxophonist Tex Protheroe gave off a distinctly Vietnam vet vibe in his headband, but he blew some really sassy smooth solos. The Hitman describes their music as “modern Blues music”. In that respect they definitely stand apart from the herd by the quality of their original songs, which are gloriously witty as well as profound. They similarly take traditional Blues numbers and give them a completely fresh and radical twist that breathes new life into them, several of which they played on the night such as their take on ‘Hootchie Koochie Man’, which was enjoyably unrecognisable. The fast shuffle of 'Blues Enough' was introduced as being written in riposte to comments that they didn’t play the Blues. It really couldn’t have been more Bluesy. Playing mainly numbers from their last two studio albums 'Not My Circus, Not my Monkey' and 'The World Moves On', the band delivered a superbly balanced set. The song ‘That’s What It’s Like To Be A Man’, played early on, has to be one of the very best to describe male sexual frustration and is an absolute modern Blues classic. In fact, both these albums are total gems and have been played on repeat since the gig. The title track to 'Not My Circus' is another classic number. If all the bands trudging around the Blues circuit wrote numbers anywhere near the quality of these two, attending blues gigs would be far more entertaining. Great original songs and superb interpretations - their version of ‘The Times They Are a-Changin’ was a horn driven funky blast. This was one classy act. Catch them when they’re next over. In the meantime, feast on their studio albums, they’re excellent; perhaps stick them on in the car as you drive down to Ramsgate to see what the Red Arrow Music Club has to offer. Simon Green

Russell "Hitman" Alexander by
Russell "Hitman" Alexander on the cover of the June 2017 edition of Blues In Britain, with an accompanying interview.

The Hitman Blues Band Blues Enough by Brian McKinnon – Sr. MuzikReviews.com Staff
The music of The Hitman Blues Band will make you glad that music exists in the first place. Made up of Russell "Hitman" Alexander (guitar, vocals), Mike Porter (bass, vocals), Kevin Rymer (keyboards), Guy LaFountaine (drums), Eric Altarac (trumpet), Michael Snyder (saxophone), and Al Alpert (trombone), the band knows how to blend a historic genre with modern flare. Blues Enough contains the type of music that will captivate and keep you thrilled from start to finish. The title track “Blues Enough” comes out blazing and will have you hooked. This song is the embodiment of the album and will endear you to the music of The Hitman Blues Band. If it does not, then I do not know what will. Just listen to that opening guitar! Is it blues enough for ya?/ Does it do enough for ya? Yes, it is and yes, it does. When it comes to tribute songs, “Sam the Bluzman” is top notch work. It is the music is relatively upbeat and it celebrates the life of its subject instead of lamenting. Next up is some every day advice in “Fishing Where the Fish Are.” Following it up is the delightful “Backhand Drive” and it might just bring a wry smile to your face. The poignant “Every Piece of Me” is a brilliant song about the end of a relationship and anguish of a broken heart. “Everything You Do” is another vibrant song with a lively piano and guitar keeping the song up throughout its duration. “Streets of Downtown” tells a harrowing tale and it rivals literature in its ability to affect the emotions. The drum opening on “Life’s Too Short” makes it worth a listen, if it was not a hopping song in its own right. The good natured “Better Class of Bums” adds some humor to the album with its vow to hang with a different crowd of people and improve one’s behavior. “Tough Street” pulls out all the musical stops and ends in the album with flair and bravado. The Hitman Blues Band’s Blues Enough is full of music and tales that your ears will willingly lend them to. This is the type of album that will appeal to fans of the genre and beyond. It is not one to pass up, as it will provide listeners with hours of entertainment.

The World Moves On by Giovanni "Gio" Pilato
The music business is, sometimes, a funny old game. There are artists or bands that, as the years go by, tend to slow down and gradually lose their spark, settling down with their music format and becoming increasingly monotone and repetitive. This concept certainly does not apply to artists such as Russell "Hitman" Alexander and The Hitman Blues Band. Their new album, The World Moves On, is a celebration of the traditions of the Delta Blues mixed with the glorious groove of the Memphis and Chicago blues. The album is a true mirror of what this band is all about; respect for the history of a great music genre and a capacity to infuse, at the same time, their personal artistic touch as a collective. The whole album is not just excellently played by this group of highly skilled musicians but also contains here and there some humour and little cheekyness in the songwriting. The re-work of a couple of the band's classic, Hammer Down and Two Trains Running, is a classic example of what The Hitman Blues Band does best. Fast foot-stomping blues, showcasing in particular the unique singing style of Russell Alexander and his flamboyant guitar style, together with the powerful sound of a very solid band. On these two tracks in particular, the work of Mikey Vitale and Nick Clifford on horns and Kevin Bents on keyboards reach some incredible peaks of ability. In addition, throughout the whole of the record, Mike Porter on bass and Guy La Fontaine work in perfect synchronycity and they constitute the ideal rhytm section for any blues musicians, thanks to their almost metronomic precision. The World Moves On is not only, though, the sound of a fast-paced blues collective because when The Hitman Blues Band slows down the tempo, the results are equally astonishing. I'm All About You is one of those soul ballads that get stuck into your head, once you have listened to it. The song unfolds an almost Motown-esque side to their music formula and once again, Alexander's voice is as light as a feather while Mikey Vitale solo on sax tenor offers one of the most beautiful solos on the album. The closing Willie Dixon's cover Hoochie Coochie Man is fast, furious and showcases each and everyone's craftmanship and there would be no better ways to sign off a wonderful record like this. The new album from The Hitman Blues Band is not just an ode to the blues genre but expresses as well true passion for music, joy to play and phenomenal skills from all the elements of the band. The Hitman Blues Band reach a new high in their career through The World Moves On. Their sound is robust, intense and carries an incredible amount of fun and happiness. Which is excatly what playing music should be all about.

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