The Hitman Blues Band are a

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based

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

band, formed in 1989 by Russell "Hitman"

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, and have recorded six studio albums and one live album.

Biography

The band's first album, ''Blooztown'', was released in 2000 on Nerus Records and re-released in 2001 on Biograph. The album was recorded with Johnny Gale, Bobby Forester,

Bernard Purdie Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie (born June 11, 1939) is an American drummer, and an influential R&B, soul and funk musician. He is known for his precise musical time keeping and his signature use of triplets against a half-time backbeat: the "Purdie ...

and special guest Ray Alexander (on two songs). Their second album, ''Angel in the Shadows'', released in 2003, was recorded with Gale, Richard Crooks, Seth Glassman, Kevin Rymer, Murray Weinstock, Greg "Clutch" Reilly, and Michael Snyder. Following the album's release the band undertook its first tour of the

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, with UK band Groove Juice as the support act. They also played the Eel Pie Club with Storm Warning as support. In 2006 they released a live album, ''Live at Stonybrook University'', which comprises songs from their first two album together with a number of original unrecorded songs. The album was recorded live on November 28, 2005, at the University Cafe at

Stony Brook University Stony Brook University (SBU), officially the State University of New York at Stony Brook, is a public research university in Stony Brook, New York. Along with the University at Buffalo, it is one of the State University of New York system's ...

and features Alexander, Rymer (keys), Mike Porter (bass) and Jay Sharkey (drums). Its release was followed by another UK tour. The band's next album in 2009, ''Pale Rider'', featured the live band (with Ed "The Hat" D'Alessio on drums). It was also the first time the band had recorded with a horn section, on the track "Miss Catherine". Hitman undertook its first European tour after this release. In 2010, Alt-Strum Productions licensed "Two Minute Warning" from the ''Angel in the Shadows'' to be an add-on for the ''

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'' video game. The band's fifth album, ''Blues Enough'', released in 2013, featured the live band with the new drummer, Guy LaFountaine. It also featured a horn section consisting of Michael Snyder on all saxes, Eric Altarac on trumpet, and Al Alpert on trombone. Neil Alexander performed on harmonica on two cuts, "Life's Too Short" and "Blues Enough". Additionally, a female backup vocal section was used, composed of Joanne Alexander and Victoria Anyah. The Hitman Blues Band resumed touring in the UK, but brought over the entire American band without the female backup singers. However, in 2014 they added Joanne Alexander and Nancy Hampton to the live lineup, singing backup. In 2015, "Trouble On The Line" and "I'm Coming For You", both from the ''Pale Rider'' album, were used in the film ''Ghostline'' (the former in the beginning of the movie, and the latter during closing credits). Their sixth album, ''The World Moves On'', released in 2016, featured Alexander (guitar/vocals), Kevin Bents (keyboards), Mike Porter (bass), La Fontaine (drums), Mickey Vitale (tenor saxophone) and Nick Clifford (baritone saxophone). It has been described as a "celebration of the traditions of the Delta Blues mixed with the glorious groove of the Memphis and Chicago blues." Additional tours of the UK and France followed, using the American lineup. However, in 2017 John Kelly replaced Vitale on tenor saxophone. In June 2017, Hitman was featured on the cover of ''Blues in Britain''. Their seventh album, ''Not My Circus, Not My Monkey'', was released on March 15, 2021. It featured Alexander (guitar/vocals), Kevin Bents (keyboards), Mike Porter (bass/backup vocals), La Fontaine (drums), Mickey Vitale (alto saxophone), John Kelly (tenor saxophone), Nick Clifford (baritone saxophone), Eric Altarac (trumpet), Mike Katzman (organ solo on "John The Revelator"), Adam Minkoff (organ on "No Place Like Home"), Joanne Alexander and Nancy Hampton on backup vocals. Bob Stander produced and engineered at Parcheesi Studios, and co-arranged with Alexander.

Discography

Albums

* ''Blooztown'' – Nerus Records (NR4429) (September 10, 2000) * ''Angels in Shadows'' – Nerus Records (NR4481) (January 1, 2003) * ''Live at Stonybrook University'' – Nerus Records (NR4483) (July 2, 2006) * ''Pale Rider'' – Nerus Records (NR4485) (2009) * ''Blues Enough'' – Nerus Records (NR4490) (June 2013) * ''The World Moves On'' – Nerus Records (NR4491) (2016) * ''Not My Circus, Not My Monkey'' – Nerus Records (NR4493) (2021)

References

External links

The Hitman Blues Band Official Site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hitman Blues Band 1989 establishments in New York City American blues musical groups Musical groups established in 1989 Musical groups from New York City