The Hitman Blues Band - Blues Enough (2013)

He has New York City in his veins, blues in his heart, & the music of many worlds in his gifted hands. The man in the shades, top hat and sharp suit on stage with that tight band is playing real blues right, informed by 50 years of mastery while imitating no one. The Hitman Blues Band, with Russell “Hitman” Alexander in the lead, plays the blues you’ve been looking for all your life

Beginning with the title track, the CD jumps right into the heat with call and response action: “Is it blues enough for ya?” Followed by a tribute to the late, great Sam “The Bluzman” Taylor, the beat stays happy with beer soaked advice to go “Fishing Where The Fish Are”. The double entendre “Backhand Drive” gives way to the raw emotion of “Every Piece Of Me”, a real crowd favorite. The flat tire shuffle of “Everything You Do” picks up the smiles again, followed by “Streets Of Downtown”, a visit with street people familiar to far too many of us. The swing influenced “Life’s Too Short” gets your blood pumping, then the band declares a change of attitude: from now on, they’ll hang out with a “Better Class Of Bums”. The wistful song of loss, “Deaf, Dumb & Blind” leads into the boastful finale, “Tough Street”.
Featuring the well regarded quartet of the Hitman Blues Band, this album shows off their new three piece horn section along with special guest appearances by Neil Alexander on harp and backup vocalists Victoria Anyah and Joanna Alexander. With great songs and excellent performances, this release will stay in your CD player, on your Ipod, on your phone, and in your various playlists. Don’t believe it? Hear it for yourself!