Pizza Express Live

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Last Show: Sunday 31 ^st October 2021

The Pheasantry (Chelsea)

The Hitman Blues Band will perform with a 10-piece and The New York City Horns. An American blues band from New York led by Russell 'Hitman' Alexander is recognised as one of the best, if not the best, blues outfits on the American East Coast. The band have rocked New York for 30 years with their own brand of hot original modern blues - hot grinding blues, slow blues, R&B, surf, Chicago, Texas swing and Delta influenced music. Muzicreviews.com said "The music of Hitman Blues Band will make you glad that music exists in the first place". They have built up a considerable fan base both in the USA and throughout the UK and Europe. Led by founding member, guitarist/vocalist Russell ‘Hitman’ Alexander with his gravelly vocals and gritty blues fretwork, Russ has also shared the stage with Johnny Copeland, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, The Coasters, The Ink Spots and Whitney Houston.

Russell ‘Hitman’ Alexander
As the founder and creator of “The Hitman Blues Band”, Alexander became Russell “Hitman” Alexander, or more simply, Hitman. He grew up within a musical family, and gives thanks to his father, Ray Alexander. Ray was a famous jazz musician (drummer and vibist), who performed worldwide with many of the jazz greats that we hold so dear today, including being featured on the now classic Capital album ‘Beauty and the Beat’ with George Shearing and Peggy Lee.
Russell began working as a "band boy" at the age of 13, and at the age of 15 he started his professional musicianship.

By the age of 18 he was playing "High Society" dates at major hotels in NY, private estates, and other places around the country. He played with top notch players, who themselves had played with luminaries such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Mel Torme, and other famous jazz and swing bands. He got to play with both large orchestras and small combos. He learnt his craft.
He formed the Hitman Blues Band in 1989. He has written more than 300 original songs, and the band have recorded several albums, which are played internationally on the air and on the internet, and streaming stations.
The blues is his main love.
He was in the running for a Grammy nomination in 2007.
Russ and the band had to cancel their 2020 UK tour because of the Covid lockdown.
He is looking forward to finally playing, with his band, the Pheasantry on Sunday 31^st October 2021