Soul Alley
Newton, Massachusetts, United States
Music
Press
The female fronted Alley Blues outfit has been picking up a lot of new rooms since making it into the finals of last year’s Boston Blues Challenge. Without yet having a CD of original music, Alley Blues markets themselves the old-fashioned way ---- by calling a lot of clubs and hitting the open mike circuit.
The “Alley” of Alley Blues is Alexandra Stoetzel, a Berklee trained vocalist who plays out with three musicians and two female backing vocalists. One can only imagine how far Stoetzel and her cohorts will go once they release a disc she now has in the works.
Currently working with keyboardist Bruce Bears as producer, the album will be called Public Alley. It’s going to be 10 tracks featuring her band on bass, guitar, and drums, with two to three back-up singers, and some keys. It will be a mix of covers and originals.
“The covers will be all really old R&B stuff like Betty Wright and maybe some Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings,” Stoetzel said.
Alley Blues have landed a lot of rooms without having an original CD yet. Attending as many open mikes as possible gave her exposure, and playing rare covers gives audiences something they can’t get anywhere else.
Alley and her band mates are in their early to mid-20s. She said guitarist Eric Vincent, “does a great job of playing a lot of the horn parts on the guitar, and he does a really good job mixing it up so the band can sound really full without a keys player and without a horn section.”
Her bass player Louis Ochoa, “adds a lot of funk to our sound. He has a lot of say creatively with the originals that we’re doing, as well as trying to make the covers different.” Drummer Justin Oliver, she said, “is the perfect drummer for any singer. He does well playing with singers, knowing how to give them enough space and how to set them up for different verses and choruses.”
Stoetzel said Oliver does a great solo when they do a Paul Simon tune “Late In The Evening.”
Besides Levere, Stoetzel’s back-up singers include Althea Feil, who, along with Levere, comes from from British Columbia; and Suzanna Liming from California. They occasionally play with their former keyboard player Axel Schwintzer from Germany, and sometimes Bears will bring his keys. - Bill Copeland for Boston Blues Society
Discography
Live Album: "Live at Keene Music Festival"
Upcoming Full Length CD : "Public Alley 421"
Photos
Bio
Emitting soul-shaking vocals over earth moving grooves, the neo-soul/retro R&B outfit Soul Alley is a female fronted funk machine. Carrying the echoes of the vintage blues masters through the vibe of the new breed, Soul Alley summons an aura of "the Old Soul" immersed in gritty, captivating vocals.
Soul Alley brings a refreshing and vibrant take on the retro R&B sound, blending funky grooves with soulful vocals. Their style is cut from the same cloth as groups like Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Galactic, Laura Reed and Deep Pocket, to name a few.
Soul Alley is fronted by singer Alexandra Stoetzel, an Andover, MA. native. Her singing began almost right out of the crib. Her influences include, but are not limited to, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Tina Turner, Erykah Badu, and Janis Joplin. She says :"For me, it's about connecting with my audience, taking them away from their daily stresses and concerns, helping them enjoy their respit. I believe in music's power to reach and affect peoples lives for the better."
Soul Alley recently entered the studio to record their full length Debut CD with the help of Producer Bruce Bears (Duke Robillard, Tony Lynn Washington). It showcases the band's songwriting, and crafty arranging and reworking of lesser known covers. The CD is due out in Late October with a release party at the House of Blues Foundation Room.
The Boston based band has attracted a loyal fan base with performances at venues around New England such as Harper's Ferry, Johnny D's, the Middle East, among others.
"Soul Alley brings a unique level of electricity every night they play at Stella Blu. Alley is a world class vocalist, and the musicians are as talented as they come. Soul Alley consistently packs the house, and everyone has a great time."
- Jim Lespasio, owner, Stella Blu, Nashua NH
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