Alexis P. Suter Band: Just Stay Live, featuring Garth Hudson, Recorded Live at the Falcon

With the late Garth Hudson's photo on such prominent display in Debra Clark's graphic design for Just Stay Live, featuring Garth Hudson, Recorded Live at the Falcon, the participation of the brilliant multi-instrumentalist of The Band threatens to overshadow the other attributes of Just Stay Live, most conspicuous of which is the courageous choice of material. 

Lesser artists might be daunted by the prospect of covering songs by Gregg Allman ("It's Not My Cross To Bear"), Bob Dylan ("Knockin' On Heaven's Door"), and George Harrison ("Isn't It A Pity"). But also incorporating into the 11 selections comparably challenging numbers like Blind Willie Johnson's "John The Revelator" (made famous by Son House) and "Turn On Your Lovelight," the Alexis P. Suter Band acquits equally stylishly.

In fact, the latter R&B chestnut, interpreted by artists ranging from the Grateful Dead to the aforementioned younger sibling of the Allman Brothers Band, is indicative of the the overall gusto of the performances by the quintet, which so often frequents the Woodstock environs of New York State (specifically with numerous appearances at the late Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble series of concerts).

Hudson's five minutes and two seconds of solo piano is hardly an exception. Much like his spotlights on stage with his now-deceased comrades—once known as The Hawks—he is unobtrusive as he elicits sounds from the ivories that range from the rhapsodic to the ruminative, then weaves them in and out of other arrangements. 

In that sense, that cut is a microcosm of this program. Recorded (in Dolby Atmos Surround Sound) by Alan Douches at the Falcon Arts Center in Marlboro, New York, the sound is most robust as mixed and mastered by that same engineer. In fact, the subtlety of the audio fosters the resonance of the sonorous tones Suter shares with her co-singers Vicki Bell and Linda Pino on  "Whistling in the Dark."  

And yet, on this co-write of the former with Suter Band guitarist Jimmy Bennett, Peter Bennett's bass booms as much as Ray Grappone's drums rumble. Such sonic depth matches the well of emotions this ensemble draws upon during this roughly 70-plus minutes performance. 

The uplifting likes of "Rise" may be the most exalting moments here, but not by much. The devotional overtones are unmistakable as they pervade this rendition of the aforementioned Beatle's number. Accordingly, that cut makes for a logical conclusion to this set because it simultaneously sounds like a benediction from the performers to their audience and a testimonial to the power of great soul music as on display throughout Just Stay Live.