Altered Five Blues Band — “Hammer & Chisel” — Blind Pig Records
The Altered Five Blues Band is one tough mother for ya!
This powerful Milwaukee-based band creates muscular blues with relentless power and passion, putting them at the forefront of contemporary blues musicians who’ve mastered — and channeled — the essence of America’s classical music.
Their eighth studio album, “Hammer & Chisel,” includes the main Five: Jeff Taylor, vocals; Jeff Schroedl, guitar; Mark Solveson, bass; Steve Huebler, keyboards; Alan Arber, drums; with special guests Jason Ricci, harmonica; Max Abrams, saxophone and Julio Diaz, trumpet. The producer is the gifted and prolific Tom Hambridge, whose presence guarantees that the blues is in the house.
The title is a metaphor for the band’s creative process, as they’ve been “hammering away, scraping and chiseling our way forward, carving out our own corner of the blues” — doing it through their compelling songwriting partnered with music that throbs with superheated authority. Taylor’s deep-blue vocals alone are spine-chilling exercises encrusted with grit, delivered with torrential force.
“I Got It Good” roars out of the primeval ether to open the session, fueled by Arber’s propulsive drumming, kickass horns and Huebler’s churning Hammond behind Taylor’s magnificent vocal. This smoldering track leaves you wondering if the band has anything left to say after this scorched-earth take.
Indeed it does!
“Dare Me to Do It” is a scorching slow blues featuring Ricci’s furious other-worldly harp and a lilting piano counterpoint. Taylor outdoes himself with a smoldering vocal. “Who Can You Trust” is a driving shuffle with Ricci soaring in the background, followed by “Lotta Love Left in Me, “a luxurious slow blues, just right for that belt-buckle polishing slow grind. A smoky late-night piano interlude adds an elegant note.
Arber’s percussive beat hammers home the title track, with Taylor’s vocal punching out its message: “I’m breakin’ all the rules….” The uptempo “Can’t Shake It” rocks hard, adding Ricci and a rollicking piano midway. Fierce guitar opens “Headline Blues” and sets the pace throughout for its tough social commentary. The underlying lyrical poignance of “Hell or High Water” finds Taylor in a gorgeous soulful groove.
“My Love Ain’t a Lie” turns on the funk for this loving pledge. Honky-tonk piano drives the rollicking vibe of “Crazy One,” a simply joyous track. The closer, “The Will of Man,” opens with a gospel feel that eases into a soulful exposition filled with optimism. It’s a profound finale, both musically and philosophically.
With “Hammer & Chisel,” the Altered Five band has put together another outstanding album showcasing their smartly crafted songs, their musical prowess and the vocal majesty of Jeff Taylor.
Here’s “Hammer & Chisel” from the album:
Tracklist and credits:
01.I Got It Good (Schroedl, Arber, Huebler, Solveson, Taylor)
02. Dare Me to Do It (Schroedl, Hambridge)
03. Who Can You Trust (Schroedl, Arber, Huebler, Solveson, Taylor)
04. Lotta Love Left in Me (Schroedl)
05. Hammer & Chisel (Schroedl)
06. Can’t Shake It (Schroedl, Taylor)
07. Headline Blues (Solveson, Schroedl, Arber, Huebler, Taylor)
08. Hell or High Water (Schroedl, Taylor)
09. My Love Ain’t a Lie (Schroedl)
10. Crazy One (Huebler, Schroedl, Arber, Solveson)
11. The Will of Man (Schroedl, Taylor)
Jeff Taylor on vocals
Jeff Schroedl on guitar
Mark Solveson on bass
Steve Huebler on keyboards
Alan Arber on drums
Special guests:
Jason Ricci: harmonica on tracks 2, 3, and 6
Max Abrams: saxophone and Julio Diaz trumpet on track 1
Blues Roadhouse 