ALTERED FIVE BLUES BAND * New released : Holler if you hear me *
JEFF TAYLOR Lead Vocals
JEFF SCHROEDL Guitar
MARK SOLVESON Bass
RAYMOND TEVICH Keyboards
ALAN ARBER Drums
Altered Five Blues Band makes music with a swaggering stomp of bruising, barrelhouse grit. According to Downbeat magazine, frontman Jeff Taylor “sings powerfully” and “Jeff Schroedl’s live-wire guitar reaches the high bar of mixed invention and fluidity.” Blues Bytes magazine declares the group features “the funkiest rhythm section outside of Memphis.”
A 2018 Blues Music Award nominee, the Milwaukee-based quintet will release its new album, Holler If You Hear Me, September 3 on Blind Pig Records. Recorded over five days in Nashville, TN and produced by three-time Grammy winner Tom Hambridge, the 13 original tracks showcase the band's deft songwriting, Taylor's mighty baritone voice, and the intuitive musical interplay of the longtime bandmates. Harmonica ace Jason Ricci also joins the group on five tracks. The pre-order begins July 23, 2021.
The new album arrives on the heels of three award-winning records. Cryin’ Mercy won “Best Self-Released Album” at the International Blues Challenge in 2015. Charmed & Dangerous scored Song of the Year at both the Independent Music Awards and Wisconsin Music Awards in 2018. Guitar World magazine called the song “Charmed & Dangerous” a “menacing, swampy blues,” and the track has been in regular rotation on SiriusXM’s Bluesville along with many other programs and playlists. The album’s third track, “Three Forks,” was inspired by legendary Delta bluesman Robert Johnson and features music, adapted with permission, from the seminal classic “Crossroads.” Then in 2019, Ten Thousand Watts reached #10 on the Billboard Blues Chart, hit #1 on both the iTunes and Amazon blues charts, and the song "Great Minds Drink Alike" won first place in the blues category of the 2019 International Songwriting Competition. The album's opening track, a burning boogie entitled "Right On, Right On," has received significant airplay on satellite and terrestrial radio.
Altered Five Blues Band now have five studio albums to their name, including Gotta Earn It (2012) and Bluesified (2008), both on Cold Wind Records. The group has performed at many renowned festivals and venues such as: Lucerne Blues Fest (Switzerland), Grolsch Blues Fest (Germany), W.C. Handy Blues Fest (Kentucky), Ann Arbor Blues Fest, King Biscuit Blues Fest, Baltic Blues Fest (Germany), Milwaukee Summerfest, Magic City Blues Fest (Montana), Fargo Blues Fest, B.B. King’s Blues Club (Memphis), and Buddy Guy’s Legends (Chicago).
Bassist Mark Solveson anchors the rock-solid rhythm section with drummer Alan Arber, who joined the band in 2017, and Raymond Tevich melds his crafty keyboard work to top off the group's signature sound. It’s been said that “the blues is a feeling,” so when the Minneapolis Star Tribune states that the band is a “righteous blast,” you know they play it right.
INFO ARTISTS WEB SITE : https://www.alteredfive.com/
I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release (September 3, 2021), Holler If You Hear Me, from Altered Five Blues Band, and it's a strong contemporary blues release. Opening with blues rocker and title track, Holler If You Hear Me, Jeff Taylor is authoratative at the mic, backed by Jeff Schroedl on guitar, Mark Solverson on bass, Raymond Tevich on keys and Alan Arber on drums plus some cool harmonica work by Jason Ricci. Great opener. Ricci and Schroedl really hit the road running on If You Go Away (She Might Come Back), and with a modern take on Chicago style blues, Taylor sets a grat pace. With a great blend of instrumentation and a tight drum rhythm by Arber, this track rocks. Slow blues, Holding on With One Hand, is one of my favorites on the release with excellent guitar lead, and powerful vocal from Taylor. The addition of Ricci on this release I think is a master stroke because everything that he plays on gains substantially from his feel. Another solid Chicago style track is Where's My Money in the vein of Muddy Waters. This is a nicelt paced track with strong lead vocal and a healthy dose of Ricci on lead harmonica. All Suit, No Soul is another of my favorites with clever lyrics, a Latin beat, warm keys by Tevich and with a lot of open floor for Schroedl on lead guitar. Very nice. R&B based, Leave Before I Let You Down, is a real nice showcase for Taylor's vocals and Schroedl shows his tasty chops. Solid. Wrapping the release is high energy blues, Big Shout Out, with Taylor, Ricci and Schroedl trading call and response. I really like Ricci's gritty sound contrasted against Schroedl's clean sting. This is a super closer for a very tasty release.
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Official music video for "Holler If You Hear Me," the first track off Altered Five Blues Band's album Holler If You Hear Me, on Blind Pig Records. Link to order: https://orcd.co/hollerifyouhearme
Song written by Jeff Schroedl and Mark Solveson
Produced by Tom Hambridge
Mixed by Tom Hambridge and Michael Saint-Leon
(P) (C) 2021 Altered Five LLC under exclusive license to Blind Pig Records
Videography by J.B. Lawrence
Filmed February 21, 2021 at Ocean Way Studios in Nashville, TN
Jeff Taylor - Vocals
Jeff Schroedl - Guitar
Mark Solveson - Bass
Alan Arber - Drums
Raymond Tevich - Piano & Organ
Special guest Jason Ricci - Harmonica
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