I pop in the CD and I hear a swell of soulful blues sounds
coming from the organ, then I’m hit with some backbeat and BB King Riffs and I know
I’m in for it now. Jeff Taylor’s vocals kick in and it’s like a hybrid of
Solomon Burke and Muddy Waters singing a rocking Memphis blues version of
Marvin Gay’s Aint That Peculiar. The
tone for the album is now set.
The next song Three
Wishes is a sorrowful ballad in the vein of Sam Cooke and it captures all
the requisite pain of a man in distress over love. Every song thereafter explores different
aspects of rock, funk, jazz and blues, sometimes all at once. I must mention the
track called Dynamite, it’s a funky jam with a ZZ Top feel ;a groove laden jam
leading up to their rippin' version of Buddy Guy’s Watch
Yourself.
The album is all over the place from a bluesman’s perspective,
held together with consummate musicianship and deep knowledge of soul, and is completely
reminiscent of the Stax Records era.
As a guitar player, I am struck by how subtle the guitarist
Jeff Schroedl can be at times and then let’s loose with a flurry of licks which
he puts back on a leash when the time is right. The accompanying keys form part
of the tapestry and come out now and then to give texture to the overall composition
of the album. Also notable is the syncopation of bass player Mark Solveson and
drummer Scott Schroedl which drives the band with solid grooves and a heavy
back beat.
The album weaves its way through various styles of soul,
rhythm and blues from Texas to Chicago, Tennessee to Louisiana. It is a strength
that many bands do not capture. Altered five is a cohesive group dedicated to
each other and each member knows how to serve the song; not one not is wasted or
over played. To sum it all up, Altered Five displays a blues mastery that pulls
from many sources and drives it all home with heart and soul.
5 Stars with a bowl of gumbo.
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