aziur3Music: Hans Chew

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The Chatanooga pianist comes to town

Four years since his last album, Tennessee And Other Stories… Chattanooga’s pianist extraordinaire Hans Chew has finally released the follow up, Life & Love, released on the Brighton-based At The Helm record label. If ever there was an apt title for an album, then here it is as Chew’s incredible ball of keyboard energy informs throughout, alongside some stunning guitar work from Dan Cavallo. It’s a very talented and cohesive band all round, topped off by Chew’s raw and passionate vocals.

Life & Love is a big step from his previous album (which nevertheless was voted one of the top 25 albums of 2010 by Uncut magazine), a veritable rollercoaster ride of boogie, roots, southern rock, blues and pop, all held together by the intuitive playing of his band, the joyous nature of the music and some damn fine songs. While Tennessee And Other Stories… centred on his geographical roots, Life & Love is more autobiographical.

“If the inspiration for Tennessee And Other Stories… was rebirth from a death state, then Life & Love comes from the experience of negotiating life after birth,” says Hans. With a family background that includes his grandfather singing in a Nashville gospel quartet and a love of classic ’60s and ’70s rock, Chew got his first break as a ragtime pianist performing with Jack Rose, before releasing his own material as well as with his other band, the more psychedelic and country-flavoured D. Charles Speer & The Helix.

With hints of Little Feat, Dr. John, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and classic British blues-rock, Chew delivers powerful and old fashioned – yet timeless – rock ’n’ roll music. Live, this should be an absolute belter of a gig.
Prince Albert, Friday 25 July, 7.30pm, £8

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