There is a special
jazz
piano style, uniquely Chicago's, which has been around for a long time and continues to flourish with the likes of
Barrelhouse Chuck Goering
,
Pinetop Perkins
, and the practitioner on this CD,
Erwin Helfer
. In the tradition of
Albert Ammons
Meade "Lux" Lewis
Pete Johnson
, and others who were born in Chicago and/or did most of their work in the Windy City with its own distinct flavor and cadence,
Erwin
captures it in its undiluted form on this release by the
Sirens
, label which seems to have cornered the market for Chicago
piano blues
.
Helfer
puts all of the workings of this
style out on the line for everyone to hear and enjoy. There's a slow, somewhat sorrowful
"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out,"
with
John Brumbach
adding his bluesy tenor, in contrast to the fast-paced,
honky tonk
boogie-woogie
of
's favorite,
"Swanee River Boogie"
and
's own boogie,
"Pooch Piddle."
On one of the all-time
blues
favorites,
Ma Rainey
's
"See See Rider,"
moves back and forth between bass and boogie basslines with ease, making this cut one of the highlights of the album as he embodies the uncommon ability these
performers had to make the music come across with a one-of-a-kind vibrancy and brilliance.
puts icing on the cake as he adds a
gospel
flavor to one of the biggest
R&B
hits,
"Please Send Me Someone to Love."
Other notable tracks include
"Dirty Dozens,"
"The Sheik of Araby,"
"After Hours."
This CD makes a major contribution to keeping this exciting setting of
music in the public eye. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan