ERWIN HELFER

Erwin Helfer Way

The Sirens Records (SR-5020)

By Eric Steiner

Erwin Helfer’s sixth release on The Sirens Records, Erwin Helfer Way, is an all instrumental celebration of boogie-woogie piano by one of Chicago’s masters of the keyboard.  Erwin’s musical mentors have included the legendary Sunnyland Slim, Pinetop Perkins, Speckled Red, and Jimmy “Papa” Yancey and his wife, Mama Yancey.  In fact, Erwin is considered by many to be one of the last remaining links to the Yancey family and its Chicago blues traditions. Erwin’s catalogue on the Highland Park-based label includes the 2003 W.C. Handy-nominated solo release I’m Not Hungry But I Like To Eat - Blues!, and many of his guests over the years represent a “who’s who” of Chicago blues piano, including Willie Mabon, Blind John Davis and Detroit Junior.  The new CD continues a career that has spanned four decades in Chicago blues, and Erwin Helfer Way includes new interpretations of songs from the great American blues songbook through the hands of an artist who has played with giants who have shaped blues history.

While two of my favorite cuts from Erwin Helfer Way are the classic “Chicken Shack” and “Sweet Georgia Brown,” I especially enjoyed “E & C Boogie” where Erwin Helfer and long-time collaborator and Sirens labelmate Barrelhouse Chuck join forces on keyboards.  In addition Barrelhouse Chuck, Erwin’s ensemble on this CD includes a line-up of accomplished local sidemen.  He’s got Chaka Khan’s John Brumbach, Blues Brother Band vet Lou Marini, Junior Wells alum Skinny Williams on saxophones, and William “Bugs” Cochran, from Yoko Noge’s Japanesque (arguably one of Chicago’s most diverse blues experiences) on drums.  For me, the CD is a joy to experience from start to finish, but I’m biased. I’m partial to old-school Chicago blues piano, and I particularly enjoy “Take My Hand Precious Lord,” “The Fives,” and “The Preacher.” 

Last summer, the Jazz Institute of Chicago celebrated Erwin’s 76^th birthday during its Made in Chicago concert series at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park with "Erwin Helfer: A Life in Boogie and Blues";  a short YouTube video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvhfTauSmUc) captures Erwin performing a commissioned composition for the first time.

It’s no accident that the title of the CD and the cover graphic look like an official City of Chicago street sign.  In 2006, the city renamed part of Magnolia Street “Erwin Helfer Way” in recognition of his contributions to Chicago’s music community as a teacher, mentor and performer.

When he’s not traveling and teaching piano workshops all over the country, Erwin will return to host his weekly gig at Katerina’s on West Irving Park Road in Chicago with fellow Sirens recording artist Katherine Davis and long-time Chicago Boogie Ensemble member John Brumbach.

Erwin Helfer Way is a must for fans of boogie-woogie blues piano.

Eric Steiner is president of the Washington Blues Society in Seattle, Washington, and a member of the Board of Directors of The Blues Foundation in Memphis, Tennessee.