Release date: May 4, 2024
By Donna Herula
Photo / L to R: Jeff Parker (bass) Lluis Coloma, Erwin Helfer, John Brumbach (tenor sax), Steven B. Dolins and Katherine Davis (vocals)
Lluis Coloma and Erwin Helfer team up for some great boogie woogie blues piano on their latest release “Two Pianos Too Cool.” The album includes fourteen instrumental songs with a variety of boogie woogie, blues, gospel and standards such as, “St. James Infirmary,” Leroy Carr’s “How Long Blues,” Ray Charles’ “Rock House,” Hoagy Carmichael’s “Georgia,” “Swanee River Boogie,” a Hank Williams country boogie “Jambalaya” and three of Erwin’s originals – “Sneaky Pete,” “Stella” and “Paris,” just to name a few.
Two Pianos Too Cool was dedicated to the memory of Barrelhouse Chuck, a dear friend of both Erwin and Lluis. It was Chuck who introduced the Barcelona-born virtuoso to the Chicago blues master in 2010. Steven Dolins was the idea man for recording the two as a duet on his label, The Sirens Records – which is Erwin’s 11th on the label (7th as a leader) and Lluis’ 2nd (1st as a leader). On November 17, 2022, Steve Yates recorded Lluis and Erwin playing on two Fazioli Grand Pianos at Piano Forte in Chicago for this album.
I had the pleasure of talking to Erwin about working with Lluis on their album and he said that the experience was “very enjoyable. Llouis exudes great energy and presence.” He also went on to say that Lluis adapted well to his playing style as they played an “older style of music that has a common vocabulary.” “He’s a great guy and I really like him. I’ve always loved hanging around him. As a person, he’s a pleasure and he’s quite the showman. He could be a teacher of mine just as well as I can be a teacher of his. We’re just really good friends.”
On May 4, 2024, I attended “Celebrating Erwin Helfer” – a sold-out album release party for Two Pianos Too Cool at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. Although the 88-year-old Erwin did not perform that night as he has recently retired from public performance, he was honored in front of a happy and packed audience with words of praise from Steven Dolins and tributes from three musical acts.
The show began with the amazing gospel vocalist Reverend Scottie Williams, Sr. with Elsa Harris on church infused piano and back-up vocals, and their fantastic band that included Kenard Pulliam on drums, Richard Gibbs Jr. on bass, and Felicia Coleman-Evans and Armirris Collins on back-up vocals. The Reverend recently released a terrific album, Beams of Heaven: Gospel Hymns & Songs, also on The Sirens Records, which deserves its own glowing review. Next up was a solo set by the award-winning Lluis Coloma who showcased his strong and fast fingers and fun boogie grooves. The show ended with a great set from Erwin’s full band – John Brumbach on tenor saxophone, Jeff Parker on bass, Dave Ilardi on drums, Lluis on piano – and special guest singer and long-time musical partner of Erwin, Katherine Davis, singing a few songs including her wonderful original, “You Say You Love Me.”
Steven Dolins gave a fitting tribute to the Chicago Blues and Boogie Legend that night starting with a joke, “I always tell Erwin that he’s a genius, but he doesn’t believe me.” “He’s a brilliant performer. We’ve seen him through the years at Elsewhere’s and Lilly’s and Andy’s and Katerina’s and the Hungry Brain. Erwin provided so much fun for many of you who are here today.”
Steven went on, “He’s also a brilliant composer – my two favorites are ‘Daydreaming’ and ‘Paris’ – and he’s written quite a few other notable songs. He’s also a brilliant producer – in 1956 he was ahead of his time and recorded Primitive Piano with five under-recorded and underappreciated pianists and it’s really one of the best blues piano collections ever.”
Having been a piano student of Erwin myself, I particularly enjoyed what Steven said about Erwin as a piano teacher, “I started piano lessons with Erwin when I was 15 years old,” Steven said. “He has brought so much happiness to his students.” “Erwin is a brilliant piano teacher. He can listen to you and know exactly what to do to make corrections to your playing – kind of a therapist. He’s an all-around good guy.”
Notable former students of Erwin include the avant-garde Myra Melford (you can hear Erwin’s influence on the beginning of her song “Strawberries”) and Chicago’s Yoko Noge and Donny Nichilo (blues) and Ken Shiokawa and Cesar Pino (jazz) to name a few. His mentoring has influenced so many boogie and blues pianists including Queen Lee Kanehira from the Cash Box Kings.
I really enjoyed the album’s opening song “Sneaky Pete” – a blazing boogie that makes you want to get up and dance. This fun and lively song, also performed by Lluis live at the CD release party, was penned by Erwin and has a classic toe-tapping walking bass.
“Stella” – another one of Erwin’s originals – has sweet ascending melodies that Lluis and Erwin beautifully intertwine on the album adding blue notes that you can imagine a gospel singer singing. It makes you want to close your eyes and smile.
Other fun songs on “Two Pianos Too Cool” include “Jambalaya,” “St. James Infirmary,” “How Long Blues,” Erwin’s favorite “Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You,” two Albert Ammons/Pete Johnson songs “Cuttin’ the Boogie” and “Sixth Avenue Express,” and “Back at the Chicken Shack” (title track of Jimmy Smith’s album originally on organ that was listed as the 1001 albums you should hear before you die).
Erwin Helfer is a well-loved and internationally esteemed boogie blues and jazz pianist and composer from Chicago that has dedicated his life to teaching, touring and spreading boogie blues and standards for over 60 years. He’s received a lifetime achievement award from the Jazz Institute and even had a Chicago street named after him (Erwin Helfer Way). Thank goodness that Barrelhouse Chuck introduced Lluis to Erwin – two masters of the boogie piano – so that this beautifully played album could be made. By his self-report, “Two Pianos Too Cool” is Erwin’s last album, and it is a must have addition for blues and boogie piano lovers everywhere.
About the Author: Donna Herula is an award-winning blues singer, songwriter and guitarist from Chicago.
To buy/hear the music, visit: https://www.thesirensrecords.com/products/SR5032desc.html
Artist website: https://erwinhelfer.com/
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