Customer Reviews

St. James Infirmary

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Duo recordings in jazz and blues can be many things, but these by Helfer and Williams are excellent. There is excitement, intensity, heated soul, smokey ruminations, and a relaxed, 3AM quality to the performances. The playing has an intelligence and elegance that glows in the dark like a smoke ring; and hangs in the air like Man Ray's depiction of Lee Miller's lips.
Skinny is a marvelous, 'modern' tenor sax player, who reminds me of David "Fathead" Newman, and Pee Wee Ellis. He has his own tone and voice; clearly he likes and knows blues and hard bop, while at the same time, his silvery tone and pull-up phrasing reveals knowledge of what used to be called "soul saxophone": like "Fathead" with Ray Charles, or Pee Wee with James Brown.
Erwin, a hidden asset to Chicago's music scene, brings his vast knowledge of piano styles to the table on every tune, both as accompanist and solist. When Skinny solos, Erwin not only plays behind him with agility and verve, he plays with a level of anticipation and intuition that almosts amounts to mind reading. And not once does he ever impede Skinny's solos. In fact, he enhances every one. And when it is his turn to solo, rather than show off, he picks a simple theme or aspect of the tune and lays it out beautifully, giving it his own rhythmic take and always adding his unique blend of harmonization and personal voicings. And when it comes to interesting or unusual voicings, Mr Helfer's take will always be unpredictable and non pareil.
The Repertoire they cover is an extension of the great American Three B's traditon: blues, barrelhouse and boogie-woogie; to which they add jazz standards, old pop tunes and a modern blues classic, "Please Send Me Someone To Love". The recording quality, like all releases on The Sirens label, is top quality.

Some musicians just don't bother to pigeonhole their music as 'jazz' or 'blues' or whatever...They just play, and try to put their message across...This is such a record, with a relaxing, soothing blend of vintage jazz and blues...Perfect for a long, smooth drink of whisky...and maybe even a cigar...Health freaks, please excuse my lowdown wicked ways.

The album cover is true - you feel like Skinny and Erwin are playing a club date in your home. I have been to New Orleans 4 times and never heard anything this good! These guys are going far - if you like jazz and blues (and you wouldn't be here if you didn't) you really need to buy this CD.