I'm Not Hungry But I Like To Eat - Blues

Erwin Helfer | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 1, 2001)
• Original Release Date: December 1, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: The Sirens Records
• ASIN: B00005UO31
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,151 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Jazz > Jive Jazz

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Pianist Erwin Helfer has been rattling floorboards in the Windy City for decades, plying a tangy mix of blues, boogie-woogie, big-band-era standards, and originals inspired by friends and pet dogs. True to form, I'm Not Hungry but I Like to Eat--Blues! finds Helfer attacking the keys with all the barroom bluster of a Chicago legend, covering songs by Jelly Roll Morton ("Sweet Substitute"), Percy Mayfield ("Please Send Me Someone to Love"), and Duke Ellington, along with some traditionals and a handful of Helfer originals. Tenor sax man John Brumbach adds ballast to four tracks, but this is Helfer's show. And while the opening salvo of "Swanee River Boogie" might suggest this is strictly an old-timers' set, Helfer's playful interpretations and skilled tinkling are bound to find favor with anyone who digs piano music. --Kim Hughes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great News, January 4, 2002

By 

Ann Rabson (Hartwood, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I'm Not Hungry But I Like To Eat - Blues (Audio CD)

For ages I've complained bitterly to anyone who would listen about the lack of available recordings by the wonderful Chicago piano legend, Erwin Helfer. Now I want to let you know about the release of a wonderful new recording by him.

This CD is called "I'm Not Hungry But I Like to Eat Blues" which is the title of one of Erwin's five wonderful originals. Whenever I hear Erwin play his delightful composition "Pooch Piddle", I think,for some reason, how nifty it would sound played by a Mariachi band. Another original Stella, which is a tribute to Estella "Ma" Yancy, is a lovely duet with Saxophonist John Brumbach, whose soulful tender playing graces four tracks. Other than that the CD is ALL Mr. Helfer's delightful piano.

In addition to the originals, Erwin covers a variety of tunes. He starts with his take on the rollicking Pete Johnson classic Swanee River Boogie. He makes Percy Mayfield's "Please Send Me Someone to Love" sound far more traditional then I could have imagined. Another high point for me is Erwin's take on "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans". I never thought much about that tune 'till I heard the Helfer version. It's so wistful. It feels like missing something lovely, lost and far away.

I could go one and on. There are no duds here. There are fifteen numbers in all and each one is a gem. The recording quality is really excellent. The piano sound is very real. I know nothing about recording sound but I hear the clarity, warmth and depth and I love the way the empty spots "sound" like in the tunes Dirty Dozens and See See Rider which have lots of sonic space. I may not be expressing this real well but listen and you'll see what I mean.

I would highly recommend this CD to anyone who enjoys blues and/or traditional jazz piano, or anyone who doesn't know they do.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the king of piano, January 3, 2002

By 

marc schneider (chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm Not Hungry But I Like To Eat - Blues (Audio CD)

this disk is a treat to the ears. i bought 5 copies for christmas presents. i listen to it everyday. it's a piano, with some saxaphone instramental. both are top notch,they compliment each other well. it's the perfect piano lover's disc. i only wish it was longer!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Pianist!, March 28, 2002

By 

deepbluereview "deepbluereview" (SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: I'm Not Hungry But I Like To Eat - Blues (Audio CD)

Erwin Helfer is a 66 year old pianist from Chicago with a sizeable following. On this all instrumental disc, Helfer plays a somewhat mellow and restrained Boogie Woogie style blues. Hefler mainly plays solo on the disc although he is accompanied by able saxophonist John Brumbach on the tunes "Sweet Substitute", "The Sheik of Araby", "Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out" and "Stella". There is nothing new on the CD although, Helfer's performance is pretty good and his mastery of the ivory cannot be denied. This CD is mainly good for those quite times, when relaxing or having a late night meal with that special someone. Jazz has it's "smooth" jazz, so why not a little "smooth" blues.