Erwin Helfer - Last Call (2016)

Tracklist

01. Make Me a Pallet on the Floor
02. Dc Boogie
03. St. James Infirmary
04. St. Louis Blues (feat. Ardella Williams & John Brumbach)
05. Pennies from Heaven
06. Bright Lights, Big City (feat. Katherine Davis & John Brumbach)
07. I Almost Lost My Mind
08. Rocky Mountain Blues (feat. Ardella Williams & John Brumbach)
09. The Fives
10. Four O' Clock Blues
11. Operator Blues (feat. Estelle Mama Yancey)
12. Trouble in Mind (feat. Mama Yancey)
13. Make Me a Pallet on the Floor (Live) [feat. Estelle Mama Yancey, Odie Payne Jr & Truck Parham]
14. A Conversation with Erwin

As these new recordings prove, Helfer’s octogenarian status has not slowed him down a bit; he’s still tickling the ivories with the same verve that he’s done so throughout his career. On one track, Helfer is joined by his two longtime collaborators, tenor sax player John Brumbach and vocalist Katherine Davis. This disc also marks the debut of vocalist Ardella Williams. We have included three historical, never released before, recordings by Erwin: two 1957 recordings by Estelle “Mama” Yancey with Erwin’s accompaniment and a 1979 live recording with Mama, Erwin, Odie Payne Jr., and Truck Parham. Like all of the great Chicago pianists before him, Erwin learned directly from the masters but developed his own, distinctive, lyrical style; on this disc you can hear his evolution from the 1950’s through the 1970’s to today.

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