Week 32
Various Artists, Heavy Timbre: Chicago Boogie Piano
(The Sirens 5002)

Chicago has a long tradition of blues and boogie pianists, from Pinetop Smith, Jimmy Yancey, and Cripple Clarence Lofton to Albert Ammons and Meade "Lux" Lewis to Sunnyland Slim and Otis Spann. In 1976, Heavy Timbre gathered five of Chicago's finest piano players for an informal “studio party”: Blind John Davis, Sunnyland Slim, Willie Mabon, Jimmy Walker, and Erwin Helfer spurred each other on to record some of the best ever boogie-woogie and blues piano on vinyl, now available on CD.

Blind John Davis recorded many classic tracks for Bluebird in the 1930s and ‘40s; his playing on this record is confident and his vocals are clear and moving. Sunnyland Slim was a patriarch in the Chicago blues community, even facilitating Muddy Waters connection with Chess Records. This album includes a great solo version of his hit, "She's Got A Thing Going On" and he pays tribute to Yancey on "Canadian Walk". It's refreshing to hear solo versions of Willie Mabon's R&B hits from the 1950s; he pays tribute to Cripple Clarence Lofton on "I Don't Know". Jimmy Walker's playing is raw and rhythmic; his slow boogie bass and humming are his trademark. Helfer provides some innovative, soulful licks and brings new life to Lofton's "The Fives".

As David Whiteis wrote in the May/June 2002 issue of Living Blues, "This reissue is both an important historical document and a listeners' delight ... Rollicking fun, soulful intimacy, celebration of life-it doesn't get more real than this." The CD reissue also contains bonus tracks, including a Sunnyland and Davis duet, and relaxed banter between the pianists. The result is an enthralling document of the art of Chicago boogie-woogie and blues piano.

Listen: Willie Mabon - "World of Trouble"
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