Chicago record label The Sirens, led by Steven B. Dolins, specializes in only releasing albums by blues, boogie woogie, jazz and gospel piano players, with the only exception of some great jazz, blues and gospel singers. Its catalogue includes a good number of the most genuine blues piano players like Blind John Davis, Erwin Helfer, Detroit Junior, Willie Mabon, Pinetop Perkins, Speckled Red, Sunnyland Slim or the late and always remembered Barrelhouse Chuck.

Barrelhouse Chuck travelled to Barcelona for the first time thanks to Vicente Zúmel, where he met Lluis Coloma. During that visit a good friendship arose between them. Lluis traveled to Chicago and, at Chuck’s home, he met Erwin Helfer. The three musicians shared their passion for blues and piano, spending a good time talking and explaining many anecdotes memories and experiences. Zúmel also introduced Coloma to Steven B. Dolins, and afterwards Lluis collaborated on a Barrelhouse Chuck album for the label.

Now Lluis and Erwin have released this instrumental album for The Sirens Records, with fourteen songs where Lluis is on piano in all songs and Erwin joins him in ten cuts. Besides some blues and boogie-woogie standards together with his own compositions, Lluis also plays three Helfer’s own songs, “Paris”, “Sneaky Pete” and “Stella” and he does it with a total respect for this great piano player who, aged now 88, is fully active and has even travelled several times to Spain to perform with Lluis.

This is an album by two great piano masters, both gifted with an unquestionable technique and love for blues and boogie-woogie, where they also pay homage to the great piano player and really nice person called Barrelhouse Chuck.