Dr. Helander
Traffic Jam In The Backstreet
This album by the blues power trio Dr. Helander & Third Ward consists entirely of original material. The album is the bands second, but the achievements of the members are massive. Dr. Helander (Ilkka Helander) is one of the most respected guitarists and songwriters in the Nordic blues, Esa Kuloniemi, playing bass and slide guitar parts on this album, is a founding member of the renowned band Honey B & T-Bones, whereas Leevi Leppnen has acted as drummer on countless albums in different music styles. On the present album, the trio exhibits its progress to a tight and seamless level of playing with excellent blues material that is both original and respectful of the traditions of the genre. Helander and Kuloniemi are at the center of the guitar-driven material, with Helander in charge of vocal parts, but the soloist input and sound world are complemented by Tomi Leino with his world-class harmonica playing, Panu Syrjanen's saxophone arrangements and Timo Pratskin's organ. Reflecting the time of pandemic, the final song on the album is Prime Minister, a special song inspired by the corona crisis and performed in the soundscape of modern electric delta blues.