DR. HELANDER & THIRD WARD
MEAT GRINDIN' BUSINESS

Ilkka Helander, having experienced an awakening to the blues during the late 1960s, is a pioneer of Finnish blues music, a guitarist-singer who has received great praise from numerous gigs and recordings. The other members of the Dr. Helander & Third Ward trio, Esa Kuloniemi and Leevi Leppänen, are also among the most prestigious musicians in their country. Kuloniemi, mainly playing bass but also guitar on "Meat Grindin' Business", has made a long and remarkable career as guitarist, most notably in Honey B & T-Bones, and also as radio journalist. During his 30-year career, Leevi Leppänen has played thousands of gigs in various ensembles and influenced drummers through his textbooks and drum clinics. This group possesses a broad and deep blues experience; the members have released dozens of albums recognized for their quality.
The sound of Dr. Helander's previous album, the acoustic "Country Boy", has been replaced by tight electric band playing. The song material consists mainly of new, original tunes, but includes, for example, a mighty version of Lightnin' Hopkins' song "Death Bells". The inspiration for the name of the trio was also derived from Hopkins, who lived and worked in Houston's Third Ward district. The album gained additional blues power by the participation of the domestic and international top level harmonica players, Little Willie Mehto and Charlie Musselwhite.