This album is a continuation of the Underground's ever-evolving sound that incorporates such disparate musical directions as post-bop, dub, free improvisation, electronic composition & world music, feat. members of avant-rock ensembles Tortoise & Isotope 217.

Simple blues poetry from the big & gentle man from Mississippi, featuring Ransom Knowling-bass, Edward El-guitar, Dave Meyers-bass, Lawrence "Judge" Riley-drums.

Saxophonists create a loose, spacious album w. a jam session feel to it w. Jodie Christian-piano, Dan Shapera-bass & Wilbur Campbell-drums.

Chicago tenor sax great Eddie Johnson passed away on April 7, 2010 at the age of 89. This 1999 session was recorded at the tail end of his last active period in a long professional career that went back to the 40's. Eddie led the Jazz Masters for six years at Alexander's Steakhouse on Chicago's south side so the band was ready for the date. With Chicago piano legend John Young, bassist Eddie de Haas and drummer George Hughes. Jazz Masters trumpeter Paul Serrano did not participate as musician but was the recording/mixing engineer. A wonderful straight-ahead jazz CD with ten songs including the Duke Ellington title track, "Gravy Waltz", "Eyes of Love", "My Buddy". (Previously deleted:7/1/07. Original release date:6/8/98)

BLUES ON HIGHWAY 49

Blues pianist's solo album from 1962 contains 2 alternate takes & descriptive notes by Bob Koester.

From 40th Anniversary Blues CD w. Johnny Burgin-gtr, Scott Dirkes-harmonica+ Feb. 1, 1994.

These 1963 sessions feature Sleepy John Estes, Big Joe Williams & Mike Bloomfield on guitar & Hammie Nixon on harmonica & jug - this was one of the 1st blues LP to feature mandolin, played by Rachell; 6 never before released cuts have been added to the original program.

This album's sound & style is similar to the route Mitchell chose on his "Hey Donald" album, mainly because he uses the same quartet, minus Malachi Favors, who was replaced by Reggie Workman; the remaining players are Jodie Christian & Albert Heath.

Guitarist fearlessly sets out on a new exploration of modern Chicago blues music on this inventive & creative effort - it's as good & honest a representation as you're likely to find of Lurrie's talents without having to pop into a Chicago blues club.

Percussionist Kahil El'Zabar writes the next chapter in his continuing study of the music that shaped the future of jazz.

Thompson's August 1999 engagement at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago was an unexpected gift - the 82-year-old pianist, a mainstay on New York's dynamic 52nd Street scene in the 1940s & '50s, hadn't appeared in Chicago since 1941 when he was a member of Lionel Hampton's first band; on this live recording, his trio contains tenor sax man Eric Schnieder & trumpeter Art Hoyle.

Wielding his courtly tenor, Von Freeman can define Chicago-tough or smooth romantic feathers in the manner of his early idol Lester Young - Petersen knows full well to expect the unexpected whenever he locks horns with Vonski.

Debut by Andrew Lamb-ts who lists among his influences Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Archie Shepp & Marion Brown, w. Warren Smith-vibes & percussion, Wilbur Morris-bass, Andrei-Strobert-drums.

Guitarist Bobby Broom has been playing professionally for more than 20 years. He's worked with Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Kenny Burrell, Charles Earland & Dr. John. This album recalls the urgent, smoking energy of George Benson circa 1966's "The Cookbook". Indeed, fire-breathing baritone sax ace Ronnie Cuber & Hammond B-3 marvel Dr. Lonnie Smith - key elements of that ferocious mid-'60s Benson quartet - are both aboard. Drummer Idris Muhammad brings along his own conversational, New Orleans flavored swing to elevate the proceedings.