Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Strings (BES), rides at the forefront of jazz, new music and creative improvisation. Mitchell's "rough and edgy" aesthetic rebels from the flowery sweet flute and string stereotype the runs rampant in jazz, which makes Renegades an appropriate title for the project. On Renegades, Mitchell's compositions bring African rhythms, contemporary sounds and swinging improvisation to a chamber music setting. Mitchell's BES concept started in 1997, but this is the group's first commercial recording. The CD features Nicole Mitchell - flute, alto flute, piccolo, Renee Baker - violin, viola, Tomeka Reid - cello, Joshua Abrams - bass, gimbre and Shirazette Tinnin - drums and percussion.

Sun Rooms is Jason Adasiewicz's three year old trio featuring Jason (vibraphone), Mike Reed (drums) and Nate McBride (bass). Their debut record Sun Rooms (DMK 593) was named by the New York Times (Ben Ratliff) as one of the Top 10 Pop and Jazz Records of 2010. Spacer was written in the winter of 2011 and slowly shaped through a month long residency at a north side Chicago bar, the Whistler. Engineered by Griffin Rodriguez, Spacer documents 8 new tunes by Adasiewicz, one from McBride, and one from Dutch cornetist Eric Boeren.

Ari carries on the Chicago tenor sax and the AACM traditions. He melds them into his own voice and no matter how far out he takes the music, it still remains accessible and enjoyable.

Sun Ra's second album was a Delmark release recorded in 1957, although it was originally intended for the Transition label, which did not survive long enough to release it. Personnel: Sun Ra, piano, electric piano; Art Hoyle & Dave Young, trumpets; John Gilmore, tenor sax; Pat Patrick, alto & baritone sax; Jim Herndon, tympani, timbali; Julian Priester, trombone; Charles Davis, baritone sax; Victor Sproles, bass; William Cochran, drums; Clyde Williams, vocals. (Previously deleted:4/1/02. Original release date:1/3/98)

In February 1957, Bob Koester wrote in his newsletter, the Jazz Report, that recent rediscoveries of legendary artists Big Joe Williams and Speckled Red gave information on other forgotten musicians from the 1920s. Koester was told that Paramount and Decca recording artist Barrelhouse Buck McFarland was still around St Louis and he passed that info along to Charlie O'Brien, a fellow member of the St Louis Jazz Club and a St Louis policeman. Buck, the aged entertainer, rugged barrelhouse pianist and marvelous blues singer enjoyed the new interest in his work. Henry Brown, and especially Speckled Red, created new careers and Buck might have as well, but he passed just 8 months after this 1961 recording.

Pianist-composer Paul Giallorenzo (GitGO, Hearts & Minds) assembles a new trio for his second Delmark release. Covering wide terrain, from energetic swing to bluesy soulfulness to sonic exploration, these original compositions further Giallorenzo's exploration of improvising within and without melodic, rhythmic, and formal structures. The music is deeply embedded in the tradition with a sound and feeling that is personal and contemporary. In a review of Giallorenzo's first Delmark release, Force Majeure (DMK 5015), the Chicago Reader praised it for it's "melodic and harmonic depth", "rich polyphonic arrangements" and "dam-bursting energy and woolly extended techniques."

Earl Hines moved to Chicago in 1926 at the age of 21 and began his association with Louis Armstrong, with whom he recorded. Hines is recognized as a major innovator in the development of jazz piano, and he was also a major band leader performing at, and broadcasting from, the Grand Terrace Ballroom in Chicago from 1928-43. He moved to the S.F. Bay Area in 1956 & lived there until he passed in 1983. This live sextet performance was recorded May 13, 1970 in San Francisco.

Tenor saxophonist Halliday, who was a true veteran of the Hollywood, New York, Nashville & Chicago jazz scenes, passed away in early 1999, but this 1988 session reminds US of his artistry, joined by pianist Jodie Christian, bassist Dennis Carroll & drummer Tom Kronquist.

Music, unlike anything else, has the power to reverse the effects of time, and Breezy Rodio is an expert in that field! His Style of traditional blues ranges from 1940's to today's funky progressive version. Any listener would be hard pressed to find a better catalog of blues songs of various styles. Breezy Rodio is an excellent singer and songwriter but most of all he is a guitar virtuoso. Killer stuff!

ALLEGHENY JAZZ QUARTER

It's almost 50 years since blues harp master Carey Bell released his debut album on Delmark Records. Carey's children followed him into blues and performed with him often while growing up. Lurrie's debut recording was with Carey appearing on Heartaches And Pain (DMK 666) and he joined with pops again in 2006 to record a live album / DVD, Gettin' Up (DMK 791/DVD 1791) only one year before Carey passed away. Now Lurrie, Steve, Tyson and James Bell join forces as The Bell Dynasty to present this tribute to their dad, Carey Bell. The Bell Dynasty is joined by special guests Charlie Musselwhite and Billy Branch.

Delmark Records were motivated to record this, their very first "jazz vocals" album after hearing Francine's outstanding singing talents - she has performed w. Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis & many others.

Jazz veteran presents a nice balance of original compositions & covers, joined by sax master Eric Alexander, Steve Davis, Harold Mabern, John Webber & Joe Farnsworth.

Kahil El'Zabar, drums, earth drums, kalimba; Corey Wilkes, trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion; Ernest Dawkins, alto and tenor saxophone, percussion; Fareed Haque, electric and acoustic guitar. In a Down Beat review of their previous Delmark album, Freedom Jazz Dance (517) Paul de Barros wrote "The forms being advanced here-or at least merged in a creative, new way are African-American syncopation (Funk, Jazz) and the vertically integrated multiple parts of African drum ensemble music." DVD also contains audio interview special feature. NTSC all region.

A review of Linsey Alexander's previous album Come Back Baby (DMK 838) in Living Blues magazine called it "a can't-miss release for any lover of no-nonsense Chicago blues". The "Hoochie Man" is back with all original material including the new smash Two Cats! "My woman got two cats, one in the front, the other in the back!" From the searing "Where Did You Take Your Clothes Off Last Night" to the tender "Til I Kissed You", from the comedic "Facebook Woman" to the political "Comb Over Blues" Linsey weaves his colorful stories throughout this album of blues, soul, R&B and funk. It's great fun and serious music at the same time. 'Cause the blues don't mess around and neither does Linsey.

This band explores the boundaries between composition and improvisation. Keefe Jackson, saxophonist and principal composer, formed the Chicago group in 2003. Fast Citizens held a residency at Chicago's famous club the Hideout, where the group developed a formidable cohesiveness. Their music has broadened, even redefined the idea of a "cooperative" band. The group includes saxophonist Aram Shelton and cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, who also composes for the group, and cornet player Josh Berman, drummer Frank Rosaly and bassist Anton Hatwich. Berman, Jackson, and Rosaly are also members of the Chicago Luzern Exchange. "... Jackson's marbled tone expresses a lovely lyricism no matter how brusque or serrated his lines get." - Chicago Reader in 2004.

Sometimes The Blues Got Me is Breezy Rodio's debut album for Delmark Records. A review of Breezy's self-produced 2015 release So Close To It said "Breezy Rodio absolutely smokes through this highly enjoyable mix of originals and covers. He has it all; the voice, the guitar chops, the great players, and you can tell he FEELS the blues, and that is the most important facet" - Music Morsels. While Living Blues described Breezy as "an artist who deserves to be on the radar of all blues fans." Breezy Rodio was in Linsey Alexander's band for 8 years and appears on all 3 of Linsey's Delmark releases.

2022 Release. The album presents seven original songs by Jose Ramirez and two classic tunes by masters of Chicago Blues, Magic Sam and Eddie Taylor.

Cowboy Roy Brown was born in Arkansas on April 20, 1875, the son of a preacher. He and his sister learned to play guitar from their father who they accompanied when he played violin in church. In his twenties, Roy visited St Louis during the 1904 World's Fair and later moved to Kansas City, then Marion, Illinois and then drifted to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Deadwood, South Dakota. Roy eventually returned to St Louis where he was a street singer performing with his guitar and catalog of blues, folk and cowboy tunes. Roy and his band - a guitar named "Baby" and a kazoo named "Leon" - performed cowboy standards and popular tunes. All of which can be heard here on this collection of previously unissued mid-'50s recordings.

Very much in the vein of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers or Coltrane's band on the legendary Blue Train album, Bakerzmillion is Chicago's hard bop ensemble par excellence. It's six members are a true dream team of talented and seasoned jazzmen. The band's longevity, over fifteen years already, contributes to the solid and balanced sound of the ensemble. Playing original tunes composed by the co-leaders the ensemble brings a breeze of fresh air to these mainstream sonorities. Recorded February 2018 by Robert Vallone, Produced by Andy Baker, Mixed & Mastered by Fred Breitberg, Photo and notes by Michael Jackson.

Professor Eddie Lusk mastered the keyboards while still in his teens at his father's south side church. That enduring spiritual base remained at the heart of the Professor's blues until his tragic 1992 passing at the age of 43. While he played with numerous blues and soul greats (Junior Wells, Z.Z. Hill, Luther Allison, Koko Taylor, Syl Johnson, the Soul Stirrers), Professor Strut was his only American release under his own leadership. (Previously deleted:6/1/05. Original release date:8/16/93)"Makes US see, even feel, the passion, joy and intensity of the blues. It is these uninhibited images that the unique vitality of the Chicago blues world shines through". - Rolling Stone.

COLLECTION OF FRED ASTAIRE

Little Arthur is a powerful blues singer & harmonica player who pounds away at you with his voice, reminiscent of the heavy, unpolished blues singers like Floyd Jones - at 65, he's part of the second generation of Chicago bluesmen, just behind Muddy, Wolf, Sonny Boy #2 & Elmore James.

Alabama barrelhouse blues pianist Robert McCoy, born in Aliceville in 1908, had two rare LPs in the early '60's on the Vulcan label. Delmark has acquired the masters & is now re-issuing the material on CD for the first time with many never before released tracks. These were his first recordings as leader although he recorded in the '30's with Guitar Slim, "Jaybird" Coleman & Peanut the Kidnapper. The San Francisco Examiner says: "Stomping piano solos & blues vocals played with vitality & authority. McCoy sets a happy & boozy pre-depression mood that is fun to share with him".

PIANO SOLOS 1