This album is the product of a friendship that developed more than three decades ago between two men who, although they grew up near the same Mississippi Delta town of Tchula, never met until they began living in Chicago. Harmonica/vocalist Lester Davenport and guitarist/producer Jimmy Dawkins are united here professionally after years of running around the city's West Side. Lester's vibrant, rocking CD with 12 original tracks is a magical place where blues giants like Jimmy Dawkins, Bob Stroger, Detroit Jr.. - and the "Mad Dog" himself - still roam.

Soulful Chicago vocalist and guitarist Byther Smith is a fighter, a scrapper, a hard worker and a survivor. As a child in Monticello, Mississippi he lost both his parents; his mother when he was one year old and his father six months later. Smitty came to Chicago in the mid-'50s and by the early '60s was playing at Theresa's Lounge, where he backed Junior Wells. He also worked with Big Mama Thornton, George "Harmonica" Smith and Otis Rush. He recorded his first LP for the Grits label in 1983, two for Bullseye in the early '90s, and this is his fourth Delmark CD and his first live album. On this recording you will hear Byther in his natural element, raw, alive and completely real.

The follow up to Hoodoo Man Blues (DMK 612), this classic Chicago blues album is now re-issued in an expanded digipak, "Deluxe Edition" containing unissued performances and a 16-page booklet with many never-before-seen photos. The Godfather of Blues, Junior Wells is accompanied by Buddy Guy and Louis Myers, guitar; Otis Spann, piano; Earnest Johnson, bass; Fred Below, drums. Recorded December 30, 1969 and January 8, 1970 the five extra performances include "Rock Me Baby", an alternate take of "I Could Have Had Religion", "Junior's In Charge" a eight-minute improvisational studio jam with lots of Otis Spann and more, 73 minutes. With new notes by producer Bob Koester. A must have for blues lovers.

The best musicians transcend styles and techniques. They deliver their hearts and souls, connecting on a primal level, one on one with each and every listener. Karen Carroll is just such an artist and one of the most universal artists to come on the scene since Nina Simone. Within one line she can lay down the grit of Howlin' Wolf stroked by the sass of Sarah Vaughan.

13 orig. Parkway, Regal, Herald & J.O.B. recording 1943-66.

Formed in 1990 by saxophonists Pat Mallinger and Cameron Pfiffner, Sabertooth explores a variety of musical genres in the quartet format of two saxophones, drums (Ted Sirota) and organ (Pete Benson). The band's repertoire includes many original compositions; some inspired from various ethnic origins. In addition, the band often performs standards and jazz classics. Sabertooth continues an extended residency at one of Chicago's premier jazz clubs, the famous Green Mill Lounge. The band has been playing to capacity audiences every Saturday evening for ten years. This energy is represented on Live at the Green Mill, recorded June 23, 2007.

SUNSET CAFE STOMP - LIVE

Solo piano/vocal from 1966.

Legendary Tennessee blues poet toured Europe in 1964 - these are the studio recordings he made while in Copenhagen & London, feat. Hammie Nixon on harmonica & jug.

Chicago tenor sax legend Anderson performs with Hamid Drake and Harrison Bankhead.

AACM saxophonist, composer and bandleader Ernest Dawkins brought his NHE into the Velvet Lounge on July 14, 2005 for this live DVD knowing it would be one of the groups' last performances at the historic 'old' Velvet Lounge.

Blues/barrelhouse/boogie piano player's mid-1950's recordings, also inc. 2 live tracks, an interview segment & never before released tracks, 60 min. Total.

Sizzling collaboration of this veteran Chicago vocalist w. Dave Specter and the Bluebirds.

Not just the best live Otis Rush album, but one of his best albums, period. His big vibrato (on both his voice and guitar) shakes up the rapt Tokyo crowd in '75 as he digs into I Can't Quit You Baby; Mean Old World; So Many Roads, So Many Trains; Chitlins Con Carne; Three Times a Fool; All Your Love (I Miss Loving), and more!

Trumpeter Billy Butterfield could play pretty ballads and heated Traditional Jazz with equal skill. Butterfield's career goes back to the 30s; he became famous while playing with Bob Crosby's Orchestra (37-40) taking the main solo on the original "What's New". He also worked with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, World's Greatest Jazz Band and had his own big band. Butterfield did extensive studio work in the 50s and 60s, occasionally emerging for trad dates with Eddie Condon and this exciting live album with Andy Bartha's band. Take Me to the Land of Jazz is 68 minutes of pure joy.