W. "Mad Dog" Lester Davenport & others. 1991.

1958

Pianist Wally Rose was the original piano player in Lu Watters Yerba Buena Jazz Band, the band that started the Traditional Jazz revival of the 1940s and '50s. He also played with Bob Scobey in 1950-51, Turk Murphy in 1952-54 and spent many years as soloist in San Francisco. In 1953 Rose recorded two influential solo LPs: Ragtime Classics and Ragtime Piano Masterpieces. Rose remained active throughout the '70s and '80s. Whippin' the Keys was recorded at two sessions in 1968 and 1971. The twenty solo ragtime selections were originally issued on two Blackbird LPs (Rose on Piano, Blackbird 12007 and Whippin' the Keys, Blackbird 12010). They are reissued here for the first time.

An inspired soulfulness dominates the four extended compositions that make up this album, the second Delmark release by saxophonist Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble. Recorded in Chicago in August of 2002, "Capetown Shuffle" celebrates numerous facets of the African American experience, from the gritty blues and AACM adventurousness of South Side Chicago, to joyful New Orleans marches, to the ancient ancestral grooves of South Africa. It was a special challenge to perform live all new compositions never played before an audience. The awesome results show why NHE shows are unique and flow unlike any other band.

On this, his second album as leader, Ken's piano, vocal & writing talents are showcased in a larger ensemble than on his successful debut, "Foolish Man". Joined on many cuts by a five piece band, Ken's music is reminiscent of some of his best work with the eclectic roots band Big Shoulders. Continuing to draw from the deep well of American music styles, he once again provides a musical mix that, while broad in scope, never strays too far from his roots in the blues. Trust this: this album is blues brawn with a brain!

Tenor sax player's 1959 session features the very first recording of Grant Green & young Elvin Jones on drums, also Harold Mabern-piano, Gene Ramey-bass.

Previously unissued 1983 concert by one of the most soulful blues artists w. Lucky Peterson's All-Stars.

Kevin O'Donnell, Drums; Andrew Bird, violin, vocals; Chris Greene, alto and soprano sax; Josh Bell, tenor sax; Colin Bunn, guitar; Josh Hirsch, bass.

This group has been about 2 horns & a drum for twenty years - over the years, drummer Kahil El'Zabar has stretched the boundaries of the band's sound, using trombone, African thumb piano, sax, guitar & other instruments; the music itself reflects African & African-American traditions with dance.

During her 25 years as a professional blues singer, Big Time Sarah has built a solid reputation worldwide with regular tours in the U.S. and abroad. She started sitting in during the late 1960's with Louis & Dave Myers, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Magic Slim. This album features five new songs Sarah collaborated on with songwriter William Bolden & arranger/guitarist Rico McFarland. Although more than capable of wringing the last drop of soul out of a slow burner, most of Sarah's music is about having a big, good time, and she delivers it with gusto.

Slim is joined by His House Rockers, feat. Matt "Guitar" Murphy, feat. 2 instrumentals, 3 songs not available since the 78s & 4 never before released alternate takes.

It's Wolf and Waits, Louie and Leonard (Cohen, that is). It's thumping bass that could be behind Charlie Feathers or J.B. Lenoir. It's a trap set from a burlesque theater and it's the kid who wanted to sound like Beiderbecke. It's Route 66 taking you West and Old Route One bringing you up the California coast and home... and it's literate. But not literate enough to get in the way of a good time. Here, Morey (on vocals, harmonica and guitar) presents 19 originals recorded in June of 2002, joined by Joe "Tubb" Faria, Scott Pittman and guest Rick "Cookin'" Sherry on harmonica and clarinet.

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.

With grace, style, deftness & a knock-out punch, O'Donnell's band defies pigeonholing in a field of swingsters, hipsters & oldsters; they meld hot jazz, jump blues, early rock & swing into one cool package, feat. violinist Andrew Bird, who appeared on the Squirrel Nut Zippers album.

One of the hottest guitar slingers in Chicago, Coleman hits with his debut American release; in 1979, at the age of 23, he joined James Cotton's band & stayed with him for seven years - since then he's worked with Eddy Clearwater & Syl Johnson, and has had several European albums; the songs on this CD reflect his varied influences, from Junior Wells to Isaac Hayes to Jimi Hendrix.