Uptown: The Fat Babies' fourth album on the Delmark Records label, features the new, expanded, 8-piece version of the the band. The music is a mix of original music written by members of the band, and classic jazz tunes by artists like King Oliver, Tiny Parham, The New Orleans Rhythm Kings, Andy Kirk and Eubie Blake. If you enjoy listening or dancing to music from the classic jazz era (20s/30s), but done with a very real and youthful spirit, this is the disc for you.
United Records was the first successful black-owned record company. Operated by Leonard Allen, tailor, retired policeman and obviously one of exceptionally wide taste in music, the 2 labels (United and States) issued some of the best performances in the jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, Doo Wop, even country between 1951 & '57. Delmark is proud to release this important body of masters including many previously unissued, recorded in studios which pioneered high fidelity recording in the '50s. The United Records Story features many obscure & rare tracks: alternate takes by Jr Wells, Roosevelt Sykes, Jimmy Forrest; rarities by Leo Parker, Grant Jones, Tiny Grimes, The Pastels, Johnny Wicks; and more. 22 tracks(Previously deleted:1/1/11. Original release date:7/20/04)
Jazz clarinetist Armin Von Der Heydt passed on February 19, 2013 at age 88. He was a familiar face on the Chicago scene, coached by & playing in a style reminiscent of Darnell Howard. The Classic Jazz Ensemble aims to play jazz of the 20s with the steam & sensitivity that characterized the work of the great originators. This 1991 date features 13 selections including "Once In A While", a song from the 20s, and another song of the same name from the 30s, hence the title Twice In A While. (Previously deleted:6/1/05. Original release date:9/18/93) "The joyous ensembles, excellent solos, and enthusiastic playing makes this a disc that is easily recommended to fans of Dixieland, New Orleans jazz, and early swing." * - Scott Yanow, allmusic
When Delmark signed Frank Catalano to record this 1997 session he was only 19 years old! In Louie Bellson's descriptive notes he said: "I can honestly say that I feel he is one of the greatest saxophonists on the planet!... Catalano will follow in the footsteps of the masters like Charlie Parker and John Coltrane and push the boundaries of jazz". with Ira Sullivan, flute, trumpet (two songs); Willie Pickens, piano; Brian Sandstorm, bass, Robert Shy or Rusty Jones, drums. (Previously deleted:7/1/05. Original release date:2/10/98)"Just listen to the blues-drenched slow drag of 'Willow Weep for Me', a marvel of emotional swagger and lucid improvisation. Cut It Out!?! is likely to be one of the better mainstream releases of the year". - Cadence.
2nd in the complete United Records sessions, with Tab Smith (alto & tenor saxophone, vocals); Louis Blackwell (vocals); Leon Washington, Charles Wright (tenor saxophone); Irving Woods, Sammy Cohn (trumpet); Lavern Dillon, Teddy Brannon (piano); Wilfred Middlebrooks (bass); Walter Johnson (drums); Lavern Dillon-piano.
Jazz alto saxophonist Tab Smith was the most prolific artist on United, recording nearly 100 sides during the label's seven year existence from 1951-57, including his smash hit "Because of You." of the 24 tracks on "Crazy Walk," 10 are previously unissued while most of the others have been unavailable since the original 78s or the extremely rare United LPs. This fourth and final installment of the complete United recordings by Tab is unique for it's use of the organ as the main keyboard accompaniment. Also available: "Jump Time" (DMK 447), "Ace High" (DMK 455) and "Top 'N' Bottom" (DMK 499).
Drummer Al Green played his first job with Willie Dixon in 1955. He has played with Eddie Harris, Wes Montgomery and Nancy Wilson. Co-leader, alto saxophonist Othello Anderson has played with Joe Diorio and at the Downbeat Jazz Festival. Other members are trumpeter Dr. Odies Williams III who appears on Delmark CDs with Jodie Christian, Ed Petersen and Cecil Payne. Bassist John Whitfield recorded on Delmark with Jodie Christian and Malachi Thompson. And pianist Leandro Lopez Varady has worked with Eldee Young and has toured extensively. This is straight ahead bebop in the style of Art Blakey or Max Roach/Clifford Brown groups.
Brimming with melodic insight and still able to raise the roof with his intensity, Anderson's sonic vocabulary is now completely his own. * Down Beat from the review of "On the Run, Live at the Velvet Lounge" (DMK #534). This second installment of live recordings made at Fred's own club feature the tenor saxophonist supported by the young, fiery trumpeter Maurice Brown making his first appearance on CD, as well as Chicago Underground's Jeff Parker on guitar and Chad Taylor on drums, and bassists Tatsu Aoki and Harrison Bankhead.
As an improvisor, Rob Mazurek has a knack for making the most unexpected change in a melody sound beautiful. On Silver Spines melodic cornet improvisations flow into densely layered sound constructions and abstract duets with engineer Casey Rice. Like his work in the Chicago Underground, Isotope 217 and various other solo projects, Silver Spines touches on jazz, minimalism and computer music, but finds it's spark in the space between. (Previously deleted:9/1/10. Original release date:8/27/02)
Paul Lingle began playing ragtime and jazz in his teens and was to continue until his death, Oct. 30, 1962. His piano training made him capable of playing classical music, but he preferred the music of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton and others of the ragtime-jazz persuasion. Lingle was an original member of the Yerba Buena Jazz Band and by the end of the '30s had become something of a legend on the West Coast. In 1953, Lingle recorded for Good Time Jazz who issued eight sides. Euphonic Records later issued three LPs of Lingle made up mostly from live recordings at the Jug Club in Oakland. Those rare LPs are long out of print, but here is the first CD featuring Paul Lingle, Live at the Jug Club.
This Robert Johnson disciple recorded a ton as a sideman but didn't make an album 'til he was 55. Here's that 1970 LP; his voice and guitar take you from Arkansas to Chicago and back as you hear Steady Rollin' Man; Mean Red Spider; Take a Walk with Me; Ramblin' on My Mind, and more blues mastery!
Sonny Stitt was well-known for the ability to play saxophone fast, with authority over the most difficult of chord progressions. Sonny recorded his first session as leader in 1946 for Savoy with Kenny Dorham, Bud Powell and Kenny Clarke. In 1950, he made the first of many recordings with Gene Ammons, an association that would last through three decades and produce what is probably his best known records, including "Boss Tenors" from 1961. "It's Magic," from 1969, is a wonderful reminder that Sonny Stitt could burn bebop (check out the marvelous rendition of "Four") and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up when he played a moving ballad (as on "Body And Soul"). with Don Patterson, organ and Billie James, drums.
As a young man in England, Norrie Cox led his own outfit, the San Jacinto Jazz Band, during the trad boom of the late '50s and early '60s. Cox moved to the U.S. in '66 but it wasn't until '89 that he, along with cornetist Charlie DeVore, put together their dream band, the New Orleans Stompers. With two Delmark CDs out already ("Dance Hall Days" (DMK #236) and "Move the Body Over" (DMK #231), the band is back for a live album with special guest Butch Thompson, master of ragtime, stride and classic jazz piano. Butch is also well-known for his 12-year stint as pianist and band leader on public radio's "A Prairie Home Companion".
This third installment of "United Doo Wops" features lots of uinissued songs and rare audition tapes with The Five C's, the Palms, the Earls, the Drakes, the Danderliers and others. The Five C's, of Gary, IN, had two 78s issued in 1954: "Tell Me"/"Whoo Wee Baby"(United 172) and "Goody Goody"/"My Heart's Got the Blues" (United 180). The remainder of this CD is seeing it's first official domestic release, all from the original master tapes. Also available: "Chop Chop Boom" (DMK 703) and "Bang Goes My Heart" (DMK 761).
Della Reese's first recordings, from June 30, 1953, were never issued by United. Jimmy Hamilton Orchestra (mostly from Duke Ellington's Orchestra) accompanies Della on "Yes Indeed, " "Blue And Orange Birds And Silver Bells" (both on a rare out-of-print LP), the unissued "There Will Never Be Another You, " plus an unissued alternate of the title track. Also featured are jazz vocals by Bixie Crawford, Terri Timmons, Betty Mays (with J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding), Helen Fox, Jewel Belle (with Chris Woods), Vanita Smythe, Rena Collins, Debbie Andrews and Helen Thompson. Contains many previously unissed performances.
