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.

Lurrie Bell returns with a new CD he's telling people is his best. It showcases all the passion, depth, rawness and uniqueness that keeps Lurrie at the top of many Real Deal Chicago Blues lists. His ace working band and frequent collaborator Matthew Skoller (on harp) provide the drive and the safety net while Lurrie walks the tightrope vocally and instrumentally. Motivated by his 2013 Blues Music Award for "Song Of The Year" for the title track from Blues In My Soul (Delmark 830), Lurrie had a hand in writing five of the thirteen tracks. "Driftin'", "One Eyed Woman", "Hold Me Tight", "Sinner's Prayer", "Do You Hear", "Born With The Blues", "Hidden Charms" and more.

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.