AACM saxophonist, composer and bandleader Ernest Dawkins brought his NHE into the Velvet Lounge on July 14, 2005 for this live CD knowing it would be one of the groups' last performances at the historic "old" Velvet Lounge. The club is now closed (the last night was April 1, 2006), though the new location is supposed to be open in May. Trumpeter Maurice Brown has been gaining critical acclaim and popularity in the last two years, as he's been working with Dawkins whenever possible since relocating to New Orleans. For his return to Chicago for this gig, he's joined by Steve Berry on trombone, Darius Savage on bass and Isaiah Spencer on drums.

Internationally recognized Grana Louise has delighted countless music fans around the world with her outstanding blues performances. Her deep, rich voice belts out the kind of raw, gut blues that makes your spine tingle and heart ache. Grana performs at Chicago's hottest blues clubs including Blue Chicago, Buddy Guy's Legends, B.L.U.E.S and the Kingston Mines. Grana has rocked the house at the acclaimed Apollo Theater in New York and festivals from Detroit to Mexico, Reykjavik to the French Riviera and beyond. CD combines studio and live recordings, brand new original songs and covers that have been personalized to make them her own.

The rough and rowdy blues heard at Turner's Lounge was the inspiration for this explosive 1968 recording. Blues legend Sunnyland Slim guests with The Hawks on piano and organ. This Digipak Deluxe Edition contains the previously unissued song "I'll Cry Tomorrow", five alternate takes and a 16-page booklet with many never-before-seen photos from the recording sessions and Turner's. "The raw-as-an-open-wound Chicago slide guitarist J.B. Hutto outdid himself throughout an outrageously raucous album anchored by an impossible-to-ignore "Hip Shakin'", the blaring title cut, and savage renditions of "20% Alcohol" and "Notoriety Woman". " - Bill Dahl A.M.G.

Chris Woods made his first records in the early '50s but his most prolific period was around the time of this session. He had recorded three European albums as leader, and as sideman with Dizzy Gillespie, Ernie Wilkins, Clark Terry, Ted Curson and others. But a new album with American sidemen had to be done. A date was found amid Chris' busy bookings with Clark Terry, Ted Curson and Buddy Rich. Modus Operandi is a great example of the versatility of multi-instrumentalist Chris Woods.

2022 release. Demetria Taylor was born to sing the blues. The songs on Demetria Taylor: Doin' What I'm Supposed To Do are a balance of traditional blues and modern R & B, with some written by her family, some by fellow musicians Mike Wheeler and Larry Williams, one by the venerable Magic Sam, and two by Demetria herself. This second Delmark record is a strong follow up to her Delmark debut, Bad Girl, and also features the legendary Deitra Farr on one track.

The plural "kings" comes from the fact that this CD is divided between Alfred "Blues King" Harris and Big Walter. You'll hear Walter's first Chicago recordings under his own name ('54); he plays Hard-Hearted Woman; Back Home to Mama; Card Game; Remember Me, and more!

Willie "The Lion" Smith in the 1920s was considered one of the big three of stride piano, along with James P. Johnson and Fats Waller. He was an influence on the young Duke Ellington. Because he remained active into the early '70s, Willie "The Lion" Smith was considered a living link to the glory days of early jazz. A major if underrated pianist, Don Ewell started leading his own trios in Baltimore in the mid-'30s; played during the New Orleans jazz revival (starting in the mid-'40s) and was with Jack Teagarden during 1957-1964. Ewell moved to New Orleans, where he worked regularly during his last years. This 1966 date, recorded live at the Golden Nugget in Toronto, features solo performances by Smith, Ewell and duets by the two.

Jazz trumpeter Corey Wilkes burst on the Chicago jazz scene in 2002. This is his debut as a leader. Corey took on the ghost of Lester Bowie and filled the vacant seat in the Art Ensemble of Chicago. His soulful notes can be heard gracing a variety of projects such as DJ sets by Logic, Osunlade and Josh Deep; tracks on Hidden Beach's Unwrapped Vol. 4, also recorded with Roscoe Mitchell, Art Ensemble, Tortoise, Ernest Dawkins, Nicole Mitchell and Ethnic Heritage Ensemble's Hot 'N' Heavy (DMK DVD 1574, DMK CD 574). with Chelsea Baratz, tenor sax; Jabari Liu, alto sax; Robert "Baabe" Irving III, piano and Fender Rhodes; Junius Paul, bass; Jeremy "Bean" Clemmons, drums.

Dave Specter'S 30 YEAR MUSICAL JOURNEY ON DELMARK showcases the guitarist, songwriter and vocalist surrounded by a stellar lineup of special guests including: OTIS CLAY, JIMMY JOHNSON, RONNIE EARL, LURRIE BELL, BILLY BRANCH, WILLIE KENT, JORMA KAUKONEN, JACK McDUFF, LYNWOOD SLIM, SHARON LEWIS, JESSE FORTUNE, BARKIN' BILL SMITH, STEVE FREUND, FLOYD McDANIEL, TAD ROBINSON, LENNY LYNN and more! Specter's career has been intertwined with the deepest roots of Chicago blues and Delmark's rich musical history. This double CD release constitutes a definitive testimony to one of today's most tasteful and versatile blues artists featuring Specter in a wide variety of styles, all played with six string soul., ALL TRACKS REMASTERED AT DELMARK'S RIVERSIDE STUDIO BY JULIA A. MILLER. INCLUDES GATEFOLD JACKET WITH EXTENSIVE DISCOGRAPHY, LINER NOTES BY HISTORIAN DICK SHURMAN, DIGITAL DOWNLOAD CARD OF THE COMPLETE DOUBLE CD EDITION FEATURING 11 MORE TRACKS.

Sykes was a primary creator of the modern blues style and an outstanding singer, songwriter & performer; this CD is the first album to contain all 17 songs Sykes recorded for the United label from 1951-53, plus 3 alternate takes.

Pianist Frank Melrose was the younger brother of music publishers and agents Walter and Lester Melrose, who ran Melrose Brothers music store in Chicago and were very involved in the business end of the Chicago jazz and blues scene of the '20s and '30s. Frank left Chicago as a teen and settled in Kansas City. He recorded sporadically in the '20s with Wingy Manone and Johnny Dodd's. His last session was in '41 as he was found dead that Labor Day. This previously unissued session was recorded in 1940 and features quintet sides with trumpeter Pete Daily, trio and solo material.

Blues guitarist Dave Specter is never prone to grandstanding. He communicates an inherent sense of style and form, subtlety and swing, keeping his magnetic needle always fixed on a steady, unalterable course.

There Now is a collection of jazz hybrids: both new compositions and arrangements of early jazz standards. The Gang is concerned equally with the great musical legacies of Louis Armstrong, Pee Wee Russell, Derek Bailey, and the Art Ensemble of Chicago. It's the kind of exploration that can only come from musicians that are native speakers of three languages: jazz, free jazz and free improvisation. Josh Berman, cornet; Jeb Bishop, trombone: Guillermo Gregorio, clarinet; Jason Stein, bass clarinet; Keefe Jackson, tenor saxophone; Jason Adasiewicz, vibraphone; Joshua Abrams, bass and Frank Rosaly, drums. Also available: Old Ideas (DMK 588).

The collaborative trio of Ben Goldberg (clarinet, contra alto clarinet), Geof Bradfield (soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet) and Dana Hall (percussion) explores new directions on General Semantics. Their Delmark Records debut features original music by the trio as well as unique interpretations of Duke Ellington, Cecil Taylor, and Hermeto Pascoal. The unusual instrumentationespecially the lack of a bassist- enables the musicians to transcend traditional instrument roles of accompaniment, improvisation, and interaction and create music that embraces form and harmony alongside freedom and spontaneous improvisation.

DELMARK'S 70th ANNIVERSARY BLUES ANTHOLOGY Featuring 10 of the finest tracks from the Delmark blues music vaults. Seventy years on, Delmark is the oldest independent jazz and blues record label in the world, boasting a catalog bulging with over twelve thousand recordings by a virtual who's who of jazz and blues.� Although Bob Koester retired in 2018, under the leadership of President/CEO, Julia A. Miller and Artistic Director�Elbio Barilari, Delmark has released over 30 thirty albums in five years, has made digitally available over twelve thousand songs and continues it's mission.