Jazz pianist Jodie Christian is a Chicago legend. Performing nationally and internationally since 1948, he has led his own groups and performed with Lester Young, Johnny Griffin, Coleman Hawkins, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Eddie Harris, Sonny Rollins, Roscoe Mitchell, and Jack DeJohnette. Originally released in 1994 this CD features Roscoe Mitchell, Art Porter, Paul McKeeLarry Gray, Ernie Adams, Vincent Davis, George Hughes, & special guest vocalist Francine Griffin. (Previously deleted:7/1/07. Original release date:5/20/94) "[A] highly eclectic set of standards and originals, integrating disparate sensibilities into a scintillating whole that argues against the compartmentalization of jazz better than any critic could." - 4 1/2 stars - Down Beat.
Fleet facility on four horns and a pleasant voice equal a strongly swinging album by Betty O'Hara, a member of the all-woman big band Maiden Voyage and co-leader of the Jazz Birds female quintet. A woman for all sounds and tempos, she proves herself equally adept on trumpet, trombone. Double bell euphonium and flugelhorn, including several dubbed duets. Three vocals add another dimension, as do a pair of trio selections by pianist Johnny Varro, bassist Monty Corb and drummer Gene Estes. - JazzTimes. (Previously deleted:4/1/06. Original release date:3/22/95)
Franz is one of the few active musicians who was there when jazz was an infant. He's been playing professionally for more than 70 years and is one of the great tenor sax players of all time. His clarinet skills are also tremendous - one night he filled in for George Lewis for a gig at Chicago's Red Arrow club which resulted in a ten year stint. Franz has worked with Roy Eldridge, Fats Waller, Fletcher Henderson, Cootie Williams. They have a large & loyal following all over the U.S. as a leading exponent of West Coast traditional jazz.
The title refers to the first Chicago jazz clarinetist Volly DeFaut, a former member of the famous New Orleans Rhythm Kings, who also recorded with Jelly Roll Morton, Muggsy Spanier and the Gene Goldkette Orchestra. Russian-born jazz pianist Art Hodes is the leader for these 1972 recordings which also feature Truck Parham, bass; Barrett Deems, drums; and on two songs Nappy Trottier, trumpet and George Brunis, trombone. Volly DeFaut passed away in 1973 making these his very last recordings. (Previously deleted:12/1/04. Original release date:7/22/93)
1989 live and studio recordings from tenor saxophonist Ed Petersen. Upward Spiral was recorded before Ed relocated from Chicago to teach jazz saxophone at University of New Orleans in 1994. This was Ed's first of three Delmark CDs. Their cohesiveness and level of excitement is obvious. Upward Spiral features eight original Petersen compositions opening with the burning, hard bop "Probably". with Fareed Haque (guitar), Brad Williams (piano), Rob Amster (bass), Jeff Stitely (drums). (Previously deleted: 6/1/05. Original release date: 6/90)
Art Hodes' career as a pianist (and journalist) started in the 1920s & continued into the 1990s - eight decades! He recorded for Decca, Mercury, as well as what he liked to call "the modest labels." These blues-drenched solo piano performances celebrate the music of jazz' greats, many of who Art knew well, including Louis Armstrong. Part of Delmark's Euphonic series, this album was recorded in 1976 & 1978. 13 of the 15 songs are previously unissued performances.
Album contains definitive 1953 recordings of clarinetist Lewis, who led the most authentic New Orleans jazz band. It's a New Orleans brass band that's come inside to play with a full rhythm section - relevant in spite of the vintage. It's blues, gospel, ragtime, and pop before rock. It struts and it stomps. These are the first studio recordings of the Lewis New Orleans Band that toured colleges, clubs and festivals and later settled in at Preservation Hall.
Featuring Lin Halliday. The "Tough Town" is Chicago, and on this 1991 debut recording of the jazz vibe player, Jim Cooper captures it's essence- it's blues and grit, but also it's sophistication and it's sentiment. Cooper spent his life in Chicago, growing up at 83rd and Cottage Grove in the 50s, when that deep-southside community throbbed with the pulse of nightclubs and jazz joints. He's joined by Chicago jazz legend Ira Sullivan who usually plays a variety of instruments on sessions but here he plays tenor sax only. Also Bob Dogan, piano; Dan DeLorenzo, bass; Charlie Braugham, drums and Alejo Poveda, percussion.
Son of the late and neglected trumpeter/composer Cal Massey, Zane literally grew up surrounded by John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Heath and others. Zane has developed a big, gruff tenor sax sound, and a concept of great continuity and rhythmic momentum. (Previously deleted:10/1/11. Original release date:3/26/98)
Jazz clarinetist Albert Nicholas played with King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton in the 1920s, Louis Armstrong in the '30s and was a major figure in the traditional jazz revival in New York in the '40s. Pianist Art Hodes was also on the scene in the '20s and recorded for numerous labels including many successful sides with Nicholas for Blue Note in the '40s. In a review of the original LP of this 1959 session Brian Rust said "One is left without any doubt about Nicholas being far and away the greatest living jazz clarinetist." - the Gramophone. Hodes "plays with a darting vivacity which adds a stimulating sense of excitement to even the more mellow easygoing pieces." High Fidelity Magazine. (Previously deleted: 8/1/10. Original release date: 12/3/96)
Frank Walton is marked by creative excitement, a depth of emotion, subtle swing and a measure of funk, and harmonic and melodic sophistication. Walton has worked in and out of Chicago with the big bands of George Hunter, Jimmy and Morris Ellis as well as Muhal Richard Abrams Big Band. Trumpeter Walton is joined by soprano saxophonist Ari Brown and alto saxophonist Henry Threadgill among others. Tracks: Safari, Spongie, Waltz of the Prophets, Shorter's Vibes, Change of Mode. (Previously deleted: 4/1/08. Original release date:12/7/93)
