Not just the best live Otis Rush album, but one of his best albums, period. His big vibrato (on both his voice and guitar) shakes up the rapt Tokyo crowd in '75 as he digs into I Can't Quit You Baby; Mean Old World; So Many Roads, So Many Trains; Chitlins Con Carne; Three Times a Fool; All Your Love (I Miss Loving), and more!
Trumpeter Billy Butterfield could play pretty ballads and heated Traditional Jazz with equal skill. Butterfield's career goes back to the 30s; he became famous while playing with Bob Crosby's Orchestra (37-40) taking the main solo on the original "What's New". He also worked with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, World's Greatest Jazz Band and had his own big band. Butterfield did extensive studio work in the 50s and 60s, occasionally emerging for trad dates with Eddie Condon and this exciting live album with Andy Bartha's band. Take Me to the Land of Jazz is 68 minutes of pure joy.
The blues players on this album underscore the cultural & musical ties between the Southeastern U.S. & New York City. Around 1950, down-home blues recordings were clearly out of the mainstream of black American popular music. Nonetheless, Apollo felt that the market remained strong enough to release such blues-drenched guitar & vocal blues. This 22 track collection from 1947-50 appears on CD for the first time, all from original source material. 11 tracks are previously unissued.
Probably the two biggest influences on Johnny B. Moore's sound are Muddy Waters and Magic Sam. Johnny's first big break came in '75 when he joined Koko Taylor's Blues Machine and recorded on her Grammy Award winning album, the Earthshaker. In '77 he joined Willie Dixon's Chicago Blues All-Stars. (Previously deleted: 7/1/10 Original release date: 7/10/97) "With his Mississippi roots and solid commitment to Chicago's West Side blues sound, Johnny B. Moore has much in common with Johnny Littlejohn and Magic Sam - two of his mentors. Like those artists, Moore's blues is hard-edged, quirky, and beautiful. Troubled World captures him at his best." - Living Blues.
Twelve piece band playing six fresh new compositions with amazing charts written by leader, tenor saxist Keefe Jackson. Project Project is Josh Berman, Jaimie Branch, trumpet; Jeb Bishop, Nick Broste, trombone; Marc Unternahrer, tuba; James Falzone, clarinet; Guillermo Gregorio, alto sax/clarinet; Keefe Jackson, tenor sax/bass clarinet; Jason Stein, bass clarinet; Dave Rempis, alto and baritone sax; Anton Harwich, bass; Frank Rosaly, drums. The Fayetteville, Arkansas native moved to Chicago in 2001 and garnered much critical acclaim with his 2006 release Ready Everyday (Delmark 571). Stylistically could be described as Mingus meets AACM!
As bandleader and composer, Pierre Lacocque's vision has never wavered since he founded Mississippi Heat in 1991. "Mississippi Heat not only breathes new life into the classic sounds of Chicago Blues, but they also uplift with joy and dedication everything they play. Pierre Lacocque is that rare younger generation harpist who's absorbed the lessons of subtlety, silence and solo construction from the masters." - David Whiteis, Chicago Reader. Mississippi Heat's lineup for this live recording: Inetta Visor, vocals; Lurrie Bell, vocal/guitar; Max Valldeneu, guitar; Chris "Hambone" Cameron, organ/piano; Sparling Banks, bass; Kenny Smith, drums. A DVD of this performance is available as DMK #1783.
Pianist Jodie Christian has recorded with Chet Baker, Stan Getz, Gene Ammons, James Moody, Sonny Stitt, Eddie Harris, and performed with Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins, Benny Carter and many others. Although this is his 5th Delmark CD, it is the first to feature Jodie predominantly in a trio setting.
Of her first Delmark CD, "Learned My Lesson" (DMK 748), Living Blues magazine said "Her rough-edged croon can raise welts or love bumps. She has the versatility to strut comfortably from back-alley funk to uptown jump sophistication." "Tore Up from the Floor Up" features six original compositions, some choice covers and an interview. Guitarist Pete Allen provides most of the musical direction, while the Chicago Horns provide support on "Til the Fat Lady Sings" and "Ace of Spades." Zora's done-somebody-wrong medley is especially colorful when she combines "Since I Fell for You", "Silhouettes" and "Me And Mr. Jones"!
Ammons' name is on the marquee, but Pete Johnson and Meade Lux Lewis share the ivories as you hear 18 live and studio cuts from '38 and '39! It's a boogie-woogie blowout: Bear Cat Shuffle; Mama's Blues; Jesse James; Yancey Special; Try Again; Shout for Joy; Boogie Woogie Stomp, and more.
This 1968 recording was originally issued as Electric Sleep, the title a riff on the Muddy Waters LP title Electric Mud. But the similarities ended there; whereas Mud was psychedelic and musically quite a departure from a traditional blues sound, Electric Sleep simply combines a country blues artist with an electric blues band. This 2007 reissue is re-mixed and mastered from the original analog tapes and has a brand new cover with photos from the recording session. The legendary blues poet is accompanied by Jimmy Dawkins (guitar), Sunnyland Slim (piano), Carey Bell (harmonica/bass), Earl Hooker, Joe Harper (bass), Odie Payne, Jr. (drums).(Previously deleted: 4/1/05. Original release date: 5/91)
Innovative guitarist & composer Scott Fields makes his Delmark debut with a recording of 5 original compositions inspired by the work of playwright David Mamet. Fields, whose previous ensembles have included such notables as pianists Marilyn Crispell, Myra Melford, and saxophonist Joseph Jarman, finds himself in excellent company here. Drummer Michael Zerang is a stalwart of the Chicago scene and has provided the pulse for the Ken Vandermark Quartet & the explosive Peter Br"tzmann Tentet. Bassist Michael Formanek is a respected composer, bandleader, and bassist.
Trumpeter Yves Francois has been active on Chicago's jazz scene since the '70's. Yves is a huge fan of early jazz and started out as a jazz/blues trumpeter. He is still active today as Yves Francois et Rocambu Jazz, a swinging group that still plays jazz & blues but also highlife and Caribbean. In the '80's Yves issued two LPs, in tiny quantities, on Franz Jackson's Pinnacle label. The sessions were recorded in '81 and '86 and feature two of Chicago's greatest tenor sax players, Franz Jackson and Eddie Johnson. Delmark acquired the masters which are now available on CD for the first time. Contains many previously unissued tracks and a new mix. With Special Guests Franz Jackson, Eddie Johnson and Odie Payne, Jr..
Drummer Ted Sirota relocated to Chicago in 1992 after graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston. Sirota quickly became very active on the Chicago jazz scene performing with Von Freeman, Jodie Christian, Fred Hopkins, Lin Halliday, Rob Mazurek and many others. As a member of the Sabertooth Jazz Quartet, Sirota has been performing weekly at the Green Mill for seven years now and counting. Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls was formed in 1996 and have since released three albums. "Breeding Resistance" is the Delmark debut for the Rebel Souls which features Jeb Bishop, trombone; Geoff Bradfield, tenor sax; Jeff Parker, guitar; Clark Sommers, bass; Ted Sirota, drums.
Trombonist Jim Robinson played professionally from World War I onwards. In the 20s he made his first recordings as a member of the Sam Morgan Jazz Band. He gained greater fame with the resurgence of interest in early New Orleans jazz as a regular member of the bands of Bunk Johnson & George Lewis. He also led his own band and was known for his deep, wide-toned & robust tailgate style of trombone playing. This 1965 session, recorded at Preservation Hall, features Johnny Wiggs, cornet; Raymond Burke, clarinet; Bob Greene, piano; Allan Jaffe, tuba; Yoichi Kimura, drums. On CD for the 1st time, it features 12 songs including 2 previously unissued songs & alternate takes.
What makes this group so important is the relationship that exists between it's members. Bassist Jason Ajemian (Chicago Underground Trio, Lay All Over It, Born Heller) saxophonist Tim Haldeman, and drummer Nori Tanaka are regulars on the Chicago improvisation scene. Joined here by vibist Jason Adasiewicz (Loose Assembly, Exploding Star Orchestra,) trumpeter Jaimie Branch, and guitarist Matt Schneider this prolific, expansive and inventive group becomes a sonic family on this release. The interplay between the players is ceaseless in reawakening the heart of what is jazz today. Like a conversation among old friends it's intimacy is palpable; warm, friendly and at ease.
Even though Dawkins is the chairman of the AACM & uses "avant garde" to describe his music, his ensemble always remains accessible yet vital; it's a surprise that this is their first U.S. release, as they have been together for more than a decade & are regarded as one of Chicago's finest - the album is titled after the enthusiastic response from the audience in Johannesburg, South Africa & Mozambique.
