Pianist Art Hodes' career lasted eight decades, starting in the late 20s and continuing into the 90s. Friar's Inn, near Van Buren and Wabash, was where the legendary New Orleans Rhythm Kings played Chicago in the early 20s. Their series of classic recordings for Gennett ushered in the early Chicago decade of jazz recordings. Hodes had long wanted to do a recording in honor of that early group and brought George Brunis and Volly DeFaut, both members of NORK in the 20s, to the studio for this 1972 session. On CD for the first time, this release features Barney Bigard and Barrett Deems.
Pianist Wally Rose was the original piano player in Lu Watters Yerba Buena Jazz Band, the band that started the Traditional Jazz revival of the 1940s and '50s. He also played with Bob Scobey in 1950-51, Turk Murphy in 1952-54 and spent many years as soloist in San Francisco. In 1953 Rose recorded two influential solo LPs: Ragtime Classics and Ragtime Piano Masterpieces. Rose remained active throughout the '70s and '80s. Whippin' the Keys was recorded at two sessions in 1968 and 1971. The twenty solo ragtime selections were originally issued on two Blackbird LPs (Rose on Piano, Blackbird 12007 and Whippin' the Keys, Blackbird 12010). They are reissued here for the first time.
An inspired soulfulness dominates the four extended compositions that make up this album, the second Delmark release by saxophonist Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble. Recorded in Chicago in August of 2002, "Capetown Shuffle" celebrates numerous facets of the African American experience, from the gritty blues and AACM adventurousness of South Side Chicago, to joyful New Orleans marches, to the ancient ancestral grooves of South Africa. It was a special challenge to perform live all new compositions never played before an audience. The awesome results show why NHE shows are unique and flow unlike any other band.
On this, his second album as leader, Ken's piano, vocal & writing talents are showcased in a larger ensemble than on his successful debut, "Foolish Man". Joined on many cuts by a five piece band, Ken's music is reminiscent of some of his best work with the eclectic roots band Big Shoulders. Continuing to draw from the deep well of American music styles, he once again provides a musical mix that, while broad in scope, never strays too far from his roots in the blues. Trust this: this album is blues brawn with a brain!
This group has been about 2 horns & a drum for twenty years - over the years, drummer Kahil El'Zabar has stretched the boundaries of the band's sound, using trombone, African thumb piano, sax, guitar & other instruments; the music itself reflects African & African-American traditions with dance.
During her 25 years as a professional blues singer, Big Time Sarah has built a solid reputation worldwide with regular tours in the U.S. and abroad. She started sitting in during the late 1960's with Louis & Dave Myers, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and Magic Slim. This album features five new songs Sarah collaborated on with songwriter William Bolden & arranger/guitarist Rico McFarland. Although more than capable of wringing the last drop of soul out of a slow burner, most of Sarah's music is about having a big, good time, and she delivers it with gusto.
It's Wolf and Waits, Louie and Leonard (Cohen, that is). It's thumping bass that could be behind Charlie Feathers or J.B. Lenoir. It's a trap set from a burlesque theater and it's the kid who wanted to sound like Beiderbecke. It's Route 66 taking you West and Old Route One bringing you up the California coast and home... and it's literate. But not literate enough to get in the way of a good time. Here, Morey (on vocals, harmonica and guitar) presents 19 originals recorded in June of 2002, joined by Joe "Tubb" Faria, Scott Pittman and guest Rick "Cookin'" Sherry on harmonica and clarinet.
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.
With grace, style, deftness & a knock-out punch, O'Donnell's band defies pigeonholing in a field of swingsters, hipsters & oldsters; they meld hot jazz, jump blues, early rock & swing into one cool package, feat. violinist Andrew Bird, who appeared on the Squirrel Nut Zippers album.
One of the hottest guitar slingers in Chicago, Coleman hits with his debut American release; in 1979, at the age of 23, he joined James Cotton's band & stayed with him for seven years - since then he's worked with Eddy Clearwater & Syl Johnson, and has had several European albums; the songs on this CD reflect his varied influences, from Junior Wells to Isaac Hayes to Jimi Hendrix.
Bandleader, blue guitarist & producer Specter has earned a international reputation as one of the premier young talents on the Chicago blues scene; this is his 6th Delmark album & it's an instrumental program combining Chicago blues, jump blues & sometimes jazz.
Veteran blues singer/guitarist has the vocal urgency & immediacy of singers like Otis Redding & Wilson Pickett; Ward pioneered the use of the Magnatone amplifier which was featured on many of his 1960s recordings as Robert Ward & the Untouchables - here he presents 10 new originals done in his trademark sound.
This 1997 recording was James Wheeler's debut as leader. James had played guitar in the bands of Otis Rush (for seven years), B.B. King, O.V. Wright, Billy Boy Arnold, Otis Clay, Mississippi Heat and Willie Kent. "The Chicago native and prolific songwriter exudes a relaxed, knowing authority... simple, grounded, no-nonsense blues from the soulful elder with a milk chocolate voice." - Jazz Times with Billy Flynn, guitar; Ken Saydak, piano; Bob Stroger, bass; Vern Rodgers, drums; Golden "Big" Wheeler, harmonica (on two songs); and guest vocalist Gloria Thompson-Rodgers. Features eleven original compositions and covers of "I'm Just Your Fool" and "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl". (Previously deleted:4/1/06. Original release date:3/24/98)
Ragtime piano master is featured here on 26 tracks from the early 1960s, inc. 8 never before released cuts - the performances are culled from 2 informal parties, one of which was hosted by ragophile Trebor Tichenor, who wrote the descriptive notes.
10 of the 13 tracks were recorded live in the Chicago area last year. The John Burnett Orchestra specializes in all forties style big band swing and current big band jazz charts. John hails from England and attended the Royal Academy of Music. He is currently morning host of an exciting jazz radio show on WDCB, Public Radio from the College of DuPage, IL. "In the Mood", One O'Clock Jump", "In a Mellow Tone" and ten more songs. With guest artist Buddy DeFranco. Also available West of State Street/East of Harlem (DMK 584).In a review of Burnett's previous Delmark CD Matthew Allen wrote: "Performed with the animated charm and confidence of past iconic jazz orchestras and yet they all have a new shine on them."
United's gospel catalog was lean but prime. During the 1950s, Chicago was gospel's capital, home turf of it's pioneer exponents, Thomas A. Dorsey, Mahalia Jackson and Roberta Martin. Features United's gospel quartets, including Southern Tornadoes, Veteran Singers, Spiritualaires, and, from J.O.B. Records, Joiner's Five Trumpets. This 25 track compilation contains 17 never before released tracks - even the 8 previously issued sides are from rare 78s that have never been reissued until now.
Despite the successes Tad Robinson, Steve Freund, Ken Saydak, Harlan Terson and Marty Binder have achieved over long parallel careers, there was some unfinished business to attend to. Longtime bonds, which sometimes elude conscious recognition, drew them to Delmark's Riverside Studio on Chicago's North Rockwell Avenue in October of 2017. It was a joyous musical and artistic reunion. They had all recorded for Delmark over the past decades. Now it was time to join together again, as equals who had shared a lifestyle and craft, each in his own way, each with his own voice. So they took a week away from their routines to share a brief moment, frozen in time on Back To Chicago.
Quintus McCormick's acclaimed Delmark debut from 2009 Hey Jodie! (DMK 801) was one of the best soul-blues albums of the new millennium's first decade. Quintus' second CD Put It on Me! (DMK 815) proved he is one of contemporary Chicago's brightest stars. And now the prolific songwriter is back again with new joints, ready to pop. Plus there's Quintus own personal spin on covers of the Beatles' Oh! Darling, George Jackson's Still Called the Blues and Old Time Rock And Roll and more. Great blend of straight ahead blues, soul blues, r&b, funk and soul music. Anyway you look at it, it's Still Called the Blues.
Blues artist Jimmy Dawkins had his own record label in the 1980s, Leric Records, with 45s issues by Tail Dragger, Queen Sylvia Embry, Little Johnny Christian and Nora Jean Wallace. Delmark is re-issuing these recordings now on CD for the first time with the addition of unissued sides by Vance Kelly and Big Mojo Elem. 15 songs, 60 minutes with various sidemen including Jimmy Dawkins, Johnny B. Moore, Lafayette Leake, Willie Kent, Eddie "Jewtown" Burks, Michael Coleman and Chico Banks.
Sir Charles is best known for his historic 1945-47 Apollo recordings with Charlie Parker & Dexter Gordon. A mainstay on New York's dynamic 52nd Street scene in the '40s & '50s, Thompson recorded for Columbia, Vanguard & as a sideman with Coleman Hawkins & Illinois Jacquet. Sir Charles' album "Robbins' Nest - Live at the Jazz Showcase" was applauded by critics for his ability to remain relevant to today, so Delmark went back & got more of this good stuff. Features Eric Schneider on tenor/alto sax & clarinet.
Jazz clarinetist Garvin Bushell's 1988 autobiography is rightly titled "Jazz from the Beginning". Bushell recorded with great pianists - James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Jelly Roll Morton and with important swing orchestras, such as those led by Fletcher Henderson, Cab Calloway and Chick Webb. In mid-century Bushell recorded with many of the period's greatest jazz names, including John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Gil Evans, and King Curtis. This 1982 session features Garvin Bushell, clarinet, bassoon; Richard Hadlock, soprano sax; Ray Skjelbred, piano; Stu Wilson, bass; John Markham, drums; Leon Oakley, cornet; Barbara Lashley, vocals on 3 songs.
