Soulful Chicago vocalist and guitarist Byther Smith is a fighter, a scrapper, a hard worker and a survivor. As a child in Monticello, Mississippi he lost both his parents; his mother when he was one year old and his father six months later. Smitty came to Chicago in the mid-'50s and by the early '60s was playing at Theresa's Lounge, where he backed Junior Wells. He also worked with Big Mama Thornton, George "Harmonica" Smith and Otis Rush. He recorded his first LP for the Grits label in 1983, two for Bullseye in the early '90s, and this is his fourth Delmark CD and his first live album. On this recording you will hear Byther in his natural element, raw, alive and completely real.

The follow up to Hoodoo Man Blues (DMK 612), this classic Chicago blues album is now re-issued in an expanded digipak, "Deluxe Edition" containing unissued performances and a 16-page booklet with many never-before-seen photos. The Godfather of Blues, Junior Wells is accompanied by Buddy Guy and Louis Myers, guitar; Otis Spann, piano; Earnest Johnson, bass; Fred Below, drums. Recorded December 30, 1969 and January 8, 1970 the five extra performances include "Rock Me Baby", an alternate take of "I Could Have Had Religion", "Junior's In Charge" a eight-minute improvisational studio jam with lots of Otis Spann and more, 73 minutes. With new notes by producer Bob Koester. A must have for blues lovers.

The best musicians transcend styles and techniques. They deliver their hearts and souls, connecting on a primal level, one on one with each and every listener. Karen Carroll is just such an artist and one of the most universal artists to come on the scene since Nina Simone. Within one line she can lay down the grit of Howlin' Wolf stroked by the sass of Sarah Vaughan.

Formed in 1990 by saxophonists Pat Mallinger and Cameron Pfiffner, Sabertooth explores a variety of musical genres in the quartet format of two saxophones, drums (Ted Sirota) and organ (Pete Benson). The band's repertoire includes many original compositions; some inspired from various ethnic origins. In addition, the band often performs standards and jazz classics. Sabertooth continues an extended residency at one of Chicago's premier jazz clubs, the famous Green Mill Lounge. The band has been playing to capacity audiences every Saturday evening for ten years. This energy is represented on Live at the Green Mill, recorded June 23, 2007.

SUNSET CAFE STOMP - LIVE

Solo piano/vocal from 1966.

Legendary Tennessee blues poet toured Europe in 1964 - these are the studio recordings he made while in Copenhagen & London, feat. Hammie Nixon on harmonica & jug.

Chicago tenor sax legend Anderson performs with Hamid Drake and Harrison Bankhead.

AACM saxophonist, composer and bandleader Ernest Dawkins brought his NHE into the Velvet Lounge on July 14, 2005 for this live DVD knowing it would be one of the groups' last performances at the historic 'old' Velvet Lounge.

Blues/barrelhouse/boogie piano player's mid-1950's recordings, also inc. 2 live tracks, an interview segment & never before released tracks, 60 min. Total.

Sizzling collaboration of this veteran Chicago vocalist w. Dave Specter and the Bluebirds.

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.

Performances from the "Blues Before Sunrise" radio program from Chicago, featuring Billy Boy Arnold, John Brim, Big Wheeler & Jimmy Burns.(Previously deleted:11/1/07. Original release date:3/27/97)

Chicago guitarist crosses the line between modern blues & vintage jazz of the 1940's-60's w. sterling jazz organist Jack McDuff & harp man Lynwood Slim.

Nine-string guitarist's first full album of classic country blues from 1958, feat. J.D. Short-gtr/harmonica on 4 songs.

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.

Blues harpist (Earl Hooker, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf+) discovered by Charlie Musselwhite, performs 15 tracks of Chicago blues w. Eddie Taylor, Pinetop Perkins & Jimmy Dawkins, 1969.

1975 session that captured the essence of Jimmy's club performances, contains 4 never before released tracks, 60 minutes total.

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"!

4 cuts live - 6 cuts studio from this blues shouter feat. Johnny B. Moore (gtr), Ken Saydak (keys), Johnny B. Gayden (bs) & Baldhead Pete (drms) - trad. Chicago blues at it's best.