Traditional jazz clarinetist John Skillman is the leader of the Barb City Stompers in Dekalb, IL (where barb wire was invented). He also leads the New Orleans Nighthawks in Florida and the co-leader of the Coast to Coast Jazz Band. For the past 31 years, he has been the clarinetist in the Buck Creek Jazz Band. He also is the clarinetist for both the Chicago Hot Six Jazz Band, and for the CanAmGer Jazz Band. His style ranges from downtown New Orleans to Chicago to Swing. John Skillman - clarinet, Roy Rubinstein - trombone, Larry Rutan - guitar, Roger Hintzsche - bass, Aaron Puckett - drums, Diana Skillman - vocals (on two songs).

This 1957 recording has not been available since the original LP issue which has been out of print for decades. Traditional jazz at it's best on this new CD version which has many never before issued bonus tracks. Live in Fulton Missouri, The Dixie Stompers are Bill Mason, cornet; Norman Mason, clarinet; Jim Haislip, trombone; Glenn Tintera, piano; Pete Patterson, banjo; Bob Kornacher, drums. Heebie Jeebies, Dippermouth Blues, Doctor Jazz and many more.

This is the second live CD by Terry Waldo's Gutbucket Syncopators on Delmark from the now-defunct Blackbird label. The first, Hot House Rag (DMK 239), has sold very well and received excellent reviews. The Ohio Theater Concert took place on April 13, 1974 and featured Roy Tate - trumpet, Jim Snyder - trombone, Frank Powers - clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone, Terry Waldo - piano, Bill Moorhead - banjo, Mike Walbridge - tuba, Wayne Jones - drums, Edith Wilson - vocals. Edith Wilson was the second African-American woman to make phonograph records, recording a full year and a half before Bessie Smith. The addition of previously unissued songs makes this CD a full hour of inspired traditional jazz.

In the mid-1960's, the Chicago & St. Louis jazz tradition became embodied in the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in Chicago, and the Black Artist Group (BAG) in St. Louis. The two collectives were founded on the freedom principle & were dedicated to jazz as a living, vital expression. Oliver Lake & Julius Hemphill facilitated exchanges between the two groups - Lester Bowie, spending time in both locations, the common denominator. This album features AACM trumpeter Malachi Thompson with BAG saxmen Oliver Lake & Hamiet Bluiett.

Rob Mazurek & Chad Taylor have been the heart & soul of the Chicago Underground groups for over a decade. Bassist Jason Ajemian makes his CUT debut, bringing a wide range of musical influences to the table. "The trio's music is never frenetic; it is lapidary in it's precision. With painterly splashes of organ & electronics, it casts a nocturnal spectral glow" - New York Times.

Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Strings (BES), rides at the forefront of jazz, new music and creative improvisation. Mitchell's "rough and edgy" aesthetic rebels from the flowery sweet flute and string stereotype the runs rampant in jazz, which makes Renegades an appropriate title for the project. On Renegades, Mitchell's compositions bring African rhythms, contemporary sounds and swinging improvisation to a chamber music setting. Mitchell's BES concept started in 1997, but this is the group's first commercial recording. The CD features Nicole Mitchell - flute, alto flute, piccolo, Renee Baker - violin, viola, Tomeka Reid - cello, Joshua Abrams - bass, gimbre and Shirazette Tinnin - drums and percussion.

In February 1957, Bob Koester wrote in his newsletter, the Jazz Report, that recent rediscoveries of legendary artists Big Joe Williams and Speckled Red gave information on other forgotten musicians from the 1920s. Koester was told that Paramount and Decca recording artist Barrelhouse Buck McFarland was still around St Louis and he passed that info along to Charlie O'Brien, a fellow member of the St Louis Jazz Club and a St Louis policeman. Buck, the aged entertainer, rugged barrelhouse pianist and marvelous blues singer enjoyed the new interest in his work. Henry Brown, and especially Speckled Red, created new careers and Buck might have as well, but he passed just 8 months after this 1961 recording.

Pianist-composer Paul Giallorenzo (GitGO, Hearts & Minds) assembles a new trio for his second Delmark release. Covering wide terrain, from energetic swing to bluesy soulfulness to sonic exploration, these original compositions further Giallorenzo's exploration of improvising within and without melodic, rhythmic, and formal structures. The music is deeply embedded in the tradition with a sound and feeling that is personal and contemporary. In a review of Giallorenzo's first Delmark release, Force Majeure (DMK 5015), the Chicago Reader praised it for it's "melodic and harmonic depth", "rich polyphonic arrangements" and "dam-bursting energy and woolly extended techniques."

Earl Hines moved to Chicago in 1926 at the age of 21 and began his association with Louis Armstrong, with whom he recorded. Hines is recognized as a major innovator in the development of jazz piano, and he was also a major band leader performing at, and broadcasting from, the Grand Terrace Ballroom in Chicago from 1928-43. He moved to the S.F. Bay Area in 1956 & lived there until he passed in 1983. This live sextet performance was recorded May 13, 1970 in San Francisco.

Tenor saxophonist Halliday, who was a true veteran of the Hollywood, New York, Nashville & Chicago jazz scenes, passed away in early 1999, but this 1988 session reminds US of his artistry, joined by pianist Jodie Christian, bassist Dennis Carroll & drummer Tom Kronquist.

Delmark Records were motivated to record this, their very first "jazz vocals" album after hearing Francine's outstanding singing talents - she has performed w. Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis & many others.

Jazz veteran presents a nice balance of original compositions & covers, joined by sax master Eric Alexander, Steve Davis, Harold Mabern, John Webber & Joe Farnsworth.

Very much in the vein of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers or Coltrane's band on the legendary Blue Train album, Bakerzmillion is Chicago's hard bop ensemble par excellence. It's six members are a true dream team of talented and seasoned jazzmen. The band's longevity, over fifteen years already, contributes to the solid and balanced sound of the ensemble. Playing original tunes composed by the co-leaders the ensemble brings a breeze of fresh air to these mainstream sonorities. Recorded February 2018 by Robert Vallone, Produced by Andy Baker, Mixed & Mastered by Fred Breitberg, Photo and notes by Michael Jackson.

This band explores the boundaries between composition and improvisation. Keefe Jackson, saxophonist and principal composer, formed the Chicago group in 2003. Fast Citizens held a residency at Chicago's famous club the Hideout, where the group developed a formidable cohesiveness. Their music has broadened, even redefined the idea of a "cooperative" band. The group includes saxophonist Aram Shelton and cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, who also composes for the group, and cornet player Josh Berman, drummer Frank Rosaly and bassist Anton Hatwich. Berman, Jackson, and Rosaly are also members of the Chicago Luzern Exchange. "... Jackson's marbled tone expresses a lovely lyricism no matter how brusque or serrated his lines get." - Chicago Reader in 2004.

COLLECTION OF FRED ASTAIRE

BRIGHT LIGHT IN WINTER is the long-awaited third album by Chicago guitarist Jeff Parker. With his associates Chris Lopes (bass) and Chad Taylor (drums), this trio continues their examination of our post-modern musical universe via tuneful compositions by all three members, and an elastic, dynamic approach to improvisation and group interplay - rooted in our familiar musical traditions, but also searching for the new ones. Recorded and mixed by Bundy K. Brown. Also available: Jeff Parker, Like-Coping (DMK 543). "Jeff Parker is arguably the most exciting and thoughtful jazz guitarist of the past two decades, a masterful free improviser who's also fluent in everything from postbop to post rock." - Chicago Reader.

PIANO SOLOS 1

Jazz trumpeter Brad Goode relocated to Denver two years ago, but he maintains his Chicago connection by performing there at least once or twice annually. Brad resided in Chicago and had a weekly gig 12 years running when he cut his first Delmark album, "Shock Of The New" (DMK #440). Since then he's recorded 3 more CDs most recently for the European Steeplechase label. The last time he was in Chicago Brad recorded this new, exciting and sometimes edgy session. His rhythm section features newcomer Adrean Farrugia on piano, veteran bassist Kelly Sill and longtime cohort Dana Hall on drums. Contains 9 tracks including 4 Goode original compositions. (Previously deleted:5/1/11. Original release date: 4/18/06)

CAKEWALK

OUT OF THE PAST

With special guest Randy Sandke. In addition to being the host of WDCB's "All Things Jazz" John Burnett is the leader of "maybe the best contemporary swing big band on the planet" - Amazon. Com. Formed in 1999 this orchestra is comprised of topnotch Chicago musicians and features guest vocalist Frieda Lee. This live recording was captured at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, IL and the band is joined by special guest trumpeter Randy Sandke. Groovin' High, Night In Tunisia, Struttin' With Some Barbeque, One O'Clock Jump, Sweet Georgia Brown, April In Paris and more. "His object is to keep the big band alive and swingin'. In this, he has done admirably well. " - Louie Bellson.

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.

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.

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.

REMEMBERING LOUIS W. JON