Delmark Records Update

From Kevin Johnson of Delmark Records

Hey real deal Chicago Blues Fans!!

The Blues File from WXPN Podcast : a weekly Blues profile on the genre's most important artists new and old.
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510165


Byther Smith "Blues On The Moon" on Delmark Records . CD 796, DVD 1796 www.delmark.com

"Byther Smith's blues is dark, brooding, and often unsettling. He writes songs by tapping his unconscious mind rather than carefully crafting an idea that's on his mind at the moment. "Blues On The Moon" is a live album, available both on CD and DVD, that offers Byther's actual show in Chicago. On some of his out-of-town shows, Smitty uses pick-up bands, and he does blues standards, not his own songs. This album offers the real Byther Smith, with all of his rough edges and contradictions. It's passionate, and politically incorrect, and not for everyone, but it is deep blues from a man's soul, unfiltered by polite sensibility."

Thank you Jonny Meister and WXPN/NPR !!!

"The drone-framed, pleading 'Give Up My Life" is a harrowing, gospel-oriented effort that strains with emotional intensity while the autobiographical "Monticello" (Smith was born in Monticello, Mississippi) is a brooding 'searching for my baby' saga with Smith's legendary vocal delivery recalling Bobby "Blue" Bland in his early Duke days and the driving "Hard Times" has a sweat-dripping Smith shouting at the top of his lungs about the travails of a bluesman's life on the road." - Gary von Tersch, Blues & Rhythm, Sept. 2008



Coming soon on Delmark!
Blues and Jazz DVDs and CDs celebrating our 55th year, and
** Never before issued '74 recordings from legendary blues poet Sleepy John Estes!


Delmark Fall Releases (end of October 2008)

Delmark • 55 Years of Jazz Delmark DE-914

Contains one CD and one DVD! After wearing out Delmark’s 2003 set celebrating 50 years of great jazz, you probably thought you were going to have to wait at least until 2013 for another such anniversary collection! But when you’ve got a rich catalog like Delmark’s and a label head like Bob Koester who is committed to keep expanding that catalog, why not seize every opportunity to throw a party for your enterprise--and all the great artists behind the candles on the cake? CD features Coleman Hawkins, Sun Ra, George Lewis, Curtis Fuller, Deep Blue Organ Trio, Francine Griffin and more. DVD features Nicole Mitchell, Ari Brown, Fred Anderson, Chicago Underground Trio, and more.

Delmark • 55 Years of Blues Delmark DE-915

Contains one CD and one DVD! Delmark’s 55th anniversary blues bash at Buddy Guy’s Legends on March 7, 2008 was suitably festive, with most of Delmark’s local blues roster on hand and a Delmark Day proclamation from Mayor Daley.The role that Bob Koester, his label, and his Jazz Record Mart have played since relocating some fifty years ago from St. Louis in nurturing and furthering the Chicago blues scene have broadened its horizons and benefitted virtually everyone involved in some way. CD features Junior Wells, Magic Sam, Otis Rush, Speckled Red, Willie Kent and more. DVD features Tail Dragger, Byther Smith, Jimmy Burns, Zora Young's performance from the 55th anniversary bash and more.

Sleepy John Estes - 80 Highway Delmark DE-797 (never issued before!)

John Adam Estes was born on January 25, 1904 in Ripley, Tennessee. His recording career spanned six decades from the '20s until his death on June 5, 1977. "Sleepy John Estes was one of the most individual of all recorded blues singers. He sang with phrasing that fairly dripped with expressiveness in a high crying tone that seemed often like he was speaking to the listener. The songs he wrote were well suited to this treatment, dealing frequently with his and his neighbors' lives in Brownsville, Tennessee." - Gerald Brennan. This session from July 19, 1974 was recorded just before Sleepy John and Hammie Nixon departed for a tour of Japan. None of these performances have ever been issued. Sleepy John Estes, vocals, guitar; Hammie Nixon, vocals, harmonica, kazoo.

John Burnett Swing Orchestra - West of State Street / East of Harlem with special guest Randy Sandke Delmark DE-584

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 top-notch Chicago musicians and features guest vocalist Frieda Lee. This live recording was captured at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn, IL (the album title refers to the street location of the venue) 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.





Kevin Johnson
Delmark promotions
www.delmark.com
www.jazzmart.com
bluesjazz@delmark.com
773 539 5001