... 78 RPM, Vinyl record

... LP, Vinyl record album

A sweet set of soundtrack funk – from a film named after one of our favorite streets in Chicago! Although the record's got an approach that's perhaps a bit tighter and smoother than anything going down on Stony in the late 70s, it does manage to share a good deal of styles with the Chi-soul scene of the time – thanks to work on the record from Chicagoans Gene Barge, Sonny Seals, and Tennyson Stephens! Many of the tracks on the set have a bad-walking soul approach – one that's kind of a mixture of funky and bluesy – and these are laid out next to some jazzier instrumentals that we like most of all – tunes that have a great funky soundtrack feel, but with a bit more fusion touches than usual, probably because of the work of David Matthews. Titles include "Percy Fired", "Party Lights", "High Speed Posters", "Back To Business", "Chase The Train", "Gangster City", "Dream Ride", and "Peace Of Mind". CD

A sweet set of soundtrack funk – from a film named after one of our favorite streets in Chicago! Although the record's got an approach that's perhaps a bit tighter and smoother than anything going down on Stony in the late 70s, it does manage to share a good deal of styles with the Chi-soul scene of the time – thanks to work on the record from Chicagoans Gene Barge, Sonny Seals, and Tennyson Stephens! Many of the tracks on the set have a bad-walking soul approach – one that's kind of a mixture of funky and bluesy – and these are laid out next to some jazzier instrumentals that we like most of all – tunes that have a great funky soundtrack feel, but with a bit more fusion touches than usual, probably because of the work of David Matthews. Titles include "Percy Fired", "Party Lights", "High Speed Posters", "Back To Business", "Chase The Train", "Gangster City", "Dream Ride", and "Peace Of Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 1933 recordings by Condon and orchestra and 1940 recordings by Bud Freeman & His Famous Chicagoans. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best records ever by this unique bop trumpeter – and one that catches him with a strong comeback group that includes Chicagoans Ira Sullivan on trumpet and tenor, Vic Sproles on bass, and Norman Simmons on piano. Roy Haynes rounds out the group on drums – giving the proceedings a warm soulful feel. Titles include "Swingin With Daddy-O", "Hale To Dale", "Laura", and "Trumpet Juice". LP, Vinyl record album

Tom Waits's follow-up to Rain Dogs – and a batch of songs that do double duty as a straight-up, stand alone record from his wild years at Island Records – and also as the musical accompaniment to a play he co-wrote with wife Kathleen Brennan! (As Chicagoans, we have a special fondness for that side of the project, since the play premiered here with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.) It's a prime batch of Waits songcraft from this most amazing creative peak period – with the trademark gritty, howled vocals, primal drums, pre-rock horns. Titles include "More Than Rain", "Way Down In The Hole", "Straight To The Top", "Telephone Call From Istanbul", "Train Song", "Cold Cold Ground", "I'll Be Gone", "Yesterday Is Here", "Blow Wind Blow", and "Hang On St Christopher". LP, Vinyl record album

Tom Waits's follow-up to Rain Dogs – and a batch of songs that do double duty as a straight-up, stand alone record from his wild years at Island Records – and also as the musical accompaniment to a play he co-wrote with wife Kathleen Brennan! (As Chicagoans, we have a special fondness for that side of the project, since the play premiered here with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.) It's a prime batch of Waits songcraft from this most amazing creative peak period – with the trademark gritty, howled vocals, primal drums, pre-rock horns. Titles include "More Than Rain", "Way Down In The Hole", "Straight To The Top", "Telephone Call From Istanbul", "Train Song", "Cold Cold Ground", "I'll Be Gone", "Yesterday Is Here", "Blow Wind Blow", and "Hang On St Christopher". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Joe Marsala & His Chicagoans, Midge Williams & Her Jazz Jesters, Maxine Sullivan & Her Orchestra, John Kirby & His Orchestra, Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra, Red Norvo & His Swing Septet, Midlred Bailey & Her Swing Band, Slim & Slam, Slim Gaillard & His Flat Foot Floogie Boys, Bud Freeman & His Famous Chicagoans, and Bobby Hackett & His Orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly our favorite album ever from Chico Freeman – a beautiful set that was originally issued only in Japan, and which has Chico hitting some of his strongest, most spiritual modes on record! The album features Freeman's reeds in the company of other Chicagoans – AACM players who include Henry Threadgill on saxes, Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, Douglas Ewart on flutes, and Steve McCall on percussion – plus added work from Cecil McBee on bass and Ben Montgomery on drums – both players who round out the group with a very solid rhythmic focus. There's a bold sense of direction to this record that you don't always get in other work from Chico – a sound that's almost more Strata East at points, and which serves to bring the AACM players into sharp formation, and a strongly rhythmic orientation at times. The whole thing's wonderful – very well-crafted, and filled with spirit and soul – and titles include "The In Between", "Like The Kind Of Peace It Is", "Morning Prayer", "Pepe's Samba", and "Conversations". LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly our favorite album ever from Chico Freeman – a beautiful set that was originally issued only in Japan, and which has Chico hitting some of his strongest, most spiritual modes on record! The album features Freeman's reeds in the company of other Chicagoans – AACM players who include Henry Threadgill on saxes, Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, and Steve McCall on percussion – plus added work from Cecil McBee on bass and Ben Montgomery on drums – both players who round out the group with a very solid rhythmic focus. There's a bold sense of direction to this record that you don't always get in other work from Chico – a sound that's almost more Strata East at points, and which serves to bring the AACM players into sharp formation, and a strongly rhythmic orientation at times. The whole thing's wonderful – very well-crafted, and filled with spirit and soul – and titles include "The In Between", "Like The Kind Of Peace It Is", "Morning Prayer", "Pepe's Samba", and "Conversations". CD also features a bonus 19 minute version of "Pepe's Samba". CD

Excellent work from one of our favorite young tenor players! When Alexander first started out in Chicago, we'd catch him at southside gigs, either on his own or in Charles Earland's group – and we'd marvel at the richness of his playing, even though he was just an unknown young player in his early 20s! Since those years (not long ago!) Alexander's turned into one of the strongest voices of his generation – with a sound that's steeped in the traditions of tenor giants like Sonny Rollins, Tubby Hayes, and Frank Foster, yet which also has a great deal of youthful creativity. This album's one of his best so far – and it features Alexander in the company of a group that includes Harold Mabern on piano and Pat Martino on guitar, both super-soulful players who are a great match of the playing of the leader. Titles include "The Phineas Trane", "Stand Pat", "Night Song", "First Milestone", and "34 Was Sweetness" (Chicagoans will get that reference!) CD

A rare slice of the career of this famous and short-lived jazz duo – tapes that were recorded in 1955 at the legendary Bee Hive niteclub in Chicago, but not issued until the end of the 70s, in this smashing 2LP set that was produced by Max himself! The material offers a strong contrast to the sometimes more staid work the pair recorded for Mercury before Brown's untimely death – as it features unbridled playing in a rougher environment than usual – and a break from the original format of the famous group, with only Roach, Brown, and bassist George Morrow intact – plus appearances from Chicagoans Nicky Hill on tenor, Billy Wallace on piano, and Leo Blevins on guitar. Sonny Rollins makes an early appearance on tenor – and titles include long versions of "Walkin", "Cherokee", "I'll Remember April", and "Woody N You". If you've ever wondered what hard bop sounded like to the average crowd at the time of its popularity, this is the record to dig! LP, Vinyl record album

A rare slice of the career of this famous and short-lived jazz duo – tapes that were recorded in 1955 at the legendary Bee Hive niteclub in Chicago, but not issued until the end of the 70s, in this smashing set that was produced by Max himself! The material offers a strong contrast to the sometimes more staid work the pair recorded for Mercury before Brown's untimely death – as it features unbridled playing in a rougher environment than usual – and a break from the original format of the famous group, with only Roach, Brown, and bassist George Morrow intact – plus appearances from Chicagoans Nicky Hill on tenor, Billy Wallace on piano, and Leo Blevins on guitar. Sonny Rollins makes an early appearance on tenor – and titles on this first volume include "Hot House", "Woody N You", and "I'll Remember April". If you've ever wondered what hard bop sounded like to the average crowd at the time of its popularity, this is the record to dig! LP, Vinyl record album

A rare slice of the career of this famous and short-lived jazz duo – tapes that were recorded in 1955 at the legendary Bee Hive niteclub in Chicago, but not issued until the end of the 70s, in this smashing set that was produced by Max himself! The material offers a strong contrast to the sometimes more staid work the pair recorded for Mercury before Brown's untimely death – as it features unbridled playing in a rougher environment than usual – and a break from the original format of the famous group, with only Roach, Brown, and bassist George Morrow intact – plus appearances from Chicagoans Nicky Hill on tenor, Billy Wallace on piano, and Leo Blevins on guitar. Sonny Rollins makes an early appearance on tenor – and titles on this first volume include long versions of "Walkin" and "Cherokee". If you've ever wondered what hard bop sounded like to the average crowd at the time of its popularity, this is the record to dig! LP, Vinyl record album

Quite possibly our favorite album ever from Chico Freeman – a beautiful set that was originally issued only in Japan, and which has Chico hitting some of his strongest, most spiritual modes on record! The album features Freeman's reeds in the company of other Chicagoans – AACM players who include Henry Threadgill on saxes, Muhal Richard Abrams on piano, Douglas Ewart on flutes, and Steve McCall on percussion – plus added work from Cecil McBee on bass and Ben Montgomery on drums – both players who round out the group with a very solid rhythmic focus. There's a bold sense of direction to this record that you don't always get in other work from Chico – a sound that's almost more Strata East at points, and which serves to bring the AACM players into sharp formation, and a strongly rhythmic orientation at times. The whole thing's wonderful – very well-crafted, and filled with spirit and soul – and titles include "The In Between", "Like The Kind Of Peace It Is", "Morning Prayer", "Pepe's Samba", and "Conversations". CD also features a bonus 19 minute version of "Pepe's Samba". CD

A rare slice of the career of this famous and short-lived jazz duo – tapes that were recorded in 1955 at the legendary Bee Hive niteclub in Chicago, but not issued until the end of the 70s, in this smashing 2CD set that was produced by Max himself! The material offers a strong contrast to the sometimes more staid work the pair recorded for Mercury before Brown's untimely death – as it features unbridled playing in a rougher environment than usual – and a break from the original format of the famous group, with only Roach, Brown, and bassist George Morrow intact – plus appearances from Chicagoans Nicky Hill on tenor, Billy Wallace on piano, and Leo Blevins on guitar. Sonny Rollins makes an early appearance on tenor – and titles include long versions of "Walkin", "Cherokee", "I'll Remember April", and "Woody N You". If you've ever wondered what hard bop sounded like to the average crowd at the time of its popularity, this is the record to dig – and even though the recording quality is sometimes a bit "live", it's still a great document! The 2CD package expands on the original 2LP set – and also features work from Basin Street performances from 1956, and a Copenhagen gig from 1953 – making for a total of 12 tracks in all! CD

A well-titled book from Liz Phair – as it's not a direct narrative of her life and music, as most memoirs tend to be – but instead a set of shorter vignettes, most of which are at crucial moments in her life – told from a backstage, behind-the-scenes perspective – and with all of the wit and honesty that Phair has brought to her music right from the start! As Chicagoans who were there when Liz was rising to fame, we were initially expecting more of a book about our city and scene – but instead, Phair does a great job of juxtaposing places and moments, going back and forth in time, and in the process showing us just how vibrant she's remained over the years. The book is hardcover, 260 pages, and includes some black and white images. Book

Brilliant work from Jason Stein – a Chicago player who's been making some mighty waves on the avant scene of late, and who really comes into his own with this album! Stein's part of the new generation of avant Chicagoans – players who have a strong knowledge of free jazz, but also opt for a bit more structure and swing too – the kind of modernism that emerged best at the cusp of the 60s, in the generation of Mingus, Dolphy, and Ornette! Stein plays bass clarinet here, and there's definitely a Dolphy vibe to the music – great long solo lines, stretched out and searching, but also still swinging too – thanks to these nicely-blocked rhythms from Josh Abrams on bass and Frank Rosaly on drums. Keefe Jackson also plays some mean tenor – and titles include "Laced Case", "Background Music", "Little Big Horse", "Hatoolie", "Gallop's Gallop", "Work", "Lennie Bird", and "Badlands". Another great one from the new generation of Delmark! CD

Tom Waits's follow-up to Rain Dogs – and a batch of songs that do double duty as a straight-up, stand alone record from his wild years at Island Records – and also as the musical accompaniment to a play he co-wrote with wife Kathleen Brennan! (As Chicagoans, we have a special fondness for that side of the project, since the play premiered here with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company.) It's a prime batch of Waits songcraft from this most amazing creative peak period – with the trademark gritty, howled vocals, primal drums, pre-rock horns. Titles include "More Than Rain", "Way Down In The Hole", "Straight To The Top", "Telephone Call From Istanbul", "Train Song", "Cold Cold Ground", "I'll Be Gone", "Yesterday Is Here", "Blow Wind Blow", and "Hang On St Christopher". CD

A fascinating look at our fair city of Chicago – a city of neighborhoods, which are often very separate and divided – as you'll discover in this detailed look at four of them by William Julius Wilson and Richard P Taub! The volume follows on Chicago classics like Black Metropolis, but looks at things from a more contemporary process – as the evolving areas of the city continue to be a microcosm of larger issues in the country, which is obviously one of the directions the authors are taking the project. Research was very detailed – done with the assistance of a number of graduate students – but the information is nicely distilled, in a combination of ethnographic and sociological methods that combine data and dialogue. The project is great – and our main complaint as Chicagoans is that it's just lacking in a map and addresses – but that's something that will hardly bother a reader outside of the Windy City. 227 pages, softcover. Book

Music from Ray Noble And His Orchestra, Louis Armstrong And His Orchestra, The Chicago Rhythm Kings, McKenzie And Condon's Chicagoans, Bob Crosby's Bob Cats, The Teddy Wilson Quartet, Bessie Smith, Bix Beiderbecke And His Gang, The Rhythmakers, Pee Wee Russell's Hot Four, Benny Goodman And His Orchestra, Jelly Roll Morton And His Orchestra, and more. CD