More than 50-years-old and still going strong,
Delmark
records is Chicago's oldest
jazz
and
blues
label and arguably the most important one still operating. They've released stone-cold classics in both genres over the years and currently maintain one of the best rosters of Chicago talent in the field. You can thank
Bob Koester
for that; a nominee for "Patron Saint of Chicago Jazz and Blues" if ever there was one. He also heads up the world's largest
retail store: Chicago's Jazz Record Mart. Every year during the
Chicago Blues Festival
, Jazz Record Mart hosts the
brunch, where members of the
family put on a free show (and brunch!) inside the store. In 2005,
Michael Coleman & the Backbreakers
acted as house band, backing a variety of other
artists in a great informal setting, and
Blues Brunch at the Mart
was recorded for posterity. Aside from the two solo piano numbers (
Steve Behr
Aaron Moore
),
the Backbreakers
back all performers giving the album a unified sound, even as the lead performers come and go. But don't think this all sounds the same. You go from an updated version of
"The Sky Is Crying"
by
Michael Coleman
to the gritty
of
Lurrie Bell
to the
gospel
-informed sounds of
Shirley Johnson
to the growling, extroverted
Tail Dragger
. The late, great
Willie Kent
takes a final bow as well. From the between-song patter, one gets the sense that this isn't just a group of musicians united by their label; this is the
family, and the patriarch is
(who turns in a couple of priceless introductions). Part label roster sampler and part historical souvenir,
is a fine snapshot of
circa 2005. ~ Sean Westergaard