Blues Brunch at the Mart

Michael Coleman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Delmark
• ASIN: B000EOTVR0
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #453,164 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Knockin' On Your Door - Little Arthur Duncan

2. The Sky Is Crying - Michael Coleman

3. I Need You So Bad - Lurrie Bell

4. Reconsider Baby - Lurrie Bell

5. Something New - Willie Kent

6. Sad & Evil Woman - Bonnie Lee

7. My Little Playhouse - Steve Freund

8. Toxic - Zora Young

9. Memories of Albert Ammons - Steve Behr

10. As The Years Go Passing By - Shirley Johnson

11. Be Careful - Tail Dragger

12. Wading In Deep Water - Aaron Moore

13. You're Going To Miss Me - Michael Coleman

Editorial Reviews

Chicago music buffs eagerly anticipate the second weekend of June for two reasons. First and foremost, that’s when the city stages its annual Chicago Blues Festival, bringing hundreds of thousands of fans to Grant Park on the lakefront for four days of free live blues whether the weather cooperates or not (sometimes it’s gorgeous, other times cold as hell). And if that weren’t enough of an incentive to bring out-of-towners into our city, it’s also when the Jazz Record Mart hosts its annual Blues Brunch.

Kicking off on Sunday morning prior to the final day of the Fest, the eagerly anticipated event welcomes customers from near and far to wolf down a tasty continental breakfast while digging through the JRM’s massive inventory of CDs, records, DVDs, and other assorted merchandise for hidden treasures. You might even encounter a noted author or two signing copies of a new blues-themed book. And best of all, there’s a free concert featuring an all-star array of Delmark’s top blues artists going on the whole time.

2005's Blues Brunch was no exception to that joyous tradition. Settling in as house band was Michael Coleman & the Backbreakers, whose 2000 Delmark album Do Your Thing! no doubt turned many a listener’s head as he tackled everything from stone-cold blues to Otis Redding’s "(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay." Born on Chicago’s West Side, Michael’s dazzling guitar technique began taking shape at age eight. A stint backing Johnny Christian preceded Coleman’s first big break in 1979, when he joined harp master James Cotton’s combo for a seven-year stretch. Michael’s crisp guitar technique and burnished vocals are heard here to fine advantage on a moody "The Sky Is Crying" that’s well removed from Elmore James’ original and a funk-powered rendition of Sammy Fender’s "You’re Going To Miss Me."

Also appearing that day (and on this CD) were Little Arthur Duncan, Lurrie Bell, Willie Kent, Bonnie Lee, Steve Freund, Zora Young, Steve Behr, Shirley Johnson, James "Taildragger" Jones, and Aaron Moore.

Next time you’re in the Windy City for the blues fest, drop on by the JRM for the Blues Brunch. Delicious as the food always is, the music’s even better!

-Bill Dahl

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From "All Music Guide", May 20, 2006

By 

S. Pomaville (United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blues Brunch at the Mart (Audio CD)

Review by Sean Westergaard

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 blues and jazz retail store: Chicago's Jazz Record Mart. Every year during the Chicago Blues Festival, Jazz Record Mart hosts the blues brunch, where members of the Delmark blues 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 Delmark 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 and 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 blues 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 Delmark blues family, and the patriarch is Bob Koester (who turns in a couple of priceless introductions). Part label roster sampler and part historical souvenir, Blues Brunch at the Mart is a fine snapshot of Delmark blues circa 2005.