Delmark
's
50 Years of Jazz and Blues
is a decent budget-priced 28-cut retrospective highlighting the types of
jazz
the Chicago label has championed since its beginning in 1953, from
Dixieland
,
bop
, and
free jazz
to modern
experimental
. Not only does it include exceptional material by
Illinois Jacquet
Muhal Richard Abrams
Sun Ra
Ira Sullivan
Roscoe Mitchell
, but also unissued tracks by
Tab Smith
Art Hodes
Malachi Thompson's Africa Brass
Sonny Stitt
. This collection gives a superb overview of
's activities through the years, and is recommended to all
historians along with beginners just starting to explore this music. ~ Al Campbell