Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

  1. #1
    Joe B mandopops's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    West of Chicago
    Posts
    610

    Default Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

    Bob Koester, owner of the Jazz Record Mart & founder of Delmark records, passed away at the age of 88. Bob was a major figure of the Blues & Jazz scene in Chicago for decades. He produced & reissued countless of Blues & Jazz recordings on Delmark Records down thru the years. He was responsible for producing many of Blues Mandolin Man Yank Rachel's later recordings.
    I believe I first visited the Jazz Record Mart around 1970. Of course I returned scores of times. If I were to see Bob & ask him a question, I was sure to get a long answer & trip thru the store & history. It was always fun & informative.
    I used to tell people the Jazz Record Mart was my favorite store in the world. It was messy, but if you wanted Jazz or Blues recordings, Pre-war, post war, Bop, Blues, Trad, Vinyl, 78's, cds etc... it was there. Somewhere.
    Chicago lost Joe Segal a year ago. Now Bob Koester. Jazz in Chicago has lost two champions.
    Joe B
    A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All

  2. The following members say thank you to mandopops for this post:


  3. #2
    Registered User lowtone2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    lower alabama
    Posts
    892

    Default Re: Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

    The Delmark catalogue is a wonder, and Bob did it for love not money.

  4. The following members say thank you to lowtone2 for this post:


  5. #3
    Joe B mandopops's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    West of Chicago
    Posts
    610

    Default Re: Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

    Yes, lowtone2, a wonder indeed.
    Hoodoo Man Blues by Junior Wells w/ the Friendly Chap (aka Buddy Guy) on Guitar.
    The crown jewel.
    Joe B
    A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All

  6. The following members say thank you to mandopops for this post:


  7. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Ashland, OR
    Posts
    141

    Default Re: Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

    and Magic Sam

  8. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to Bill Findley For This Useful Post:


  9. #5
    Joe B mandopops's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    West of Chicago
    Posts
    610

    Default Re: Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

    Love Magic Sam. Tragically he died so young. I never got to see him live.
    Interesting, I was talking with a guy once, think it was at one of the Blues fests in Bob’s record tent. He said he only liked country Blues, acoustic not electric. Except, he liked Magic Sam.
    Joe B
    A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All

  10. #6
    Registered User Tom Wright's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Rockville, MD
    Posts
    1,916
    Blog Entries
    7

    Default Re: Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

    Bob would offer the record store as a venue, and I played there in the mid-2000s with Zach Brock, promoting a jazz fiddle recording I produced with Zach. Bob offered us a contract, which we accepted. It was simple: Delmark would record us, and the "advance" was 400 CDs. There was a good studio setup at the Delmark office/warehouse, so they engineered the recording and produced the CDs. I was not really able to capitalize on the deal, working a "day job" full time and lacking all talent at booking, but I am grateful for the opportunity Bob gave me.
    Bandcamp -- https://tomwright1.bandcamp.com/
    Videos--YouTube
    Sound Clips--SoundCloud
    The viola is proof that man is not rational

  11. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Tom Wright For This Useful Post:


  12. #7
    Joe B mandopops's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    West of Chicago
    Posts
    610

    Default Re: Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

    Good story, Tom.
    Let’s not forget Mandolin content. Bob released a few Yank Rachel albums. Yank & the Tennessee Jug Busters, an acoustic recording featuring the Guitars of Sleepy John Estes & Big Joe Williams & a young Michael Bloomfield. Also, he released an electric Mandolin record, Chicago style. Yank’s Mandolin was featured on long time partner, Sleepy John’s Broke & Hungry LP. There are some trax on a couple of Delmark compilation albums.
    Thank Bob for preserving a piece Blues Mandolin history.
    Joe B
    A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All

  13. #8
    Registered User lowtone2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    lower alabama
    Posts
    892

    Default Re: Bob Koester Chicago Jazz/Blues Producer Passes

    Magic Sam is the top of chicago blues for me. That live recording from the teen club in Milwaukee, the Avant Garde? Perfection.

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •