NYT Profile of Bob Koester & Delmark

[Dan Gould]

Happily Seduced by the Blues

By LARRY ROHTER

Published: June 23, 2009

Chicago

BOB KOESTER came here in 1958 because he was a jazz and blues fan who wanted to see his favorite music played live in the small, smoky clubs that dotted the city. But he has ended up doing much more than that: as the founder and sole proprietor of Delmark Records he also became and remains the most dedicated chronicler of that scene, now gradually receding into history.

“I was seduced by the music,” Mr. Koester said in an interview last month. “You can’t record everything you like, and I missed a lot of good sessions because I didn’t have the money. But there was so much going on. I liked the music, I liked the label, and I did as much as I could afford to do.”

More here.

[Chuck Nessa]

Thanks. I'd missed that one.

[Dan Gould]

I think the published date is wrong. I discovered it in the Arts & Leisure preview page for tomorrow's paper.

[papsrus]

Thanks Dan. Warm overview of an interesting guy. I love some of the stuff delmark puts out today.

[desertblues]

Thanks much - I have warm memories of shopping for blues at Jazz Record Mart back in the day.

[Chuck Nessa]

Too bad there's no mention of Steve Wagner - he's a big part of the label's output for the last decade