This eighth Delmark Gallery show will feature over 25 prints of blues and jazz musicians captured by Dave Specter over the past couple of years, from many different live performances and venues. The show will run from June 3 – Sept. 1
Dave Specter has earned an international reputation as one of the premier talents on the Chicago music scene. Since 1985 Specter has performed regularly at top venues and festivals throughout the USA and has toured internationally in 19 countries.
Before forming his own band in 1989, Specter toured extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe behind such blues greats as Son Seals, The Legendary Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Sam Lay and Steve Freund. Specter has also performed and/or recorded with such artists as Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Otis Rush, Jimmy Rogers, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Jimmy Johnson, Jack McDuff, Johnny Adams, Snooky Pryor, Kim Wilson, Tad Robinson, John Primer, Johnny Littlejohn, B.B. Odom, Mighty Joe Young, Magic Slim, Lonnie Brooks, Ronnie Earl, Otis Clay, Floyd McDaniel, Pinetop Perkins and Jorma Kaukonen from Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane.
Dave has performed for the President of the United States, the Governor of Illinois and the Mayor of Chicago.
Dave appears on over 50 albums and DVDs as a guitarist, bandleader and/or producer, with 13 albums as a leader or co-leader on Delmark Records. His new double album, Six String Soul 30 Years on Delmark was released in 2021.
Specter’s guitar playing is featured on the 2023 Grammy nominated “Into The Little Blue House” by Wendy and DB, nominated for Best Children’s Music Album.
Specter appears on compilation albums with artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, T-Bone Walker, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Mike Bloomfield.
Dave was inducted into The Chicago Blues Hall of Fame in 2018.
BLUES FROM THE INSIDE OUT:CD & LPBlues From The Inside Out is the most expressive project of Dave Specter’s 35-year career. Featuring his debut as a vocalist, the album is an exciting and timely celebration of blues, soul, jazz, funk and gospel. These are fine times to hear Specter, an evolving artist who embraces growth and discovery.Blues From The Inside Out includes a guest appearance on guitar by Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna fame, who also co-wrote one of the album’s 12 original tunes. Specter wrote the uplifting soul anthem for change “March Through the Darkness,” he takes a deep dive into Meters-Neville Brothers inspired rhythms with the instrumental “Sanctifunkious” and sings on the blues shuffle title track. Besides Kaukonen, Specter recruited the Chicago-based Liquid Soul horns and Latin-percussion ace Ruben Alvarez, each playing on three tracks.ORDERMESSAGE IN BLUE:CD & LPDave Specter’s 10th album, Message in Blue, is a soulful and compelling blend of Specter’s original instrumentals along with powerful blues/R&B vocals. Soul legend Otis Clay makes his Delmark debut as special guest on three songs including a re-make of the classic “Got To Find A Way” with Willie Henderson and the Chicago Horns, The Falcons’ “I Found A Love” (complete with Specter nod to Robert Ward playing through a Magnatone amplifier) and a tribute to the late Bobby “Blue” Bland, “This Time I’m Gone For Good”. Brother John Kattke is on keyboards and vocals while harp ace Bob Corritore guests on two Specter originals. From tough and tone-full Chicago blues guitar to soul-jazz grooves and funky R&B, Message in Blue is sure to satisfy!LISTEN/BUYDAVE SPECTER LIVE IN CHICAGO: CD & DVDRecorded live at Buddy Guy’s Legends and Rosa’s Blues Lounge, Live In Chicago features special guests Jimmy Johnson, Tad Robinson and Sharon Lewis. The CD contains four instrumentals and two songs by each of the guest vocalists, while the DVD has three vocals by each.LISTEN/BUYIS WHAT IT ISDave Specter and Steve Freund have been personal and musical friends for many years. Guitarist Dave Specter has always straddled the blues/ jazz fence with a hip disregard for arbitrary restrictions. Once again Dave has put his distinctive mark on a collection of outstanding instrumentals from all corners of blues and its related genres. The result will please all lovers of lean, inspired guitar work. Is What It Is brings the two guitarists together for a smokin’ blues date that has a perfect balance of Steve’s heartfelt vocals on his new original songs and Dave’s instrumentals, including “People Get Ready”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, “Albatross”, and more Specter and Freund originals.LISTEN/BUYBLUEBIRD BLUESDave Specter and Barkin’ Bill Smith will be unfamiliar names to most listeners (as of the release of this album). But the music the two of them generate along with Ronnie Earl, Deitra Farr, and the Bluebirds is a lot of blues, and its contributors all deserve the notice and enjoyment which this set should bring to the creators and listeners respectivelyLISTEN/BUYBLUEPLICITYIf all of the up-and-coming blues guitarists in these fifty states were for form a line according to their worth as skilled and articulate musicians, Dave Specter would stand tall and near the front. Never prone to grandstanding, he communicates an inherent sense of style and form, subtlety and swing, keeping his magnetic needle always fixed on a steady, unalterable course. Joining him on this CD is Tad Robinson, an eight-year veteran of the Chicago blues scene and an uncommonly perceptive songwriter and striking vocalist.LISTEN/BUYLIVE IN EUROPEGuitarist Dave Specter has as much funky sweetness in his soul as anyone in town, but it’s the sweet side that comes through most in his playing. Like his idols T-Bone Walker and B.B. King, Dave finds the tender heart behind even the most down-and-dirty blues sentiments. Tad Robinson’s harmonica playing likewise shows a harmonica and melodic sophistication that recalls the instrument’s great innovators.LISTEN/BUYLEFT TURN ON BLUEThe Chicago guitarist’s Left Turn On Blue takes him right to the intersection of blues and jazz; specifically, Specter crosses the line between modern blues and the vintage jazz of the 40s, 50s, and 60s, returning to a musical philosophy in which the two idioms stood across from each other on a quite narrow street.LISTEN/BUYBLUES SPOKEN HEREGuitarist Dave Specter has always had good singers with him on his Delmark albums and Blues Spoken Here introduces Lenny Lynn. Similar to a previous Specter cohort Barkin’ Bill, Lynn has been influenced by Joe Williams (the one who sang with Count Basie) and Brook Benton. Their voices all have that deep, warm sound and Lenny also has that jazz sensibility apparent on the tracks “Listen Here” and “Moanin’”. With four albums of his own, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander is Delmark’s most popular jazz artist. He’s featured here on four tracks and knows Lenny from his early days of professional playing — Lenny actually gave Eric his first gig! This one is hot off the presses; both the studio performances and the two live tracks from Buddy Guy’s Legends blues club were recorded the last week of January, ’98.LISTEN/BUYSPECULATIN’Guitarist Dave Specter has always straddled the blues-jazz fence with a hip disregard for arbitrary restrictions. On Speculatin’, his sixth Delmark CD, Dave has put his distinctive mark on a collection of outstanding instrumental tunes from all corners of these related genres, tossing in a latin beat and some greasy organ in addition to his unmistakable West Side and Texas-inspired blues licks. The result will please all lovers of lean, inspired guitar work and will astound the blues buyer who previously considered instrumentals to be mere CD filler. Speculatin’ features nine original compositions and covers of tunes by Charles Earland, The Meters, Dizzy Gillespie and Junior Walker. Dave is accompanied by his working band of Rob Waters, Hammond B3 organ; Harlan Terson, bass; Mike Schlick, drums; and Rich Parenti, tenor sax.LISTEN/BUY
FEATURED ON…
Dave Specter has recorded with some of the preeminent blues and jazz players in the world. He appears on compilation CDs with artists such as Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Muddy Waters and B.B. King. He’s won awards for production and his signature skills can be heard from the production booth to the studio and live stages from Chicago to Europe.
“It Ain’t Over” – CD/DVD Delmark Records 55th Anniversary Concert recorded live at Buddy Guy’s Legends Chicago
“The Great Muddy Waters and Friends” – 3 CD set featuring Dave Specter, Junior Wells, Luther Allison, Louis Myers, Tad Robinson. Black Cat Records.
Delmark 40th Anniversary Blues – Compilation with Magic Sam, Junior Wells, Little Walter, Big Joe Williams, and others
Heartaches and Pain – Carey Bell
One to Infinity – Tad Robinson
Midnight Blues – Compilation with Junior Wells, Magic Sam, Little Walter, Luther Allison, and Louis Myers
The Blues Box – 5 CD box set with Otis Rush, Big Walter Horton, Magic Sam, Little Walter, and others
Wild Cards – With Al Miller, Willie Kent, Tad Robinson. Produced by Dave Specter.
700 Blues – Lurrie Bell’s second album. Dave Specter produced the album, and added guitar on two tracks.
Midnight Blues – Compilation with Junior Wells, Magic Sam, Little Walter, Luther Allison, and Louis Myers
The Blues Box – 5 CD box set with Otis Rush, Big Walter Horton, Magic Sam, Little Walter, and others.
West Side Baby – Floyd McDaniel. Produced by Dave Specter.
Blues Guitar Greats – Compilation with Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Mike Bloomfield, Otis Rush and others.
Kiss of Sweet Blues – Featuring Lurrie Bell and Nominated for Independent Blues Record of the Year by AFIM (Association for Independent Music).
Chicago Blues Tour – With Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Otis Rush and many others.
Delmark 45th Anniversary Blues and Jazz – with Junior Wells, Mighty Joe Young, Dave Specter, and others.
Good Blues To You – Aron Burton’s new CD on Delmark with Billy Branch, Larry Burton, Lurrie Bell.
Blues Guitar Heaven Vol. 2 – With Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, B.B. King and many others. Features Dave’s song “Bluebird Blues.”
“C” for Chicago – Steve Freund with Boz Scaggs, Kim Wilson, David Maxwell. Produced by Dave Specter.
This is the Blues Harmonica – w/ Junior Wells, Carey Bell, Little Walter, Big Walter Horton, Louis Myers, Billy Branch
In Between Time – Al Miller’s album, with Billy Flynn & John Primer Produced by Dave Specter
I’ll Be Your Mule – Steve Freund with Mr. B, Bob Stroger, Steve Guyger, Harlan Terson, Kenny Smith, Pete Crawford, Dave Clark, Clark Dean. Produced by Dave Specter
Ghosts & Angels – Sandy Andina’s debut singer/songwriter CD, features Corky Siegel, Frank Donaldson, and others. Dave plays guitar on the track “Pass The Bottle.”
It Ain’t Over – Delmark 55th anniversary CD/DVD – Featuring Dave Specter and many other Delmark Recording Artists. Winner of BMA for Best Blues DVD.
Going Back To Mississippi – Nora Jean Bruso.
Ship of Chocolate Chips – Joel Frankel
Blues Cannon – Dave Hannon & Band.
South Shore – Billy Seward featuring Jimmy Johnson, Willie Henderson. Produced by Dave Specter
Soul Burnin’ – Lil’ Red and the Rooster. Produced by Dave Specter
