Umlaut Records is one of Europe’s most interesting improvised-music labels, run by a collective with members in Berlin, Paris, and Stockholm. It’s released a ton of great music, including aggressive free bop, austere free improvisation, and contemporary classical music (such as a recent a recording of the brilliant and challenging vocal work 14 Recitations by composer Georges Aperghis). The generally forward-looking slant of Umlaut’s catalog makes the music of the Umlaut Big Band, based in Paris, even more fascinating in contrast. This jazz orchestra dedicates itself to swing music as it was heard in Europe during the 20s and 30s, focusing on historically accurate renditions of vintage tunes by composers on both sides of the Atlantic.
On Saturday Dusty Groove Records (1120 N. Ashland) celebrates its 20th anniversary with a block party from noon till 5 PM, though rather than taking up a whole block it’s just on Haddon between Ashland and the alley behind the shop. Dusty Groove’s uniqueness is well-established at this point—it’s a great place to find jazz, international music, vintage hip-hop, soul, disco, and soundtracks, among other nonmainstream stuff. Owner Rick Wojcik is a deft retailer with a meticulous sense of how to make the most of his store’s physical capacity.
