Delmark Records Releases Full Circle, the Latest from Chicago Blues Legend Jimmy Burns and the Soul Message Band

Delmark Records Releases Full Circle, the Latest from Chicago Blues Legend Jimmy Burns and the Soul Message Band

​Delmark Records proudly announces the release of Full Circle, the powerful new album from legendary bluesman Jimmy Burns in collaboration with the incomparable Soul Message Band.

With Full Circle, Jimmy Burns revisits his remarkable musical journey  from his earliest 45 rpm recordings to his most recent creative explorations bringing his story quite literally full circle.

In the 1960s and early ’70s, Burns’ original 45s became prized collector’s items. Interestingly, he never performed those songs live; they were each captured in single studio sessions, then took on a life of their own in the vinyl and digital worlds. This project draws inspiration from those formative recordings  split 45s popular in jukeboxes and dance halls of the time  featuring both Jimmy’s own compositions and songs by celebrated industry songwriters from long-gone labels.

Full Circle includes one of Burns’ earliest originals, “It Use To Be” (1966), alongside four tracks he recorded across the decades: “Give Her To Me” (1965), “Where Does That Leave Me” (1971–72), “I Really Love You” (1972), and “Too Much Lovin’” from Delmark’s acclaimed Night Time Again (1999).

The album also finds Burns interpreting songs that have long held personal meaning  including Big Joe Turner’s “World of Trouble,” Lil’ Son Jackson’s “Rock Me Mama,” and Charles Wright’s “Express Yourself,” a tribute to a fellow Clarksdale, Mississippi native. Together, these selections capture the essence of Jimmy’s roots and influences, illustrating how his artistry has indeed come Full Circle.

About the Soul Message BandWith a sound steeped in classic Hammond B3 organ grooves, Soul Message Band delivers a soulful and infectious style rooted in the legacy of jazz organ greats such as Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Charles Earland, Jack McDuff, and “Groove” Holmes.

Founded on the enduring partnership between Chris Foreman, Chicago’s renowned Hammond B3 virtuoso, and drummer Greg Rockingham (aka “The Rock”), the band’s chemistry spans nearly four decades  from their acclaimed Deep Blue Organ Trio to touring the world and sharing stages with Steely Dan for eight years.

Inducted into the Hammond B3 Hall of Fame, Soul Message Band released their celebrated Delmark debut Soulful Days in 2019 to widespread praise from critics, DJs, and audiences alike.

For Full Circle, Foreman and Rockingham are joined by long-time collaborators Geof Bradfield (saxophone) and Lee Rothenberg (guitar), alongside Greg Jung (alto sax), Typhanie Monique (vocals), and Steve Eisen (baritone and tenor saxophones). Together, they provide the perfect backdrop for Jimmy Burns’ timeless voice and storytelling.
Full Circle is more than an album — it’s a celebration of a lifetime in blues, soul, and song.
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Tracklist:
1  Express Yourself
2  World of Trouble
3  I Really Love You
4  Ain't That Funk For You
5  Too Much Lovin
6  Give Her To Me
7  It Use To Be
8  Since I Fell For You
9  Rock Me Mama
10  Where Does That Leave Me