Bob's Blues & Jazz Mart

Bob's Blues & Jazz Mart is a Chicago record shop focused on blues and jazz, with a collection-minded atmosphere shaped by the city's deep music history. The store is especially useful for listeners who want to dig beyond the obvious names, ask questions, and connect records to the artists, labels, and scenes behind them.

The shop draws collectors, musicians, tourists, and longtime listeners, but collectors make up many of the repeat visits. For people buying or selling blues and jazz records, artist, label, condition, and the shape of a collection all matter. The store has a particular connection to sought-after artists such as Miles Davis and labels such as Blue Note, while also encouraging newer listeners to explore how broad and experimental blues and jazz can be.

Interview with Bob's Blues & Jazz Mart

Bob's Blues & Jazz Mart points straight at Chicago's blues and jazz history. Does that history still show up in the store day to day?

Well records by their nature are markers of the past, and vintage ones even more so, since they carry not just the history of the recorded music but also the tangible recording itself. And customers bring both questions about the history, which I do my best to answer, and their own stories.

When people come in for blues or jazz, are they usually collectors, musicians, tourists, longtime listeners, or a mix of everyone?

A mix of everyone, but collectors account for the most visits, because someone who is not a collector will generally only come once. We are an interesting spot, but there is only so much value you can get out of it if you are not getting things for your collection. I admit I am especially proud when musicians come in and find items that interest them.

For records that come through, what matters most: artist, label, pressing, condition, or the story behind it?

Out of those, artist is the most important, followed closely by label. It is a market, and customers like to have signifiers that the thing they are buying will be like other things they like, and artist is very important to that.

Some labels are like that too, but then the biggest artists, like for instance Miles Davis, did their biggest albums for record companies that were too sprawling to have that kind of elite reputation. The story behind a recording is nice to know, but since individual albums come and go it is hard for the story to make a big difference in the long run.

What is a Chicago blues or jazz misconception you wish more record buyers understood?

I must admit most customers who come into the store already understand the important things: what they like, what they do not like, and what they want to know more about.

I guess the misconception that might stop people from coming into the store is that if they have heard some jazz or blues and disliked it, there are other, very different jazz and blues they might like better.

If someone is visiting Chicago and cares about blues and jazz, what should they know before tracking down your shop?

Well, how to navigate the public transit system can be helpful, since we are close to the Blue and Brown lines but it takes a walk or bus connection to reach them. And if they are just starting out in jazz or blues, maybe listen to a couple popular songs in that genre so they can give me some idea of what they like or do not like.

How did you end up specializing specifically in blues and jazz?

My dad started that because it was the music he knew and loved, so it would both be what he would be best at and would enjoy doing the most. I stuck with that in part because I also like those genres and partly because by now we are the destination for them.

What is the best collection that has come through your door?

I must admit they blend together in my mind. I put a lot of thought into profiling the collection when I am appraising it, because the theme of it, what specific kind of music, and the time when most of it was acquired are key to the value. People tend to buy a lot when they first have the space and money to do so, and then continue to fill in gaps in that same period.

But then the next collection arrives and I am doing it all over again. And if a collection is really good, people buy the items, so there is nothing around to remind me.

Is there an artist or label you are always hoping to find more of?

Miles Davis; all his stuff is sought after. And Blue Note, who kept a distinctive style and quality level throughout their independent existence.

What is something about Chicago blues that does not get talked about enough?

That it is an experimental music, like jazz, with people pushing the boundaries between it and both older and newer forms. One reason some people may think of blues as frozen repertory music is that outgrowths like rock, R&B, and funk got excluded from it.

Not to say that Nirvana or Parliament are blues bands, but that blues that includes elements of those styles can be blues if it is done with blues spirit.

What is one piece of advice you would give a first-time blues or jazz collector?

Acquire a few things you like and the minimal equipment needed to enjoy them. Listen a lot to the ones you love, and learn about the things that made them great. At the same time, take advantage of how the 21st century lets us listen to a wide variety of music on a whim.

Then as you find more things you love, acquire them, until you reach the point where you can enjoy digging in a store like mine and perhaps blind-buy something you find there that looks like you would love it. At the same time, I encourage people to take a quick listen, by whatever means, before buying even in that situation.

Last updated: 2026-06-23