Jazz Record Mart

I’m still in shock to learn this place closed, and only via watching one of the local TV newscasts. The selection was amazing, and the staff actually was decent to talk to myself. Liked how they always had a knack for making suggestions of artists and bands to check out, that I may not have made an attempt to try to listen to their music otherwise. Never had any problems talking to the staff here, myself.
I do sometimes wonder if their move to this location years ago was what hurt their business to the point of closing, due to low foot traffic on that part of Illinois Ave? (since you have to go down a flight of stairs (and often unshoveled and icey in the winter unfortunately) from Wabash to go here or to After Words. and I imagine some were probably reluctant to walk through the brief underground section of Illinois Ave) Besides that the news blurb about them closing said the main reason was because of a rent increase, and that sadly it mentioned their vinyl stock was sold to some online retailer. I just hope other niche music stores aren’t next to close, such as Dusty Groove.
RIP Jazz Record Mart, and I’m very sorry I didn’t visit more often when you were in business! Sigh, since I think my last visit was in the late 2000s. :(Wish I’d known they were closing down, since I would’ve paid one last visit here. Sad that their closing occurred without any warning!

If you’re shopping for Jazz albums, I have never seen a better or more diverse collection. Prices are a little high but well worth it. Plan on spending a minimum of an hour going through the bins here

Impressive collection and for those who didn’t grow up browsing record stores, a must-​do or see.
What was less impressive was the cliquish vibe by staff and friends. You are Jazz guys, we get it.
The couple of relatively simple, inquiring questions seemed to be too much for the staff member as I was checking out, and overall I knew it wasn’t an encounter I wanted to continue. I therefore politely informed the gentleman I would be ‘back’ and left the vinyl at the counter.
Overall, the experience reinforced my belief that it’s usually not worth dealing with difficult people when you can shop discogs and other marketplaces for the vinyl.
No hard feelings though: I’ll gladly take my $x/​month music budget elsewhere. Maybe when I have gray hair and am an antisocial dry-​drunk I’ll try and go back.

Having walked by here dozens of times I finally needed an escape from the extreme summer heat after jogging one day. There are so very few places like this left anymore: massive long aisles of records and CDs, nicely organized in those old-​style plastic CD cases (it is strange to see those again after so long), a mix of new and used. Main find is DIVERSITY: you name it, you can probably find it here, there was a large avant-​garde/​new music section to my delight. I was looking for an introduction to the late Ornette Coleman and there was a box set and compilation all ready for me right there. Throw in some John Cage to boot! The guys up front are nice and prepare to check your bags because they are really intense about that.

If it’s jazz or blues, they have or they can get it. Location isn’t very convenient for parking, but when I’m downtown I make sure to make a visit. If you’re looking for jazz for you or someone you dig, this is the place. The staff is extremely knowledgeable. I’ve bought many a record here over the years, and the experience is consistently rewarding.

Excellent store for all things jazz. Anytime I am in town I make sure to hit this place and have them ship the booty home. Their selection is very large and across all popular formats.

I brought some good jazz records in to sell to them. Their offer was ridiculous. I mean insultingly low. A week later, I brought them up to a store in Milwaukee called Bullseye and the guy there offered me 6 times their offer. Yes, you read that right. I must have looked shocked because the clerk asked what was wrong. When I explained the lowball offer I received from the Jazz Record Mart, he laughed. He said that he hears it all the time.
I wish I still lived in Milwaukee so I could get there more often, but needless to say, I won’t be taking any records in the JRM to sell any time soon.

As I was contemplating on getting an expensive Brahmin handbag from Nordstrom, I stumbled upon this place while I was heading west on Grand Ave. With my new-​found love on vinyl records, I bookmarked this place some time ago but never knew where it was located exactly.
This trip turned out to be an unexpected one. For those who aren’t familiar with the near North side of the city, Jazz Record Mart is located «under» the bridge on E. Illinois. Taking the CTA train and get off at the Grand Red Line station is a great alternative if fighting the city traffic isn’t your best interest.
I walked in and a nice young man at the register greeted me. He didn’t ask me to submit my cross-​body bag since I’m a lady (assuming that was the case). Otherwise, all bag packs ought to be checked in. Many stores in the city follow the similar guideline, but ladies’ handbags are typically exempted.
Initially, I was worried about the pricing because I used to find most of my vinyl records at various thrift stores. In other words, I normally paid no more than $ 3 per LP vinyl. As I was browsing through each aisle, I found many great records on sale for $ 0.99, $ 1.99, and some awesome price-​points. It was nice and relaxing to spend time at Jazz Record Mart. I really appreciated my impromptu trip here away from the commercial Magnificent Mile.
Other than vinyl records, you can also find cassettes, CDs, and DVDs. If you’re a lover for Jazz music in all eras and styles; alternatives or mainstreams, I believe there’s something for every Jazz fan.
I found three (3) vinyl records, with one (1) of them being the Abbott & Castello comedy duo. The total was $ 6.63 after tax. I used to watch Abbott & Castello non-​stop when I spent my first Thanksgiving with my hubby’s (at that time my boyfriend’s) extended family. I’ve always been a shy loner if I don’t know my surroundings well and reluctant to take the initiatives to hang out with, so-​called, «strangers.» Thus, A & C was my escape. When I saw it, I placed it under my arm because I knew that would be purchased certainly!
The other two (2) vinyls were Banjo classics and live Jazz recording at college campuses (NYU, Rutgers, Amherst, and Princeton). I listened to all of them as soon as I got home. They were in excellent conditions and great additions to what I already have collected.
They accept visa, master, and discover cards. I was solo on this trip and was very excited to tell hubby about my journey at JRM. I’m officially a fan of this store!

One of my favorite places in Chicago to spend a few hours. The jazz record Mart is a chicago institution, one of the last record stores that carries exclusively jazz & blues. They carry new & used vinyl, CDs, tapes, videos, and jazz books. I love looking at their used records which are very reasonably priced, and always end up walking out with an armful!

Justo found this shop on the way to work (Conrad Hotel of Chicago) and stopped in. They’ll ask you to put your bag behind the front desk if you have one, and give you a plastic card to carry until you check out. Which I thought was reasonable, given the location.
All in all, I think this is a great shop — almost hidden unless you know it’s there. It looks somewhat small from the outside, but it’s really got an ass on it! I was surprised at how much they have available.
I spoke with Terrance, who worked there, to get some advice on where to start in the shop. He seemed to have a solid handle on Jazz/​Blues artists and who to check out if you’re looking for something new. They have a great selection of other genres as well.
I am very pleased to have this place a block away from where I work — and can’t wait to stop back again to explore some more. Prices are decent, the walls/​isles are filled with music in good to mint condition and the staff is accommodating and friendly. What more could you want from your local record shop?
Recommended to all!
Thanks for viewing,
Cary

I owe my love of jazz to my dad, who almost exclusively listens to countless musicians and has amassed quite a library for himself. I’m almost afraid to take him in here for fear we won’t be able to carry all the items he may buy. I can see how one can certainly get lost in this place. And, by lost, I don’t mean directionally, but, lost, as in, «holy cow! There’s SO much to look at and take in.» I could easily spend a ton of money here. I had a lot of fun perusing the rows and rows of records with my friend (Thank you, Mary Y. for taking me here!)
The walls are adorned with album covers and posters, signed and not, from various musicians. Everything is organized and clearly labeled as to the type of music and artists you might be looking for.
Oh, and did I mention the WALL of 78’s? I’ve never seen such a collection of 78 records in one space before.
While I was only here once and had to consider what I could carry back with me on the plane, I came away with a used Art Tatum box set (The Complete American Decca Recordings for $ 20. Score!)…I plan on returning every time I’m in Chicago. I’ll have to remember to bring a large tote bag to carry my records back on the plane with me.
And, I’m bringing my dad.

I’ve been on Unilocal since near the beginning but never left a negative review because I don’t believe that one bad experience, a rogue server or an under-​cooked french fry, should doom a business as some negative reviews often do. And it seems pretty clear to me that the business model of this site is essentially to extort businesses, which is repugnant.
But speaking of repugnant… let’s talk about Jazz Record Mart.
My father passed away a few months ago. He was a huge jazz aficionado, a jazz drummer, and has an incredible jazz collection of over 6,000 jazz CDs /​albums. I became aware of Jazz Record Mart after his death and bemoaned the fact that I never got to take him there because (I thought) he would loved it.
I walked in there today for the first time to inquire about whether they purchase jazz collections. I’d been putting off doing so because I knew walking in there would evoke certain feelings and it did. And, as luck would have it, my Mom telephoned the moment i walked in so we both heard the music in the background that he so enjoyed and felt as you can imagine you would feel.
I tried to find someone to speak to but there seemed to be no employees working the floor. In the back, essentially barricaded, sat two apparent employees. (More likely one or both were managers, which is why I feel justified in leaving this review). It was pretty confusing to figure out how to even reach where they were sitting but I finally got to where I guessed I was supposed to stand to speak with them; I was about three feet from each, one on either side. Despite the fact that they obviously knew I was standing there, they both proceeded to ignore me.
So I greeted them to get their attention and the one who I would wind up speaking with immediately acted as if he could barely deign to look up at me from whatever he was doing with index cards. I’ll spare you the nitty-​gritty other than to tell you that this was the most attitude I’ve encountered since I moved to Chicago. Of course, when I told him why I was there, he didn’t tell me that he was sorry for my loss like, you know, a human being might, but that wasn’t totally unexpected.
What was unexpected was how incredibly arrogant and near-​confrontational his attitude was. Essentially, he’d say something brief that was mostly non-​responsive to what I was asking and expressed in an almost challenging way, then look down waiting for me to go away. His attitude was so ridiculously awful that it actually took me a minute or two to process that it was actually happening.
Suffice it to say that the conversation ended with him expressing what seemed to be a disdainful interest in my father’s collection if I brought it in to him and me replying that «I’d probably do that if you are at all friendly but since you’re a complete dick, I’m inclined not to.» This was not among the Top 10 most eloquent statements I’ve ever uttered and it did end in a preposition but since it could have ended with me toppling his desk, I guess we’ll call it even.
Anyhow, this review will likely have little or no effect as the weight of the many reviews here seem to be «great jazz selection, employees have attitude issues.» But, if you ever decide not to support crappy people, I’d recommend not buying from (or selling to) Jazz Record Mart.

Flat out the best selection of Jazz music I have ever seen. Not only on vinyl and cd, but tapes, dvds, VHS, and more!
They also carry a hefty selection of old Blues and Soul records as well! The store has been there for over 40 years and the owner who looks like he might have listened to every record in the store over those 40 years was still plugging away stocking albums! I loved it. The store is kinda overwhelming, so walking in was kinda intimidating but the staff seemed to know what they had and didn’t so they were super helpful!
I will say, this is a specialty store for JAZZ folks, dont go here looking for Beatles or Stones records. Unless your looking for Herbie Hancock performing Wild Horses!

Jazz Record Mart, I love you. You’re so diverse, so smelling of old vinyl, and never disappoint. Kind of like my ideal man. Prices are good, and there’s never a shortage of new/​old albums awaiting me. You’re a Chicago Institution. Even if you make me spend more than what I brought, you’re worth it.

An absolute gem for Chicago… Dig deep and have a blast. You’ll learn a ton, and I’ll argue that you’ll be hard-​pressed to find another record store that holds pure treasures of blues, jazz, and gospel. Yes, I’m including any trip to Amoeba…;)
Grab some sights around Michigan Avenue, take the trip down the stairs on Illinois, and get lost. Be prepared to drop a few hard earned dollars… Get ‘em while you can.
Enjoy,
BD

I love the smell of old vinyl and cardboard in the evening. Took my parents to the mart and they were like kids in a candy store. Row after row of jazzy goodness. I felt my «cool points» increase just walking down the aisles. Great selection of CDs, vinyl, and I even spotted some cassettes. You can buy. Jazz mart tees and canvas bags. They even sell posters. A great play to browse for great music and listen to great music while you’re browsing.

You know the stereotypical audiophile? This is their heaven. There’s a good record shop in just about every town (especially and begrudgingly I mention Austin, TX here), but this is the Mecca of audiophile-​leaning record shops. This one sits underneath a bridge as if it’s hiding something underneath its trench coat. It is and it does, but it’s worth wandering off the straight and narrow and just enter through that door.
All forms of jazz and blues are represented here, not just Chicago. However, I suggest indulging in some hard to find Chicago music here. If you’re looking for Delta Blues, come here. Texas Swing Blues, not as extensive as you would find in Texas, but yep come on over here. Big Band? Vocalist? Blues-​Rock (that British Invasion that borrowed blues style in the 60s and 70s — Eric Clapton, Led Zepplin)? Yep, yep, and… yep. Bessie Smith? Love her to pieces and yep. Cassettes? Yep. Wait, what? Yes, and I know. Records? Duh, but there is a pretty big CD collection. You say you’re looking for some of Wynton’s classical music. You betcha you’ll find it here. In fact, you’ll find all the Marsalis clan represented here, including the eclectic Wynton.
You need to wander in here for an hour or two and stick to the records. With amazing music such as you find here, it should only be listened to on record. CDs don’t have the ability to record and thus play music the way it was recorded. In short. They are flawed. ALL CDs. And yes, I am an audiophile.

The Jazz Record Mart holds a very special place in my heart (and in my wallet as well). See, I spent a good amount of time in high school coming here and trying to find great jazz CDs and vinyl. Well, much to my happiness it is still the same all these years later.
I stopped in here after a wine tasting as I just felt like perusing and seeing if there was something new I could pick up. Well, I easily accomplished that part while mostly going through the CDs. What I got a real kick out of was finding one of my old professor’s CDs and naturally I had to buy one.
The Jazz Record Mart is as great as it always has been. While I don’t get down to River North all too often these days, I fully reminded myself why I need to make my way here more. Thanks for all the past and future memories.

I popped in here while killing some time before dinner. WOW do they have a selection of Jazz and Blues! Great to peruse through the collection. Record prices were pretty great, however I felt used CDs were far overpriced. ($ 7.99 for an everyday common used CD? C’mon. I can understand rare ones …)
I highly recommend having a look through as their assortment was quite extensive and unique.

And what a record mart it is! For serious collectors — the CD section in the store is smaller than a salsa aisle at a grocery store in Nebraska — the rest of the place is just stuffed with vinyl!
I made my pilgrimage here after hearing about them for years as the underwriter on WBEZ’s fantastic «Blues Before Sunrise» My jaw dropped as I was confronted with a seemingly never-​ending selection of jazz and blues music. New, used, 45’s, LP’s, 78’s — traditional jazz, bop jazz, hard bop, swing, avant garde, fusion, etc. etc. etc. I couldn’t believe that they actually have an entire section — section! — of the store dedicated exclusively to pre-​World War II recordings!
I spent hours digging through the shelves, drooling over selections like original pressings of Charlie Parker’s DOT recordings, rare Dizzy Gillespie imports from France, and all the classic jazz albums. It came time for some tough decisions — I couldn’t just buy the whole store (if only!) so what was I going to get? I settled on Thelonious Monk — Live at the Blackhawk and Ornette Coleman’s Free Jazz, two albums I didn’t have in any form. Then, just for fun I dug through the «Recent Arrivals» bin and came across a 10-​inch Bill Doggett record that I got as a thank-​you for my friend who was back home watching my cat.
Then, if that wasn’t enough, I looked at the wall where the T-​shirts were displayed and saw not one, but two Thelonious Monk shirts! I didn’t even know there were any available, let alone 2 different designs to choose from! Monk being my absolute fave, I had to get one of those, too.
This is THE place to go for jazz and blues records on the North American continent. So much to choose from, and the staff just stay out of your way and let you ogle to limitless selections as you try to whittle it down.
It’s funny, but I can swear that the records I got here sound better than the jazz records I’ve obtained elsewhere. Hhhhmmmm