Pullin from the Stacks

Been doing a fair amount of travel and digging the last couple months, making finds at antique shops as well as the floor-level bins at record stores. Taking chances on things when I can and selecting a few others from the wall if it's a fair price and I likely won't see it again. Here's a good mix of what I've grabbed recently, super eclectic, dig in! Tracklist: Roy Brown, Liana Pascalini and the Internationals, Walfredo de los Reyes, Trio Fronteras Mondiales, Kebnekrise, Dance Caravan, Blues Project, Kassa, Stanford Mendicants, Triste Janero

Was recently in Chicago and had many record store adventures. One record that popped up in the cheap bins was something I'd been after, "Chicago Jazz Dance Revival at Gus Place" by the Johnny Frigo Quartet. Frigo and his various groups put out several records of "jazz dance music" for Gus Giordano in the late 60s and early 70s covering jazz, rock and funk tunes of the day. I've been slowly grabbing these albums over the years when I find them and figured now might be a moment to play a few selections on the podcast. Dig in!

Cannonball would have turned 97 this month were he still with us. His records were some of the first I collected - there are so many and so varied, his dedication to recording live sets for his albums and playing with countless amazing musicians, infusing politics into his music and his "raps" in-between songs, is all legendary. I had not realized until now that all of this was done in such a short amount of time - he passed away at the age of 46, one year younger than I am now. To have played and recorded with the legends (Miles et al) then go on to create a massive discography and universe of his own music - along with his brother Nat - is an astonishing feat. Salute!

The world is spinning and it's hard to keep up with everything right now! Been out digging though, shopping and selecting a nice stack of favorites and obscurities the past month. Hope everyone is holding tight and not giving up! There are still paths to victory, don't let the naysayers stop any of us. Tracklist: Spanky Wilson, Irma Thomas, Nucleus, Osmar Milito, Natural Four, Freidrich Gulda, Janne Schaffer, Andrei Nikolsky, Pete Seeger.

Short mix of some of my favorite G-funk instrumentals, with several from the originator himself, Warren G, as well as a couple other LA producers. Something for the late summer, windows down, city streets at twilight.

A brief tribute to the legend Eddie Palmieri, whose music and politics were inspiring and incredible, especially right now in this moment! Brilliant and beautiful music, these are just a few of my favorites from his records.

Recent jazz-related aquisitions from various digging adventures. Big shout to Paradise Trading Post in Lompoc - found an Ahmad Jamal album I'd never seen before! Dig in. Tracklist: Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Barron, John Wood, Horace Silver, Ted Vining Trio, Jack Walrath

Another celebration of the beautiful and revolutionary music from the Indigenous, Latin and Afro-Latin diaspora - only other thing to say right now is F*CK ICE and stay strong everyone! Donate to CHIRLA here: www.chirla.org/donatenow/ Tracklist: El Chicano, Eddie Palmieri, Ismael Rivera, Willie Bobo, Fania All Stars, Bobby Guajardo and the Latin Breed, Grupo Irakere, Mongo Santamaria, Los Van Van, Chucho Valdes y su Quinteto

Some recent digs and old records. Sending strength to everyone dealing with these ICE raids. Stay safe out there! If you have the funds, I recommend donating to the Coalition for Humane Human Rights - www.chirla.org/ Tracklist: Gil Scott Heron, Herb Drury Trio, Peter Herbolzeimher, Charles Tolliver, Masaru Imada and George Mraz, Paco Rossana

There was a time when I owned 4-5 copies of Sly Stone's "FRESH" album, it was so vitally important to me. I remember hearing it for the first time in the 90s and it blew my mind. I preached the Sly gospel since to many friends of my age in the years since. That album will always be a cornerstone of musical history and importance to me, and helped me on my record digging journey forward. So many people have covered his songs over the years, in so many funky and creative ways, so I've included a number of those covers on this episode, along with some of my favorite originals of his. RIP the legend Sly Stone, thank you so much for all the beautiful music!Tracklist: Sly and the Family Stone, Rhoda Scott, Johnny Frigo Sextett, Sly Stone, The Roots, Scott Grooves, Charles Earland, Sly Stone, Wayne Davis, Cesar Frazier, Sly Stone, Sly Stone

A few jazz digs and tracks this time around, as I continue to get my set-up together. Dig in! Tracklist: Grant Green, Peter Duchin, Los 5-U-4, Les Demerle, Karen Hernandez, John Wood

Been a couple weeks - I had to replace my old desktop that was starting to crash too frequently and move all the music files etc to the new machine. Back up now with an episode I recorded a week or so ago! Just a few longer tracks from recent records found and purchased. Hope to be back on schedule soon! Enjoy. Tracklist: Keifer Trio, Pete Jolly, Chris Barber, Les DeMerle, Airmen of Note.

I was late to the library game, and only own a short stack of these gems, but for folks unaware, some amazing studio musicians (especially in Europe) recorded some of the funkiest and weirdest music on "library" records, that were available to radio and tv producers to use on their shows or elsewhere. Recently I discovered that one of the iconic sound effects associated with the early days of Portland Trailblazers broadcasts that I used to hear all the time as a kid actually came from a 1970s KPM record. No tracklist on this one! Dig in.

Went back to the "Jazz 45s" box and pulled a few things out that I hadn't played in awhile. Spring is here and it felt right. A short set of selections, new and old - enjoy! Tracklist: Sam Hankins, Eric Kloss, Nautilus, Quincy Jones, Charles Mingus, Takumi Moriya, Phi-Psonics, Unknown artist, Eddie Harris, Jukka Eskola Trio, Mary Lou Williams

Spent a week on a work and mini-birthday trip, and got some serious digging in at a number of spots, both places I'd been and some I'd never been to before. Some great come-ups and here's just a few of stack I brought back with me! Hope you dig it. Tracklist: Alvin Queen, Oscar Peterson Quartet, Al Hobbs, Howard University Jazz Ensemble, Jasmine, Manfredo Fest Trio, The Great Jazz Trio, Nathan Davis, John Gordon, Henry Franklin, Doug Riley

It felt important right now to come back to the words and teachings of Howard Zinn, when the U.S. government is causing and propagating so much fear and racism and oppression and just plain meanness, and things seem tilted toward hopelessness. This is the third in my series of mix-tributes to Zinn, and the vocal samples here come from a few great interviews and programs you can find on Youtube, including a great interview Laura Flanders did with the amazing Staceyann Chin and Imani Perry a couple years ago: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4R3-OyS2ho The beats are from a variety of producers, all vinyl selections from the crates. Finally, in these times, I always turn back to this essay from Zinn: www.howardzinn.org/collection/a-marvelous-victory/ 'What we choose to emphasize in this complex history will determine our lives. If we see only the worst, it destroys our capacity to do something. If we remember those times and places—and there are so many—where people have behaved magnificently, it energizes us to act, and raises at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction. And if we do act, in however small a way, we don’t have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of presents, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory.'

Two legends have passed on recently - Roberta Flack and Gwen McCrae, both of whom had records that have been important to me for many years. Unfortunately some of my Roberta Flack records were damaged in a flood years ago, and so I tried to pull a few favorites from what I still have, and mostly less obvious pieces from both artists catalogs.

Back this week with some amazing pianists covering jazz (?) standards (?) old and new! Some recent digs and some old favorites. Enjoy. Tracklist: Tony Lee, Johnny Costa, DJM Trio, Eugen Cicero, Ashley Henry, Herbie Hancock

Ok, this is a really special one. The amazing artist Josh MacPhee, of JustSeeds.org and many other places, has dug deep into his incredible collection of revolutionary wax and put together an incredible and inspiring mix for Pullin from the Stacks! Everything from funk, free jazz, hard rock, folk, nu-wave and more, from all parts of the globe, all off original wax. Commie Freaks!! (Josh's name but I actually had a high school teacher call me that once lol). Please please follow Josh and check out and support his and other JustSeeds artists' amazing work!! And check out this entire mix - I guarantee there's records on here you've never ever heard before! Tracklist available on Soundcloud.

I love records. But I love records because I love music. And sometimes, in fact often, great music doesn't get pressed on vinyl. And that's ok! That's why Bandcamp is so great. It's endless in how much great stuff is available there. Here's just a small sampling of the beautiful music I've found that as far as I know, has not been pressed onto vinyl, but is available digitally if you seek it out. Tracklist: Jazzbois, Nautilus, Raffy Bushman, Okonski, Soil Pimp Sessions, Chicago Soul Jazz Collective, Sunstrider