Pullin from the Stacks

I've been starting to index my records on Discogs recently, and it's been a good exercise to go back through a lot of albums I haven't listened to in a minute and decide whether I still want to keep them. When I first started digging in the mid-90s, Jimmy Smith albums (except for the elusive Root Down) seemed to be in dollar bins everywhere. I eagerly scooped them up since it was still Blue Note (many first presses) and you never knew what cool sounds you'd find on there. But admittedly as the years have passed, I've realized I can only handle so much b3 organ playing, especially in the more straight-ahead style of many of Smith's albums. So it's not often I've gone back to these records. But this week as I categorized them all and put a few on, I figured it was a good time to do a short tribute to the legend, and play a few non-Beastie Boy-sampled cuts I enjoy. A little crunchy at times but still some funky stuff! Dig it.

Third mixture of eclectic flavors in my Walking in Space live stream series. Monthly every Thursday live on Twitch at 7pm PST and 10pm EST - twitch.tv/djianhead - playing all types of things analog and digital.

Back from a short Las Vegas trip where I grabbed a few private press jazz pieces I'd been after for a minute (Moondog Records is highly recommended!) and spent a lot of time in antique and thrift stores. Here's some of those finds plus some newer releases for a more spacey vibe. Tracklist: Faces of Jazz, Tommaso Cappellato, Full Circle, Frank Strazzeri, Kenneth Jenkins, Jazzbois

Decided to go back to the Serato box (yes I still rock the original Serato 1 box and have yet to upgrade) and just "freestyle" a mix of all kinds of joints! Ran through a number of things and kept it all around 98bpm, per the title of this episode. Might start doing this once in awhile - fun to just mix stuff quickly and see what happens. Enjoy!

Some recent digs and purchases mostly on the mellow side. Tracklist: Oliver Nelson, Alan Lee Jazz Quartet, Marc Di Marco Trio, V. Mustafa-zade Jazz Trio, Janko Nilovic and Soul Surfers, Rupert Cobbett, John Wood Group

Second in my Walking in Space live stream series. Monthly every Thursday live on Twitch at 7pm PST and 10pm EST - twitch.tv/djianhead - playing all types of things analog and digital.

I don't remember who hipped me to Frank Cunimondo - I think I saw one of his records in Rob and Damien's old shop Sideman Records and was intrigued but didn't buy it then. And then maybe someone posted on IG something off of 'Echoes' and it was right up my ally - beautiful piano trio jazz with some rhodes as well. Snagged a copy of that album at WMFU a year later and was hooked. I know Dilla sampled one of his albums early but it's actually the only album of his I don't own - I just can't really get into Lynn Marino's voice, so that one isn't for me. But his other stuff is beautiful, independently released Pittsburgh jazz. I tried to play something from all his various albums (minus the Marino one) on here plus a bonus non-vinyl track. Enjoy!

Trying my best to get these episodes out when I can! To tell the truth, it's been getting more difficult for a number of reasons. There will always be new mixes, though later this year they might be less frequent and in a different form. Stay tuned! For now, peep the latest set, various obscure digs along with a few that landed in the mail box recently. Tracklist: BP Convention, Corona Senior High Jazz Ensemble, Dan Peterson, Lou Stein, Clark College Jazz Orchestra, Gianni Brezzo, Art Blakey

It's been three months since I released the limited cassette version of this and so I wanted to share the full version now that the cassettes are mostly sold out (a few still remain - djianhead.bandcamp.com) - hope folks dig it. The full story is on the Bandcamp page but I made this breaks mix to submit to Wax Poetics, who rejected it so I figured I'd put it out myself as a fundraiser for Palestine and abolitionist organizations in the U.S. Over $500 was raised in support! Thanks to everyone who supported then and now. And thanks to the legends whose voices appear on this mix.

More and more, I've been collecting solo piano records, I imagine partly because I grew up listening to my mom play piano and partly because my ears have slowed down a bit as I've gotten older. Here's a first short stack of some favorites, which won't be the last. I have continued to be working with just one needle for most of this month, and this "mix" was admittedly done on just one turntable. But I just got my replacement styluses yesterday and I will be getting back to the usual programming soon! Tracklist: Shock G, Herbie Hancock, Mal Waldron, Dollar Brand, McCoy Tyner, Joe Chambers, Stanley Cowell

Been having some needle issues this week so apologies for the delayed episode. Also was in NYC last week and managed to grab a few things, plus acquired a few more from online dealers recently. So here's a cool mix of various styles, genres, flavors and whatever else! Dig in. Tracklist: Takumi Moriya, James Moody, Jacky and Company, Joe Bataan, Lenny Wilson Trio, Pop Workshop, Don Walker

A set of cooled out selections from recent buys the past couple months. Been marinating on some new record and music-related ideas for the spring and summer as well. For now, hope you dig this! Free Palestine! Tracklist: Solar Plexus, Marcos Resende Index, John Neptune, Ian Carr and Nucleus, John Wood, Dark Horse Reunion

Back with an episode for the new year - some mellow-ish selections to set a tone. Trying to get back on pace with some weekly episodes for you all but it remains a little tough with everything going on. Hope folks are healthy and safe out there. Tracklist: JJ Whitfield, Jazz Co/Op, Rudolph Johnson, Alan Hawkshaw, Brian Bennett, Tangerine Dream, Atlantis Jazz Ensemble

Just fifty favorite records of mine that I happen to own in vinyl in no particular order. Mostly 90s 'backpacker' type stuff - it's a reflection of when I was collecting at the time, and doesn't necessarily represent all my favorite artists or favorite songs, many of which never were released on vinyl. I've never made a mix this long, and admittedly I ended up doing it in three separate parts. There was no real planning besides making sure I played 50 different records. Hope you dig it!

Back after being absent for too long. Too much going on in my life and the world to put one of these together, but am trying to get back on track. This is a sample of the various records I've been stacking up in the meantime - hope you dig it! Tracklist: Adam Makowicz Unit, Frankie Ortega, Frank Cunimondo Trio, Don Elliot, Johnny Lewis Quartet, Nancy Priddy, Roy Meriwether, Frank Emilio, Round House, Neil Ardley, Galapagos Duck

Hard to put a mix together right now with what's happening in Palestine. Sending love to everyone fighting against apartheid and to FREE PALESTINE! Here's a few low key tunes for when you need a break from the madness, if you're able to take one.

Decided it was worth pulling from my small stack of 10-inch size jazz vinyl for a variety of jazz cuts and styles. Enjoy! Tracklist: Nicola Conte, Cal Tjader, Music De Wolfe, Amanda Whiting, Jancsi Korossy, Johnny-Cretu Raducanu, Langston Hughes, Carol Kaye, Greg Foat, Randy Weston Trio

Been a hectic past month, but in-between it all I've picked up a few things here and there. Lots of 7inch heat on this one! Enjoy. Tracklist: Armand Boatman Trio, The Kanpai Quartet, Frollen Music Library, Aesthetic, Nautilus, Timo Lassy, Release Music Orchestra

This dedication mix is long overdue. In 1996, my friend Dave played me Journey to Satchidanada and I was blown away. A year or two later, I recovered a weathered copy of the record from a book and record store on East 7th Street in Manhattan while digging around with the same friend and it became a prized possession. Over the coming years I educated myself on more of her music, digging up copies here and there, and feel a bit lucky to have grabbed most of her records before the "craze" hit sometime in the late 2000s. It's truly unique and beautiful music - I admit that I can't totally stomach some of the more free-leaning cuts she recorded, in the same way I can't get into the late work of her also-legendary husband, but when I put these albums on the turntable it truly is a bit of an "inter-dimensional" experience, like the cover art of her World Galaxy album. Belated happy birthday to Alice Coltrane! Besides the first track, which is a clip from a seminal session she did with Marian McPartland for NPR's "Piano Jazz" series, these are all from my personal copies of her albums.

This week I threw together one more summer mix of just a few records I don't play often enough. Big Nicola Conte vibes on this one, which some great, upbeat jazz-house-ish flavors! Enjoy.