Pullin from the Stacks

Omega and I go way, way back, co-hosting a college radio show in the late 90s, talking shit about wack emcees and going on wild digging missions in the 2000s when these tracks were recorded. He remains one of my best friends and partner in crime today. He also happens to be an incredible emcee, with a style that certain emcee(s) making a name for themselves in 2024 took a big bite from (including...

Been a lot going on, but finally I've returned with some treats! The records have been stacking up and need to get filed - so let's get into it! RIP to the legend Sergio Mendes, I played a short set of a few of my favorites of his. (Also RIP to the legend Frankie Beverly, tribute on a forthcoming episode.) The rest of this episode is an adventure through other recent arrivals and digs. Enjoy! Hope...

Following up on last summer's salsa mix, here's some more of my favorite selections and digs to play loud in your car, living room, porch, or wherever! Tracklist: Ricardo Marrero, Bobby Valentin, Brooklyn Sounds, Latin Tempo, Ray Barretto, Joe Torres, Tata Vasquez, Pucho and His Latin Soul Brothers

Sorry for my absence - but I'm back with some mellow sounds, starting and ending with two great versions of the classic "People Make the World Go Round." The first is by Monty Alexander, which I only recently found out about, and the last is a more well-known take by Johnny Lytle. In-between are a variety of mellow-ish tunes for coolin out in the August heat.

I don't own much reggae or dub music, and am absolutely no expert in the music or culture. But I deeply respect the politics and music, which is absolutely incredible and creative. Especially dub music, with its intricate sounds and rhythms. So here's a few selections from my tiny collection. Enjoy! Tracklist: Ernest Ranglin, Al Brown, Heptones, Burning Spear, Rico, King Tubby, Love Joys, Inner Ci...

So I spent a few weeks trying to do something 'special' for episode 250 of Pullin from the Stacks, but all my attempts just didn't feel right. Which meant I just kept putting off uploading a new episode this past month. But this week it was time for the latest Walking in Space livestream (second Thursday every month on Twitch!) and I felt like it came together pretty well, a blend of everything fr...

So I'm a big fan of Sean Kantrowitz's podcast, especially "Making Illmatic" which he hosts with Midaz the Beast. The latest episode had them - and guest Supastition - breaking down the best tracks on the JayLib album, and at some point there was mention of how great De La Soul would have sounded on these beats. So I decided to test some of that out, and since I only have a few De La accapellas, I...

Back this week with some digs from the private press crate, one of my favorite places to find unique sounds and creative flavors. Hope you dig! Tracklist: Morning Sky, Faces of Jazz, Dale Jacobs Group, Lamont Johnson, Guzzia Bros. Band, Danny Ward and Reality, Les James Trio

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 (...

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 sampl...

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...

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 Palestin...

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. B...

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. The...

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 Hou...

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