Mixtape #173

Guitarist and composer Max Walker took us by surprise earlier this year, when his magnificent second album Chronostasis made its way to our ears, and we’ve been under his spell ever since. Intricate and emotionally resonant, the record is a bold reflection on his relocation from Seattle to LA, brimming with dazzling guitar work, a strong sense of rhythm and rich ensemble interplay. A student of jazz and rock in equal measure, Walker also draws from the legacy of guitar greats like Allan Holdsworth and Tim Miller, while carving out a sound entirely his own. So we’re beyond excited to have him take the reins of this month’s mixtape, packed with gems that inspire his singular voice. Press play and enjoy!

  1. Donny McCaslin – Stadium Jazz [Greenleaf Music]
  2. Tim Miller – Lift
  3. John Escreet – He Who Dares [Whirlwind Recordings]
  4. Allan Holdsworth – Above and Below [Polydor / CREAM Records]
  5. Ben Monder – My One and Only Love [Sunnyside]
  6. Jacob Mann, Max Ox – Prom Night
  7. Pat Metheny – Change of Heart [Geffen Records]
  8. Ben van Gelder, Reinier Baas – Charles [Do You Mind?]
  9. Phronesis – Urban Control [Edition Records]
  10. Meshuggah – Do Not Look Down [Nuclear Blast]
  11. Hermeto Pascoal, Miles Davis – Little Church [Columbia]

Mixtape #155


A central figure of the contemporary UK jazz scene, young British tenor saxophonist Alex Hitchcock is a creative and visionary artist, with a prolific body of solo and collaborative work. Hitchcock excels as a bandleader, composer and performer in his ambitious recent album, Dream Band: Live in London, which was recorded live over three nights, each featuring a different band he brought together including bright sparks of the contemporary London scene, and for which he specifically composed original music. So with a new year upon us, we’re thrilled to unveil the magnificent mixtape he curated for us, encapsulating the influences at play in his own music. Press play and enjoy.

  1. Koma Saxo & Petter Eldh – Watten Koma [We Jazz]
  2. Patricia Brennan – Square Bimagic [Pyroclastic Records]
  3. Kirk Lightsey, Famodou Don Moye & Tibor Elekes – Heaven Dance [In+Out Records]
  4. Ambrose Akinmusire – Owl Song 1 [Nonesuch]
  5. Phronesis – Lipwash – Part II [Edition Records]
  6. Lucia Cadotsch – Speak Low [We Jazz]
  7. Eric Dolphy – Bee Vamp (Alternate Take) [Prestige]
  8. Maria Chiara Argirò – Beneath The Surface [Cavalo Records]
  9. Bheki Mseleku – Timelessness [Verve]
  10. Nina Simone – Lilac Wine [Philips]
  11. Jaki Byard – Bl + Wh = 88 [Soul Note]
  12. Samm Henshaw – Thoughts and Prayers [Dorm Seven]