{"product_id":"makaya-mccraven-highly-rare","title":"Makaya McCraven - Highly Rare","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-about\"\u003eHighly Rare is a new mixtape produced \u0026amp; arranged by Makaya McCraven.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt’s titled Highly Rare not only for the format of its initial release (a limited-edition run of cassettes packaged in screen-printed, string-sealed, firecracker red envelopes), but foremost for the context of the source material’s capture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe sounds were recorded to four track cassette tape at a DIY show packed into the confines of Chicago dive Danny's Tavern, a place definitely not known for having live bands, let alone live recordings. It's a place known to vinyl heads both locally and globally as a legendary hub in the crate digger diaspora. It's the place where Jeff Parker learned how to DJ. It's the place where Dante Carfagna held down a rare soul party for over a decade, where he first dropped public needles on 45s that would eventually make compilations he curated for Numero Group and Chocolate Industries. It's the place where DJ Shadow still does sets on the low when he rolls through town.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd on one highly rare night in November 2016 Danny's was the place where we invited an \"International Anthem All Stars\" type of improvising ensemble (Makaya McCraven, Junius\u003cspan class=\"bcTruncateMore\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ePaul, Nick Mazzarella and Ben Lamar Gay) to play in support of DJ sets by LeFtO, who was in transit from Belgium, hitting local spots under the direction of Chicago scene sage King Hippo. Damn-near 0 degrees and just days after the death sentence of the American presidential election, the sounds the musicians conjured were thick with the bitter cold darkness that hung heavy in the air, punctuated with moments of joyful determination – the kind that can only be accessed when such impending doom triggers passionate adrenalized bursts by creators in survival mode.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCogent as the cultural context of that November night at Danny's is the compositional prowess that Makaya exercised in post to make Highly Rare the impressive final piece it is. Demonstrating a deeply attuned development of the production approach he forayed in the creation of his 2015 breakout In The Moment, Makaya again took stereo mixes of the full band improvisations into his lab to edit, loop, layer and arrange the tracks, tediously constructing a vivid new slate of sounds that tell an infinitely more colorful tale than the straight takes ever could. The rough and raw edges of low fidelity cassette recording combine with the elegance and wit of Makaya McCraven's production touch to make Highly Rare a highly relevant artifact in the ever-unfolding history of Chicago style creative music.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"credits-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"tralbumData tralbum-credits\"\u003ereleased November 17, 2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMakaya McCraven – drums, producer \u0026amp; arranger\u003cbr\u003eJunius Paul – bass guitar\u003cbr\u003eNick Mazzarella – alto saxophone\u003cbr\u003eBen Lamar Gay – cornet, diddley bow, voice\u003cbr\u003ewith cameos by\u003cbr\u003eGira Dahnee – background voice\u003cbr\u003eLeFtO - turntables\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRecorded to Tascam 424MKIII cassette 4-track by Scott McNiece at Danny's Tavern, Chicago, Illinois, November 20th, 2016. Mixed by Dave Vettraino and Scott McNiece at Dave's house, November 23rd, 2016. Edited by Makaya McCraven December 2016 - March 2017. Restored and Mastered by Timothy Stollenwerk April - June 2017. Cassette Package Design by Dante Augustus Scarlatti. Cover Photo by Jesse Ponkamo. Design \u0026amp; Layout by Craig Hansen. Executive Production by Scott McNiece, with Associate Production by Alejandro Ayala and David Allen.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"license-label\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"license\" class=\"info license\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"cc-icons commercial\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eall rights reserved\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"International Anthem","offers":[{"title":"IARC0013 - Classic Black Vinyl LP","offer_id":52121005818130,"sku":"IA-IARC0013LP","price":21.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"IARC0013 - Classic Black LP - 2022 Repress","offer_id":52121005850898,"sku":"IARC0013LP","price":21.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"IARC0013 - Black \u0026 Blood Red Color in Color Vinyl LP","offer_id":52121005883666,"sku":"IA-HR-ICBV-RED","price":21.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"IARC0013 - Limited Edition Cassette","offer_id":52121005916434,"sku":"IA-HR-ILEC","price":11.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"IARC0013 Digital Download","offer_id":52121005949202,"sku":"IARC0013","price":8.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"IARC0013 Test Pressing (Pirates Press)","offer_id":52121005981970,"sku":"IARC0013LP-1","price":44.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"IARC0013 Test Pressing (Smashed Plastic)","offer_id":52121006014738,"sku":"IARC0013LP-2","price":44.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0751\/6989\/0578\/files\/a1953903881_10.jpg?v=1774055018","url":"https:\/\/shop.intlanthem.com\/products\/makaya-mccraven-highly-rare","provider":"International Anthem","version":"1.0","type":"link"}