Mushroom Jazz, Vol. 5

Mushroom Jazz, Vol. 5

ASIN: B0007NFMBW

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Hailing originally from Chicago but long associated with San Francisco's jazz-house scene, Mark Farina returns to his bread-and-butter mix series Mushroom Jazz after 2003's eclectic artist record Air Farina. Less laid-back than Thievery Corporation but not quite as deep as Om label mates like Marques Wyatt, the Mushroom records often delve into hip-hop, and Jazz 5 is no exception. But while rhymes and raps jump out alongside snappy beats to startle the listener from chill tune-induced hypnosis, large chunks of the record, especially in the last half, are completely instrumental. Some of Air Farina's electro-funk adventurousness is here as well; check out the dazed and hazy original track "Cali Spaces." Consistently clever and packed with urban energy, it's an ideal Sunday evening record for those not quite ready to let the weekend end. -Matthew Cooke

Product Description
A true phenomenon in sound encompassing hip hop, soul, and the best blunted beats all mingled to perfection by Farina himself. To the uninitiated, Mark is the master of the blend. Urb Magazine voted him "Best Dance DJ" in their recent January/February issue, and BPM Magazine proclaimed, "For many downtempo fans, 'Mushroom Jazz' is where it all began." The new album features new and unreleased material from the finest in Mushroom Jazz, and includes a bumpin' new original track, "Cali Spaces".

Mushroom Jazz, Vol. 5,Mark Farina,Om Records,Club/Dance,Dance Music,House,Jazz-House,Pop,Trip-Hop

Average customer rating:

The soul of Mushroom Jazz is slowly dying...

"Grown folks Hip-Hop"

Funk'n groov'n

I Have New Faith In Music Today Thanks Mushroom Jazz*

Too Unbelievable

Mushroom Jazz, Vol. 5
Mark Farina
Manufacturer: Om Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Trip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Mushroom Jazz 4

Mushroom Jazz, Vol. 3

Mushroom Jazz, Vol. 2

Mushroom Jazz

San Francisco Sessions

ASIN: B0007NFMBW
Release Date: 2005-03-22

Tracks:

Afros In Ya - (with J Boogie)
Tribute, The - (with Colossus)
Autumn Evening Breeze - (with Soundproviders)
Chali 2na Comin' Thru - (with DJ Numark)
Come Down - (with Red Astaire)
Flow - (instrumental, with Zion I)
Nostalgia - (with DJ Spinna)
Cali Spaces - (with Mark Farina)
Funky For You - (with Blu Bizness)
Puttin' In Work - (instrumental, with Wee Bee Foolish)
Hollywood - (with DJ Dez)
Music Makes The World Go Round - (with Jazz Liberatorz)
Maintain - (instrumental, with The Strange Fruit Project)
Back In '92 - (instrumental, with Presto/Lowd)
You Like My Style - (with Shortie No Mass)
Here's The Proof - (with The Earl)
Modern Women's Short Stories - (with Jonny Alpha)
He Kick Clap - (instrumental, with Starving Artists Crew)
It's A Love Thing - (instrumental, with Pete Rock)
Yacht Club, The - (with Thes One)
Nic's Groove - (with The Foreign Exchange)

Amazon.com

Hailing originally from Chicago but long associated with San Francisco's jazz-house scene, Mark Farina returns to his bread-and-butter mix series Mushroom Jazz after 2003's eclectic artist record Air Farina. Less laid-back than Thievery Corporation but not quite as deep as Om label mates like Marques Wyatt, the Mushroom records often delve into hip-hop, and Jazz 5 is no exception. But while rhymes and raps jump out alongside snappy beats to startle the listener from chill tune-induced hypnosis, large chunks of the record, especially in the last half, are completely instrumental. Some of Air Farina's electro-funk adventurousness is here as well; check out the dazed and hazy original track "Cali Spaces." Consistently clever and packed with urban energy, it's an ideal Sunday evening record for those not quite ready to let the weekend end. -Matthew Cooke

Album Description

A true phenomenon in sound encompassing hip hop, soul, and the best blunted beats all mingled to perfection by Farina himself. To the uninitiated, Mark is the master of the blend. Urb Magazine voted him "Best Dance DJ" in their recent January/February issue, and BPM Magazine proclaimed, "For many downtempo fans, 'Mushroom Jazz' is where it all began." The new album features new and unreleased material from the finest in Mushroom Jazz, and includes a bumpin' new original track, "Cali Spaces".

Customer Reviews:

The soul of Mushroom Jazz is slowly dying..........2007-06-25

First of all, let me tell you that before buying this CD, I was sure that I would be disappointed, cause it was nearly impossible to make better than MJ 2, 3, or 4.

I'm a big fan of the serie, which is in my opinion the best downtempo mixes EVER!

But Mushroom Jazz does not smell like the other MJ...
In fact, I would give 3,5/5 stars for this mix. (5/5 for all the other MJ, except the first). I would give 4 stars for the tracklist. Farina still have very good tastes, and tracks like "Autumn Evening Breeze", "Hollywood", or "This Love Thing" are really sweet. Why not 5 stars? Because I think there are a few tracks whose atmosphere / ambiance don't fit with Mushroom Jazz. "Tribute" for example, or "Down" by Red Astaire. These tracks fit better with old school / dirty / funky mixes. A bit too much of rap tracks as well in my opinion.

But the real problem comes from the mixing. Mark, where is your wizardry?! The mixing technique is just ok... Where are your sweet sound / voice collage through the mix? Inexisting. Overmore, the mix is not a story-telling anymore, the tracks don't flow together. It begins with a sweet & jazzy thing, just next the raw track of Colossus with it's heavy percussion, next again a sweet piano track, and a dirty ambiance next with DJ Numark... well we are far from the perfect structure of it's predecessor (MJ4)with only one rap track (superb track with talented rappers People Under The Stairs) in the beginning, and a female RnB voice in the middle (like in Mushroom Jazz 2), then only instrumentals.
Too much rap or singing is killing the particular dreamy ambiance of Mushroom Jazz unfortunately...

Well, it was the point of view of an elitist fan (lol). I think it's the worst of the serie... It's not the classy/innocent/ urban sound anymore, but more like a common jazzy/funky mix with no particular ambiance.

I think that fans who don't have bought it yet will be disappointed.
But for those who like quality HipHop sounds, it's a very good mix by the way...

But if you are new to mushroom jazz and you want to discover something different, you absolutely must buy Mushroom Jazz 2, and then Mushroom Jazz 4, which are one of my all time best musical experience.

"Grown folks Hip-Hop".......2007-06-22

Trip-hop, ("old-skool, hip-hop without fowl lyrics,") blended with mushroomy jazz notes. If love both yet never heard the two together you are in for a treat. He is a master at what he does. In my opinion, 2 was the best, then 1 then 3.

Funk'n groov'n.......2007-05-01

Mark Farina was an innovator of sorts; he started implementing jazz into his sets early on. By now the mushroom jazz formula has gotten a bit tired. Besides, where is the jazz? The opening track "Afros In Ya" promises greatness with sax bending in and out of the song, while the slow but funky beat creates a nice acid jazz ambience. From there it goes downhill.The disc has more hip-hop flavor than anything else. Maybe he should have called this one, Mushroom Hip-Hop. Don't get me wrong, I like most of the tracks because they have good beatz, but seriously, this is basically a take off on acid jazz."Autumm Evening Breeze" seems to feature the hip-hop vocals of the Ozomatli singer Zen Dog. Each song flows seemlesssly into the next for one funky groove. The emphasis is more on funk, it is like house music mixed with acid jazz. With songs entitled "Funky For You" you get the idea. Strange Fruit Project's "Maintain" is a nice instrumental that can fit into the electro-jazz label as it leads into a similar song entitled "Back in '92." This isn't my favorite in the Mushroom jazz seies but it is still pretty good. This is recommended for those that believe in one nation under a funky groove.

I Have New Faith In Music Today Thanks Mushroom Jazz*.......2007-03-11

I recently heard a cut off My Yahoo from MJ5 and thought "What the heck- I will try it". After I heard Vol. 5 I quickly turned around and purchased Vol. 4 and Vol. 3 too! Was not disappointed one bit. Truely awesome cuts from beginning to end... just one good one after another. Right on Mark Farina & Co. Next stop, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 baby. All my friends are so jealous too... I won't tell them where I got the music from for a few more days! Hahaha- I'm loving it. Right now Mark and I are the Man.

Too Unbelievable.......2006-05-21

This album deserves more than 5 stars. Number One is the standard. It knocks you down incorporating jazz and hip hop. I bought it in DC and heard it in Rome. #2 is almost as good as #1. Ditto for #3. Number 4 is terrible. With reluctance, I got number 5. It is soooo goood that you crave for more, and it makes you play all of the rest (except #4). What is so good is that it stays in your head. The beat never goes away. I have looked at the performers individually and bought into them. The OM Sound is great. I can't wait for Mushroom #6.

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