 
The Mushroom Jazz mix series has been running strong since the early to mid 90’s, when Mark Farina began churning out his diverse blend of hip-hop, jazz, funk and R&B. But don’t call it acid jazz, because this is a more organic sound (hence the term Mushroom Jazz). This newest installment covers a wide range of artists and styles, but is all tied together by Mark’s ultra-smooth mixing style. Unlike many downtempo and hip-hop DJ’s, Mark Farina doesn’t clutter up his mixes with unnecessary scratching or beat juggling. Instead his style is to provide a mix so smooth that the focus remains on the beats, not on the DJ. Jazzy instrumentals meet conscious hip-hop lyricists here in a style that is geared for the dance floor as well as the Sunday afternoon barbecue (preferably on a sunny beach in Cali). With artists ranging from hip-hop producers Pete Rock and DJ Numark (featuring Chali 2na) to fellow Northern Californians, Zion I and J Boogie, Mushroom Jazz 5 hits on all cylinders. One of the cd’s highlights is Mark Farina’s own new track, ‘Cali Spaces’, complete with samples shouting out his adopted home right here in Northern California over smooth jazzy breakbeats. The Foreign Exchange provide the final track, bringing to conclusion one of the smoother downtempo mixes you’ll likely ever hear. – Ben Frans, San Francisco manager
|
DJ
Mark Farina