Highly Rare is a new mixtape produced & arranged by Makaya McCraven.

It’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.

The 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.

And 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 Paul, Nick Mazzarella and Ben Lamar Gay) to play in support of DJ... more
credits
released November 17, 2017

Makaya McCraven – drums, producer & arranger
Junius Paul – bass guitar
Nick Mazzarella – alto saxophone
Ben Lamar Gay – cornet, diddley bow, voice
with cameos by
Gira Dahnee – background voice
LeFtO - turntables

Recorded 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 & Layout by Craig Hansen. Executive Production by Scott McNiece, with Associate Production by Alejandro Ayala and David Allen.