I found out about Jackie Paris a few years ago when I got a vinyl copy of Mingus' "Changes One" and "Changes Two" as a double-album, and for the first time I heard the incredible version of "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" on "Changes Two," and read in the notes about Mingus' affection for Paris.

The next tune up on the Car Mix was Philip Glass' "Lady Day." A friend's older brother had "Glassworks" when I was in 7th grade and discovering interesting music, and I'd taped it. Later, when "Koyaanisqatsi" came out, I'd felt really hip for the first time when I recognized the composer.

I‘ll be here tomorrow: www.livingearth.la/gatherings/p...

I stopped in a thrift store for something else and against what I thought was my better judgement I looked at the used vinyl. Much to my surprise, it was my day.

The next tune that came up on the Car Mix was Kraftwerk's "Transistor," from "Radio-Activity." I was lucky I first got this on cassette as a kid, because when I later bought it on vinyl, Capitol Records, as I found was a bad habit at the time, had cut this track off the release.

I went to Deadly Wax in Granada Hills to pick up my Vinyl Santa gift and this was in the newly arrived section. I've long loved "Legrand Jazz" but didn't have a copy. This is one of those records that's both artistically compelling and completely entertaining at the same time.

Not part of the Car Mix, but on Tuesday, with a night off and nothing to do, I rolled the dice on the L.A. Philharmonic's Green Umbrella series performance that evening and was absolutely blown away. This is what I saw: www.laphil.com/events/perfo...

"The Hissing of Summer Lawns" came up next on the Car Mix. I was late to Joni's music, getting into her after I saw "The Last Waltz" in college, picking up "Hejira," which remains my favorite of her records. But this tune for whatever reason, and despite "Hejira"'s theme, feels right for driving.

Continuing my Car Mix, the next tune that came up was this, Gordon Lightfoot's "Carefree Highway." My dad had the album when I was a kid but years later when I actually looked into Lightfoot's work, I realized that I only had vague memories of "Sundown," and not the rest of the album.

This came today, or rather late yesterday. I'd heard of Pahinui from a friend's father in high school but didn't actually hear his music until about 10 years ago. Absolutely first rate, with that kind of loose but tight feeling real players have.

So the first one up on the Car Mix (on shuffle) could not be better for a drive: Earth, Wind and Fire's "September." This is one of those tunes that is simultaneously pure pop and pure art. Everything in it is perfect, but more than anything it's the response in me that is so wonderful.

I recently restarted using a streaming platform, Qobuz, which really does sound good and as far as I know pays more per stream to the rights holder than any other service. If I'm wrong, I'd want to know. I have a long list of companies I'll never patronize again, and S**tify is at or near the top.

Today, however, I'll talk about @campofwolves.bsky.social and particularly "Bear Creek," which I picked up and have been going back to again and again. Here's the link, worth your purchase: lunar-module.bandcamp.com/album/bear-c...

I notice that the @vinylsanta.bsky.social thing is happening and it's a great ritual. But it says that a participant should look at a person's feed to see their tastes and that means I need to put some things up here. Starting tomorrow I'll go through my Car Mix as it plays randomly, song by song.

Very good news: I have a new tape that is out as of now, called "Sketches," Shipping from either the UK or California:

Shipping from the UK: prestoncapes1.bandcamp.com/album/pct-24...
Shipping from California: bizarrestatue.bandcamp.com/album/sketches