Face of the Bass

Genuine question: Thirty years ago, Mosaic was releasing sets from the 1960s. Is there a business reason why they can't release sets from the 1990s now? Or is it just that they want to maintain the impression that historically important jazz ended in the 1960s? If you look at it, the vast majority of their releases exist within a roughly forty year time span (1930-1970). Those decades have been pretty thoroughly documented, which is why these threads almost never yield any suggestions that I'd be interested in buying.

I bought my first Mosaic when I was 26 years old. I'm now 45. Something that surprises me is that in those two decades, Mosaic has really done nothing to try to reach a broader audience or to move outside of its particular comfort zone, even though the number of people interested in jazz recordings from the 1930s to the 1960s has obviously shrunk over that time.

A bunch of new stuff added, please take a look.

Bump...added a Mingus Resonance set. Bump again...added three Charlie Parker sets...

Update with some Wadada Leo Smith sets added, plus some Resonance and other box sets.

Update with price drops...

In the need to create some space, I have the following Box sets and individual CDs for sale. Paypal only, PM if interested. Prices include shipping to the US. Please inquire about international deliveries: Box Sets: Debussy: Complete Orchestral Works (Naxos) $30 Julius Hemphill: The Boye Multi-National Crusade for Harmony $70 Individual CDs: Albert Ayler: New York Eye and Ear Control Revisited (Ezz-thetics) $10 (still sealed) Albert Ayler: La Cave Live Cleveland 1966 Revisited (Ezz-thetics) $10 (still sealed) Albert Ayler: 1964 Prophecy Revisited (Ezz-thetics) $7 Albert Ayler: 1964 Spirits to Ghosts Revisited (Ezz-thetics) $7 John Carter/Bobby Bradford: Flight For Four $30 Joe Harriott: Free Form & Abstract Revisited (Ezz-thetics) $12 Keith Jarrett: Always Let Me Go (ECM) $10 (still sealed) Steve Lacy: The Way (hatology) $11 (still sealed) Archie Sheep: Blasé and Yasmina Revisited (Ezz-thetics) $7

Bump. I still have a couple sets available. PM me if interested.

I am looking for either of the Bear Family Box Sets of Freddie King. If you have any available for sale or trade, please PM me. Thanks!

Braxton is sold. That Art Ensemble has been sitting here for months. Maybe everybody who wants it already has it.

Bump if anyone wants these...

Bump with updates and some price drops. PM if interested!

I like the Evans Verve set. I like the music, I like the packaging even. I like the rust. I've never had any problem with anything interfering with the music on that set. The packaging that I really don't like is Mosaic. The cookie cutter approach does a real disservice to the music. I'd rather see a company go for something and try to make a statement with the packaging than to just use the same formula over and over again. One reason I'm glad that Mosaic has never done a Sun Ra set is that their boring packaging would be a complete disservice to Sun Ra's vision.

Update with another price drop and the Hemphill set added...

Update with Braxton set added.

Update with price drops. Thanks for looking!

Hello, I have the following box sets for sale. PayPal only, PM if interested. Shipping is included to US. Will ship internationally at cost. All boxes are in like new condition unless otherwise indicated. Thanks! Art Ensemble of Chicago -- And Associated Ensembles (ECM) $80 Anthony Braxton--Quintet (Tristano) 2014 -- $60 Slim Harpo -- Buzzin' the Blues: The Complete Slim Harpo (Bear Family) $70 Leadbelly: Smithsonian Folkways Collection (Smithsonian Folkways) -- $40 Thanks!

When I first got into jazz around 2003 or 2004, I always wondered why so many older fans seemed underwhelmed by box set releases, because they already "had them all." Now, almost 20 years later, I get it. This would be an awesome box set for someone who only had a little Hubbard, but...you know the rest.

Miles's 1980s music is bad. Every time I give it a try it disappoints me. They really, really, really need to release a set around the Cosey band. It's criminal that they haven't done so. Don't tell me that it's too uncompromising. A lot of people love that music.

Pretty much any time I bought a Mosaic box based off of the fact that it was Mosaic rather than really wanting the music. Mosaic has done so many forgettable (from my perspective) sets.

Hello, I am looking for this 28-disc Sun Ra set that was released on Transparency awhile back. If you have one that you would be willing to part with, or know of a place other than Discogs where one can be had, please PM me. Thanks!

I picked this up at my local record store this week. I think it is one of the most beautiful box sets I have ever seen. The photos and everything are absolutely incredible. Of course, I had almost all of this on CD, but I haven't listened to the CDs in years and I didn't have any of it on vinyl. I am enjoying the set a great deal, mainly because other than the Golden Circle albums I have never paid too much attention to Ornette's Blue Note period. For me, there haven't been many good jazz box sets in the last couple years. I haven't liked/been interested in any of the Mosaic releases. The best ones that have come out have been the Blue Note Lee Morgan box and this one.

I don't understand why they didn't release it years ago. All the metal spine boxes they did seemed to be heading towards a culmination with the Agharta/Pangaea material. Why was that box never released?

Thanks for the responses. Would love to see recommendations for specific recordings featuring trombone, say from the last 20 years or so. I know the question is revealing my ignorance, but listening to older jazz I realized this is an instrument I have always loved to hear, and yet I don't know a lot that has been produced in the 21st century... Thanks for reminding me of Petrella. I saw him play live in New York with Enrico Rava several years ago, and he stood out for sure.

This will seem like a ridiculous question perhaps, but who are the best jazz trombonists working today? Especially interested in those who have recorded as a leader. Thanks!