J.A.W. Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 (edited) A few years ago I had promised myself never to post here again (hm, never say never...), but this is too important in my opinion: earlier today I've been in contact with Mosaic's Scott Wenzel and he told me that they're in very bad shape. Their customer base is dying and, of course, downloading isn't helping - for those wondering why downloads aren't offered by Mosaic: no record company, big or small, is allowing them to offer downloads, the licensing agreements are for CD only. And as for vinyl releases, it seems some (most?) of the record labels they're dealing with are hesitant to license stuff for release on LP. Jazz is a niche market and apparently younger people are not that interested, even less so because of that download situation. Let's hope this is not going to be end of Mosaic after 34 years... By the way, before anyone starts wondering if posting this is a good idea, Scott explicitly asked me to tell everyone I know about their situation. Edited April 26, 2017 by J.A.W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 1960 Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 1 hour ago, J.A.W. said: A few years ago I had promised myself never to post here again (hm, never say never...), but this is too important in my opinion: earlier today I've been in contact with Mosaic's Scott Wenzel and he told me that they're in very bad shape. Their customer base is dying and, of course, downloading isn't helping - for those wondering why downloads aren't offered by Mosaic: no record company, big or small, is allowing them to offer downloads, the licensing agreements are for CD only. And as for vinyl releases, it seems some (most?) of the record labels they're dealing with are hesitant to license stuff for release on LP. Jazz is a niche market and apparently younger people are not that interested, even less so because of that download situation. Let's hope this is not going to be end of Mosaic after 34 years... By the way, before anyone starts wondering if posting this is a good idea, Scott explicitly asked me to tell everyone I know about their situation. Don't like the sound of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erwbol Posted April 26, 2017 Report Share Posted April 26, 2017 Looks like we all made the right choice ordering all these sets right now instead of later. Depressing news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 Thanks for posting this information Hans. Nice to see you back even if you are only dropping in. The Mosaic situation sounds kind of dire. I hope the backordered Mingus and Johnson sets do in fact come back into stock. Sounds like it is by no means a sure thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) This is the news I didn't want to hear. Hope they hang in there and ride it out - we all need to do our bit and put in some orders. Thanks for posting this, Hans. Looks like the Coltrane 'Sun Ship' vinyl is now OOP. Edited April 27, 2017 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) 14 hours ago, sidewinder said: Latest email from Mosaic says that the Brown/Roach 4LP set is now OOP as they don't plan on doing another repressing. That was a good set ! The Webb/Ella and Condon/Freeman are on my radar. The Woody Shaw Muse is a 'must have' IMO, for anyone interested in that material. Expensive couple of months ! Ditto.. Definitely getting the Shaw box. I have a few of the originals on LP (in storage), but don't play records anymore. I was hoping to get The Complete Clifford Jordan Strata-East Sessions at some point, but it's "back ordered." I wonder if it will ever come back at this point. Edited April 27, 2017 by BFrank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 Love the Shaw Muse box. Had nearly all of it on CD, in those damn 32Jazz issues -- but was glad to upgrade and support Mosaic in the process (got it within the few month or so it was first available). Wish there had been more previously unreleased material (just one track from the live Berlin "Concert Ensemble" date, iirc, which is my single favorite Shaw leader-date, btw), but I guess there would have been more if only the 32Jazz titles hadn't already included a few alternates here and there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) I have all of the 32 Jazz Shaws I think, plus the Mosaic - and quite a number of them on Muse vinyl. The Mosaic is invariably 'first port of call' if I want to hear any of it, giving best overall playback quality. I hope that Clifford Jordan box comes back into circulation. Edited April 27, 2017 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 59 minutes ago, sidewinder said: I hope that Clifford Jordan box comes back into circulation. Ditto. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erwbol Posted April 27, 2017 Report Share Posted April 27, 2017 I had none of the Shaw Muse material so this will be a treat. Free shipping with TNT so hopefully here by Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted April 28, 2017 Report Share Posted April 28, 2017 Just ordered Woody. Looking forward to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted April 30, 2017 Report Share Posted April 30, 2017 On 26.4.2017 at 9:55 PM, mikeweil said: I'd really love to get these two, but at this moment ..... Decided against the Webb/Fitzgerald, as I never was that much a fan of Ella's voice and style, and ordered the two CDs from HEP with mainly instrumental tracks,as that is what I really want. If the Hiines is still available from Jazz Messengers in two weeks, I will get a copy from them. Sorry to say that, but it would cost me at least 40 bucks more when ordering directly. The Joe Pass is on my wish list, too - listened to it on Spotify and liked it, as most early Pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 Not seeing the Hines set any longer. I grabbed it when it hit Running Low. It moved quickly to Last Chance and now appears to be gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 2 hours ago, Ed Swinnich said: Not seeing the Hines set any longer. I grabbed it when it hit Running Low. It moved quickly to Last Chance and now appears to be gone. After reading that I immediately ordered a copy from Jazz Messengers. Phew .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 Seems that the only remaining Select is the Woody Herman...I can give strong recs for that one with the stipulation that if you won't like "that type of thing" in general, then you probably won't like this either. Otherwise, it was great, fiery, swinging band that brought it every time out, and played for keeps...they meant it, if you know what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tapscott Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 59 minutes ago, JSngry said: Seems that the only remaining Select is the Woody Herman...I can give strong recs for that one with the stipulation that if you won't like "that type of thing" in general, then you probably won't like this either. Otherwise, it was great, fiery, swinging band that brought it every time out, and played for keeps...they meant it, if you know what I mean. Yep. Great set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 Just ordered the Condon, as much for Dan Morgenstern's liner notes as for the music. I have much of it on a JSP box and various other discs. Also ordered the James P., even though I already have a good deal of what's in it. Don't see anything else that cries out to me except for maybe the Woody Shaw Muse set. Again, I have most or all of it on single discs, but is the sound quality of the Mosaic a big improvement over prior LP and CD issues? One that's gone that I found to be a blessing is the Lunceford set. What a fabulous band, and so much of what on that set was new to me. Sets like that are what Mosaic is/was all about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted May 5, 2017 Report Share Posted May 5, 2017 54 minutes ago, Larry Kart said: Just ordered the Condon, as much for Dan Morgenstern's liner notes as for the music. I have much of it on a JSP box and various other discs. Larry: well worth it because the prior American CD reissues of a lot of the Condon and Bud Freeman Commodores were just horrible sonically; though the LPs were fantastic (and to show you how great minds think alike, I received my Condon Mosaic last Tuesday). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted May 7, 2017 Report Share Posted May 7, 2017 Not only the Earl Hines, but the Joe Pass, too, has disappeared from Mosaic's website ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted May 9, 2017 Report Share Posted May 9, 2017 The Pass box is out of stock with Jazz Messengers, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 The Earl is in the house! As others said, excellent packing from Jazz Messengers, and friendly service from TNT on the same level. I'm glad I got me a copy, the music and sound are surprising in every respect. Well, I never was disappointed by a Mosaic set. The Jamal is next, I have decided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ayers Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 The Hines is superb, musically and sonically. I've been listening on Spotify and wondering if I should have bought a hard copy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted May 11, 2017 Report Share Posted May 11, 2017 14 hours ago, David Ayers said: The Hines is superb, musically and sonically. I've been listening on Spotify and wondering if I should have bought a hard copy... You should - your description is absolutely correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 20 hours ago, mikeweil said: The Earl is in the house! As others said, excellent packing from Jazz Messengers, and friendly service from TNT on the same level. I'm glad I got me a copy, the music and sound are surprising in every respect. Well, I never was disappointed by a Mosaic set. The Jamal is next, I have decided. Glad you got it and happy my post about it coming off the last chance on the Mosaic site list played a role in your acquisition. Feels like I've done a good deed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted May 12, 2017 Report Share Posted May 12, 2017 You did! For those interested, Jazz Messengers have listed the Hines box once more - seems like they got another (probably last) batch from Mosaic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.