[J.A.W.]

Mosaic's Scott Wenzel told me they are planning an Ahmad Jamal set for 2009, with probably 9 CDs. It will include these Argo and Chess albums:

Argo LP-610 Count 'Em 88
Argo LP-628 But Not for Me
Argo LP-636 Ahmad Jamal Trio – Volume IV
Argo LP-2638 Portfolio of Ahmad Jamal
Argo LP-646 Jamal at the Penthouse
Argo LP-662 Happy Moods
Argo LP-667 At the Pershing
Argo LP-673 Listen to the Ahmad Jamal Quintet
Argo LP-685 Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra
Argo LP-691 All of You
Argo LP-703 Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk
Chess 2ACMJ-407 Sunset

The "theme" is Jamal's piano-bass-drums trio, that's why Mosaic chose not to include his first piano-guitar-bass Argo album Chamber Music of New Jazz (LP-602).

A couple of other interesting sets are currently in the early planning stages, but unfortunately the planned Erroll Garner set with his Columbia sessions is cancelled.

This post has been edited by J.A.W.: 12 December 2008 - 07:30 AM

[jazzbo]

Thanks for the update Hans. This is wonderful, timeless music.

[Daniel A]

Very good to know that the previous contractual problems (can't remember specifics, but I believe they were once addressed by mark@verve) have been solved!

[blind-blake]

Too bad about the Garner. Would love to hear that stuff.

[Christiern]

Garner, at least, didn't adapt a Muslim name. So, he's ok. :)

[Stereojack]

I have it from a reliable source that this set will contain a fair amount of unissued material. Good news (bad news for the pocketbook) for those of us who already have the LP's!

[Nate Dorward]

Marvellous! But I'm really bummed about the Garner, which is a body of work that's been very badly served in the CD era.

[J.A.W.]

Nate Dorward, on Oct 27 2008, 10:39 PM, said:

Marvellous! But I'm really bummed about the Garner, which is a body of work that's been very badly served in the CD era.

So am I. Permission for the set was declined by the Garner estate.

[ghost of miles]

Many thanks for the update and specifics, J.A.W. Scott had mentioned this set about a year ago as a possible autumn 2008 release...glad to know that it's still in the works.

[Bill B]

ghost of miles, on Oct 27 2008, 05:24 PM, said:

Many thanks for the update and specifics, J.A.W. Scott had mentioned this set about a year ago as a possible autumn 2008 release...glad to know that it's still in the works.

The set is coming March or April .

[Chuck Nessa]

J.A.W., on Oct 27 2008, 03:18 PM, said:

The "theme" is Jamal's piano-bass-drums trio, that's why Mosaic chose not to include his first piano-guitar-bass Argo album Chamber Music of New Jazz (LP-602).

The reason the guitar trios are not included is because some of them are owned by sony and cross label issues are not possible at this time. Seems smart to concentrate on the p/b/d sides since the bulk of the guitar trio stuff is available.

[J.A.W.]

Chuck Nessa, on Oct 28 2008, 12:41 AM, said:

J.A.W., on Oct 27 2008, 03:18 PM, said:

The "theme" is Jamal's piano-bass-drums trio, that's why Mosaic chose not to include his first piano-guitar-bass Argo album Chamber Music of New Jazz (LP-602).

The reason the guitar trios are not included is because some of them are owned by sony and cross label issues are not possible at this time. Seems smart to concentrate on the p/b/d sides since the bulk of the guitar trio stuff is available.

I know, but I was referring to the Argo piano-guitar-bass album only.

This post has been edited by J.A.W.: 27 October 2008 - 07:14 PM

[Chuck Nessa]

J.A.W., on Oct 27 2008, 08:11 PM, said:

I know, but I was referring to the Argo piano-guitar-bass album only.

Just meant to say they couldn't say complete.
Thanks for the news.

[RDK]

This is the kinda thing that Mosaic was made for - complete sets and all - but I have to say that nine discs of this is gonna be a lot to take and pricey to boot. But, damn, getting this all together in one place is gonna be sweet!

[J.A.W.]

Bill B, on Oct 28 2008, 12:23 AM, said:

ghost of miles, on Oct 27 2008, 05:24 PM, said:

Many thanks for the update and specifics, J.A.W. Scott had mentioned this set about a year ago as a possible autumn 2008 release...glad to know that it's still in the works.

The set is coming March or April .

That's what Scott also told me :)

[J.A.W.]

RDK, on Oct 28 2008, 01:29 AM, said:

This is the kinda thing that Mosaic was made for - complete sets and all - but I have to say that nine discs of this is gonna be a lot to take and pricey to boot. But, damn, getting this all together in one place is gonna be sweet!

Well, you're going to get the "Complete Argo Ahmad Jamal Piano-Bass-Drums Trio Sessions" ;)

[Teasing the Korean]

Ahmad Jamal LPs are always beat to hell when I find them in thrift stores.

[king ubu]

That's great news!

[AllenLowe]

years ago I knew a bass player who worked with him and called him "I'm-mad Jamal."

[Christiern]

Call him by his original name, Fritz Jones, and you'll see him get real mad! :)

[JSngry]

J.A.W., on Oct 27 2008, 07:31 PM, said:

RDK, on Oct 28 2008, 01:29 AM, said:

This is the kinda thing that Mosaic was made for - complete sets and all - but I have to say that nine discs of this is gonna be a lot to take and pricey to boot. But, damn, getting this all together in one place is gonna be sweet!

Well, you're going to get the "Complete Argo Ahmad Jamal Piano-Bass-Drums Trio Sessions" ;)

Doesn't sound like it...more like the complete Jamal/Crosby/Fournier trio sessions...there's other Argo/Chess/Whatever trio sides made after that trio broke up...they're quite good & break the "formula" more than a little bit.

This post has been edited by JSngry: 28 October 2008 - 09:10 AM

[AllenLowe]

serious question, please don't hit me - but do you guys find Jamal's stuff listenable? he made some good stuff back in '54 before he was famous - but he's no Dexter Gordon -

[Larry Kart]

Listenable, yes, but I often find my attention wandering. And I'm not comparing him unfairly, I think -- I'd rather hear, say, Red Garland. On the other hand, a good many gifted pianists have said that from a pianistic point of view, there are depths to Jamal that I'm just not getting. So I'm still prepared for an eventual moment of revelation.

[JSngry]

I find the music infinitely more engrossing than the playing.

[RDK]

As I tried to imply above w/o offending, I enjoy the trio, but nine discs of it goes a long, long way for me. There's a reason why most of those Argo LPs are only about 30 minutes long. :cool:

[kh1958]

The classic Ahmad Jamal Trio and Red Garland's trio recordings--those are the best and most enjoyable jazz trios, to my tastes.

[ASNL77]

Great news! Better though would be to see the £ strengthen or the $ weaken. It is incredible how quickly the British pound has fallen in the last 6 months! Mosaic orders have been put on hold for me partly because of that. And with the risk of having to pay for the dreaded custom charges make things even worse, I am waiting for better times. Only 'Last chance' stuff will be considered here... :ph34r:

[J.A.W.]

JSngry, on Oct 28 2008, 03:07 PM, said:

J.A.W., on Oct 27 2008, 07:31 PM, said:

RDK, on Oct 28 2008, 01:29 AM, said:

This is the kinda thing that Mosaic was made for - complete sets and all - but I have to say that nine discs of this is gonna be a lot to take and pricey to boot. But, damn, getting this all together in one place is gonna be sweet!

Well, you're going to get the "Complete Argo Ahmad Jamal Piano-Bass-Drums Trio Sessions" ;)

Doesn't sound like it...more like the complete Jamal/Crosby/Fournier trio sessions...there's other Argo/Chess/Whatever trio sides made after that trio broke up...they're quite good & break the "formula" more than a little bit.

OK, fair enough :)

[jazzbo]

I have to say I love this music. . . always have, I still have a copy of "Happy Moods" I bought in 1973 because I couldn't take my dad's copy off to college. That lp was a favorite since 1967.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

JSngry, on Oct 28 2008, 03:13 PM, said:

I find the music infinitely more engrossing than the playing.

I don't understand the distinction you're trying to make. Is it that, with limited technical methods, Jamal is still making interesting/enjoyable music?

I have very little Jamal; the Epic/OkeH collection and the 3 volume set of the Essence from the nineties. I bought them at about the same time and was most interested to see that his approach seemed very similar across forty years, but the drama of the more recent material was gripping - or at least, more overt, because you can hear that drama in the early material too. Jamal's music in the early sides sounds very simple and can be listened to as cocktail music - consequently, he was the first modern jazz musician to have a monster hit album - but it ain't compulsory to hear it that way and it's most rewarding to listen to the spaces, too; as rewarding as listening to the spaces in George Freeman's playing, but with different results :) (edit: and I should also have said volume, as well as space.)

So this box is welcome to me (I hope), or will be when the exchange rate improves.

MG