Ron S

I'm not sure that there's a lot of "non-jazz" in this set. I know one reviewer on the Mosaic site complained about what he/she felt were non-jazz elements, but others complained about other albums not being included in this set precisely because they lacked jazz content, per this statement in the discography: I like this set a lot, and I think it compares very favorably to the Farlow set. For example, although it includes only quartet sessions (which I happen to like), it has a nice mix of traditional standards, Pass originals, and tunes by people like Bill Evans and Clifford Brown. Now, it's been a while since I listened to this set, so it's possible I'll encounter something I forgot I didn't like. If I do, I'll let you know. But so far this go-around, and based on what I recall from the last time I listened to it, I really like it. And if you enjoy jazz guitar, I can't imagine you not digging this set.

Joe Pass--all 5 discs:

You should be able to set your account so it automatically calculates prizes in another currency - works for Swiss Franks, at least! Dave, To do this, click the "Your Account" button at the top of any page on the amazon.co.uk site, then go to Account Setttings/Payment Settings/"Set Your Preferred Currency." Then choose U.S. Dollars from the drop-down window. (Here I go again, supplementing Flurin's suggestion. ) Once you do that, amazon.co.uk will show the approximate U.S. dollar amount in parentheses for every item on the site. Also, the listed prices include the UK VAT (value added tax), which will automatically be deducted when you check out (you can go all the way to the final check-out screen before placing the order if you want to see your net price). For general currency conversion needs, try this site.

Sorry to hear about that, Erik. I suspect that those Mosaics will show up there again. In the meantime, I think you'll really enjoy the Dex box (I got it from them, also).

after their re-design, they dropped the english version...but send me a PM and let me know what you need, I might be able to help with "enhanced personal translation services" Cheers, Tjobbe With the help of a web-dictionary, managed to navigate the site (at snail's pace), add stuff to the cart and complete the order. Thanks for the offer anyhow! I guess you used http://dict.leo.org for that? Just spreading the word for that excellent site - it may help others who have the same problem you had! You might also try AltaVista Babel Fish. I don't know whether the German-English translation is as accurate as on the site Flurin suggested, but it lets you copy/paste entire blocks of text into its window for translation. And it also provides translation between a variety of languages. I've used it to review and order from the Zweitausendeins site.

I need to sign this guy up as my marketing agent! Only if you first buy the JJJ set.

Johnny E did a gender-bender thing here several months ago--maybe we should call him in for an expert opinion.

J.J. Johnson, discs 5-7: Still a great set--not to be missed!

Don't tag the Ivy League with this one--Duke's not in it.

Per Mosaic, they are not limited (at least by number). See this post.

Happy Birthday, Mark! Now you're my age again for a while. By the way, what ever happened to that trip to Philly so we could catch a Phillies game? Maybe this summer?

You should also try to pick up the 2 "Eminent Jay Jay" CDs on Blue Note: These recordings are a bit earlier than those on the Mosaic set, and also include some great sidemen, including Clifford Brown.

Good move. I'm listening to it again right now, and it's a great one.

I also have a Stearns & Foster King Size, but mine's an "Easton" model. Great beds. Cost a bit more than Sealy, Serta, Simmons, etc., but worth it (considering you'll sleep on it every night for decades). One cool thing about S&F: unlike the other companies, they have a consistent coding system for their model names that applies across all retail outlets (the other companies do not have any consistency of model names among different stores, so it's almost impossible to do an apples-to-apples price comparison). So although the S&F model names may vary among stores, the first initials of comparable models are always the same, and you can do a rational price comparison. I.e., Jim's mattress set was called "Knightsbridge" where he bought it, whereas in another store it may be called the "Kingspoint" and in still another it may be the "Kentland", but S&F makes clear that all the "K" models are exactly the same. This isn't true for Sealy, Serta, etc., making shopping for them a nightmare.

In honor of its soon becoming OOP, J.J. Johnson, discs 1-4: Great set. Get it before it's too late ('cept for Ebay).

I don't want you wear the belt buckle in your home--just when you're out in public.

Hope you had a very happy birthday, Flurin! Just because it was your birthday, I won't call you Floren this time.

Happy Birthday, Erik! By the way, when you do finally get that Zweitausendeins order, you'll find that I asked Stephan to throw in a little something extra as a birthday present for you: (I guess having to wait for that to be shipped from Austin to Germany delayed your order a bit. ) I expect you to wear that with pride the next time you visit College Station. Have a great birthday, Erik!

Not sure about that. It seems that at least half the set is no longer available on cd. And what you can find is sold at high prices. In that case, the defense rests. Act now. Comes down to money. What my wallet can't afford, I do not need. On the other hand, you could just cut back a bit on the light beer for a while (it's not like you can really taste that shit, anyway).

Dude, you listen to MP3s all day--what do you care? Just kidding. It sounds great to me. My concerns mirror those of SS. This set was mastered in 1996. As far as the Mosaic website states, it doesn't appear to have been mastered in 20-bit or 24-bit. Can we get some other comments on the mastering? (Ron S likes everything! ) Not true! I'm actually pretty picky about sound quality. But you shouldn't get carried away with mastering dates and bit-rates--they're only numbers. The proof is in the listening. For example, the Shelly Manne Black Hawk CDs are still among the best-sounding CDs available, and they were mastered in the early '90's, presumably at only 16-bit resolution. You guys with only Blue Note CDs in your collection have been taken in by the RVG "latest-is-greatest" marketing machine, and assume that unless a CD was mastered in 24-bit resolution last month, it doesn't sound good. Many of the audiophiles on this Board will tell you that it just ain't so (Hans, where are you?). And the JJ set sounds as good or better than many of the 24-bit CDs in my collection. So there!

Dude, you listen to MP3s all day--what do you care? Just kidding. It sounds great to me.

From the Mosaic web site:

If he had picked up a soprano sax instead, he'd be a future you-know-who.

Erik, you gotta get the J.J. set. Have you had any recent communication with Stephan about the zweitausendeins order?

The audio of this Kessel/Green/Burrell performance ("Blue Mist", recorded at Ronnie Scott's in '69) is now available--with excellent sound--as a "bonus" track on this Gambit CD: