Ed S

I remember that when the first set of selects went retail, CD Universe had them priced with an introductory pre-order price of around $35. I sent Fred from Mosaic an email asking what was up with the pricing being cheaper than from Mosaic (even if it was a pre-order price). Fred was shocked at the $35 price, remarking in his reply that is almost what Mosaic charges them for the set. Subsequently, the pricing was changed and they now sell for around $50 retail at CD universe.

Not quite as good a deal though

Well, I’ve had this set for well over a week now and have given it a pretty good listen. Before I offer my opinion, I’ll offer some personal background. First of all I have had VERY limited exposure to Dinah Washington prior to picking up the set. I’ve heard a few songs either on a jazz station or as part of a compilation. Probably the single most extensive exposure I had to her was the three clips on the Mosaic site. But I heard her distinctive voice and liked it enough to want to hear more. I certainly have had no exposure to the Mercury and EmArcy recordings that apparently brought her recognition in the R&B and jazz worlds. So I guess I’m pretty much judging this work on its own merit, though perhaps the knowledge that there is material out there of higher quality could influence my opinion. Also notable is that I generally have a pretty high tolerance for material that is at the fringes of jazz. Pop oriented material with orchestras is something that I can enjoy so long as the material doesn’t get too cheesy - if you know what I mean. I’ve already posted some favorable comments about the Hackett set. Also, some of the pop oriented work by folks like Nat King Cole, June Christy, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, June London, Jonah Jones etc - stuff that straddles the line between pop and jazz - is material that I can get enjoyment from when I’m in the mood. All that said, on to the Dinah Washington. I like it. I guess I’d go so far as to say I like it far more than I thought I would - given the commentary that I had read here and on AMG . There’s a lot amount of pop oriented material here. Maybe 50 - 60% of the set falls into this category. For the most part, though, I've enjoyed it. The arrangements are very tasteful and very good - occasionally excellent. Washington is generally backed by a string orchestra for this stuff, but in general the strings generally don’t go over the top if you know what I mean. They add a very lush and sometimes gorgeous feel but for the most part add to the music and ambience without dominating it. Washington’s singing style really works well in these settings well. On a few tracks there are some background singers that on a couple of occasions border on annoying without quite getting there. There’s also quite of bit of material with a full orchestra - horns and strings - that has a big band/swing feel to it. It’s generally very well done, though it is definitely commercially oriented in its feel. The set of songs on disc 1 recorded with solo piano and flute was very nice. Disc 4 is the real winner in the set. It’s the Back To The Blues material with a few extras. First rate throughout. I love the song Blue Gardenia which is apparently previously un-issued. It might very well be my favorite song in the entire set. The material on this disc is probably the most jazz oriented in the set - hands down. You can tell though, that the material is aimed at a broader audience as you can sense that any rough edges have been sanded off. Still very good though in spite of that. Would I recommend the set? Yes - with a few ifs. If you like pop oriented material, if you’re okay with orchestras heavy on strings, if you’re okay with commercially slanted big band arrangements featuring a full orchestra with horns and strings, if you‘re okay with material with a bluesy feel to it that is accompanied by an orchestra. I don’t mean that to be a series of negatives - just fair notice to anyone thinking they are getting a pure jazz set. The execution of this material is first rate, IMO. The sound is outstanding. I dig it. You may too if you go into it with the right expectations or if you are predisposed to liking material of this ilk. I doubt if you’ll find much better pop material than what you hear here with Dinah Washington’s interpretations of this material, but if you’re expecting the Count Basie Orchestra with Joe Williams, this is not it. If you’re not into the pop oriented style, you might be better served by picking up Back to the Blues if you feel you must have something by her from this period. I’m thinking about acquiring some of the Mercury/EmArcy material at some point. Just from what I have read here and at AMG, my guess is that I’ll like it and still like the Mosaic material since I heard it first. I wonder if I had heard Washington’s jazz and R&B material first what my response would be to the Mosaic.

Maybe I'll sit on mine. Wonder what it will be worth then....

Tony nailed it. For me, the music of the PMG can be the most beautiful and uplifting I've heard. I could not care less how it stands up to the scrutiny of hard core jazz afficionados. It's gorgeous, well crafted and executed music played by great musicians. I have to be in the mood for it - much like anything else. Brings back lots of great memories as well. I'm a big Metheny fan - all time periods, labels ,settings. I think the only Metheny records that I don't have are the Passagio whatever disc and the set with Derek Bailey. I saw Pat last year in the trio setting - what a show. I'm looking forward to his next PMG release as well as those promised remasters.

I've got lots of club discs as well and have had no issues. I've always wondered what the stigma was.

Many of the Mosaic CDs have additional company names like Verve Music Group or SONY direct markets or Rhino or whoever they are leasing from. I'm guessing that the material on that disc was leased from BMG and that BMG Direct is the arm of that company that handles licensing arrangements. I don't think at all that it means that the disc was manufactured by the BMG Music Club or for them. Why don't you give Mosaic a call or email?

Not exactly what you had in mind, but didn't the aliens in Galaxy Quest - that Tim Allen space sci-fi comedy movie base their rebellion angainst their oppressors around intercepted signals of the Galaxy Quest series?

Congratulations

CD Universe has them available January 4th. Has anyone ever spoken to Mosaic and get any info as to how retail sales of these sets is going? The CD Universe sales rank is something like 324,500 or thereabouts for the first 6 if that means anything Has anyone ever seen any of the first six in a brick and mortar? I wonder if they see more action through the website with the exposure that retail might bring.

I really dig most of the BNs from this era that have been released by various means. I like the fact that Water seems to be picking up where the Rare Grooves left off. Not a BN, but I recently picked up the Water release of Les McCann's Invitation to Openness. One word review - Wow!

I had heard none of this material prior to getting the set and it truly was a treat. Made me wonder how I could have gone so long without hearing it. A real ear opener.

The music is Fabulous, Fabulous, Fabulous. No doubt about it - this is a must have set.

I like this set a lot. The movie themes session is a little weak IMO, but the rest is very nice. I love the version of Django's Manoir De Mes Reves.

I've slowed down my buying dramatically over the past couple of years. I still look for the odd Blue Note that is released that I don't have, but I don't buy upgrades or things I already have on Mosaic sets. I've never chased Japanese reissues for upgrades or missing titles either. My purchases of reissues of other labels and new artists are very selective and based on artists I want to hear more of or recommendations from here. But I've never developed a "gotta have 'em all" mentality like I - quite honestly - did with Blue Note. I actually have a pretty good sized post 1985 BN collection as well. But I've stopped being interested in everything Blue Note over the past year. I have to thank Keren Ann for that. With that Blue Note release, my ability to buy into the stretching the boundaries that Blue Note has been doing is ended. I still look forward to Mosaic releases and have been getting a lot of enjoyment from the last several sets they've done. I've really had time to go through them and appreciate the music with feeling rushed to get to the next disc in my pile. Another tip of the hat to Dan's A-Z concept. I've been revisiting a lot of my collection lately and really listening to things I have not heard in ages. Also using this as an avenue to thin out some unwanted material.

Your write. They should definately use there dictionary.

I'm a huge Metheny fan. The clip sounds very good. Guess where I'm going to be on February 17th?

A guy I used to work with at the record store had that 45. Winning bid - $8239.

You got it. I received email notice that the set will ship w/in 24 hrs. As a side note, I ordered the Brookmeyer and Shank/Cooper Selects. Brookmeyer is shipping. Shank Cooper on backorder. Sales going well perhaps?

Please PM your list to me. If I don't receive your list, I'll assume that I'm on it. That's a fair assumption. Jerk-off. Well placed smiley. I read this once and had to go up in the thread to see what Chaney did. I didn't see anything adversarial and went down to look at it again. It wasn't 'til my second viewing that I dragged down far enough to see the smiley.

Dinah Washington set on the way.....

Wow - Mosaic sure has been on a hot streak haven't they. I used to wait around to pick up newer releases but I've picked every one since the Mulligan right as they were released.

I've had this set for about 2 weeks and have given it a pretty thorough listen. I like it - a lot. All the things said above about Hackett's tone and style hold true to my ears. It's part jazz, part mood music, but definitely an enjoyable, fun listen. I even dig the Hawaiian session for what it is. You do have to be in the mood for this style of jazz. It tends to be on the lighter side but it is definitely well played. Maybe my expectations were lowered because of some of the negative comments I've seen, but I'm pleasantly surprised and very glad I made the pick-up.

Thanks for the comments. I'm leaning toward the Dinah Washington set right now. How I hate "Send in the Clowns". I saw Dianne Reeves with the Buffalo Philharmonic last year in a tribute to Sarah Vaughan. Every song was great - except "Send in the Clowns". Did I mention I hate that song?

Thanks all for the comments. I'm leaning toward picking this one up.