Ed S

Interesting, isn't it. How's the music?

Thanks all for the recommendations. I'm REALLY looking forward to checking some of this stuff out. I've been playing Equilibrium in the heavy rotation the last few days and have been bitten by the bug, if you know what I mean. I'm headed up to Montreal for the week and they always have some great sales at the local stores in conjunction with the festival. Hopefully, I can grab a few titles up there.

Too bad about the Lunceford.

Hey, doesn't that sound like Blue Note Records? Every release is limited and "retired" either by series (Conns) or sales - all other releases.

I can't remember if the Django is one of the sets that Mosaic released for retail sale. It seems as if it's the only one they list as in stock though. I contacted Mosaic earlier this week with no response. I decided to take a shot and order the Bix Trum Tea set and see what happens. I have my doubts but you never know. They say it will ship in about 10 days as it's a non stock item. My guess they'll cancel the order.

Whether it be the style or the music or the ECM "sound" or some combination thereof, it sure reaches me. You have to tip your hat to a label that has over the years released as much excellent material as these guys. I wonder if they'd ever consider doing box sets of some of their older material a la Mosaic. There's some classic material by some great artists.

Denny Terrio? Holy smokes. It's not where the hell did they find him but more like under which rock did they find him

I began living the same situation in 1994 with the birth of my 1st son, to be followed in '96 by son number 2. I am still living it. When my first son was born, I had to basically mothball my main equipment to accomodate my son. Some strategies that evolved out of that move: 1. I bought an alarm clock with a CD player. Using headphones, I listen to jazz every night as I fall asleep 2. I bought a decent sounding portable CD player (boom-box). I listen as I do yard work or relax on the patio/deck 3. I bought a "space saver" under cabinet mounted radio/CD player for my kitchen. I can listen almost any time of the day as this is still the one room that has not been impacted (too much) by our growing family. 4. I made sure my car had a CD player I'm convinced that my life-style change is at least partly responsible for my Mosaic habit. I know that I can rely on these sets for focusing on eras or artists. Pick a set and enjoy and know woth confidence that the material is top quality. (Please no Four Freshmen or Hackett comments ) Same with Blue Note records. Because of a far more limited budget and dramatically less time to explore, I rely on their new releases and reissues to feed my jazz jones. I'm generally happy with what they release and while I don't buy their product exclusively, their releases are easy, no thinking involved pick ups for me. I use the board for recommendations for other artists. You guys provide an invaluable service ! I recently remodeled my basement - creating a jazz listening room and a separate "family room". I finally was able to get my main system up and running after about 7 years in mothballs. I've picked up a few guitars and am practicing on a regular basis as well. But my "quality" jazz listening time is generally restricted to the time after the boys are in bed. Generally I'm pretty exhausted myself and sometimes fall asleep while listening. I can tell you that things have not changed much since the birth of my sons from a time for listening standpoint. These days, at any time my jazz could be drowned out by my older son playing his piano, viola or cello. My younger son will be starting piano this autumn. But I plug away and more often than not the jazz becomes background music as the family interaction is more important anyways. I enjoy what I can when I can. I'm glad to be giving my boys exposure to this music and hope that some day they will remember fondly the Sunday mornings at home when I usually bring out "the old stuff" - Mildred Bailey, Venuti/Lang, Django Reinhardt and like this morning - Billie Holiday. Life after children changes the old jazz habits for sure but I would not trade it for anything.

Three cheers for Wal-Mart. What am I saying I'm not myself today. It must be a case of Latin Fever

I agree with the Julie London idea and with the comments about Liberty. I wish that EMI would release all of these under their original label. The Chet Baker that was just released was a Colpix release, yet the CD has the Roulette label and logo plastered on it. Early on everything reissued seemed to be coming out as a Blue Note, irrespective fo the original label. The do seem to be using the original label more frequently these days, but I wish they'd be consistent.

Society? Secret meetings? Preposterous ! Rubbish ! Poppycock ! All I will say at this point is that I thoroughly enjoy the ECM sound and have since I started getting hooked on jazz in the 70s. That is all I will say at this point. I refuse to answer any questions about some society that someone dreamt up or comment on what may go on at these alleged meetings. I suppose you think we or they sprinkle their regular posts with code words and such That is all I am saying. End of discussion. Expect to be contacted by Bev Stapleton shortly........

A product of Progressive Rock and having come in to the world of jazz through fusion groups like Weather Report and Return to Forever, I have a fondness for electronics as well. Thanks for the recs. I'll be bagging them shortly.

Can't be any hotter or more humid than last year. It was well into the 90s every day with humidity that was stifling. But that just made the ice cold Labatt's go down smoother. Just to brush up on my French........ (with index finger indicating the number one) Biére s'il vous plais. And of course Merci!

You nailed it David. And no, the image at CD Universe is not any larger. I bought the CD, but will be watching ebay like a hawk for an LP. You know, better soundstage, deeper bass and all.

That's interesting because I barely notice the electronics. At any rate your opinion that they've made better music means that: 1. Perhaps I am easily impressed and entertained 2. I've got a lot of great listening ahead of me

I'll be making the trek next week and looking forward to another great festival. Great city to visit if you have never done so. The festival is massive and feature ticketed jazz concerts as well as a plethora of free events spread over multiple stages - all within walking distance of each other - featuring jazz, blues, world, and music at the fringes of jazz. I'm particularly looking forward to this years Grand Evenement - a massive free outdoor party attended by upwards of 150,000. This year they feature the Spanish Harlem Orchestra - a 12 piece salsa band. Should be a great time.

I just picked this up a couple of days ago. Wow! I am really digging this record. The transition from the opening track - Equilibrium, a very moody, ambient sort of piece - to Vamp to Vibe is stunning. They could play that song for an hour and I'd have been happy with the disc. It's that good. A dark, brooding, intense groove set by the piano with those striking chords and vibes with great drum work. A very effective piece indeed. The rest of the disc maintains the high standard and takes you through a variety of moods, grooves, textures and soundscapes. There's a haunting, ambient sort of feel to some of the tracks which I dig. I like the bass player using the bow as well to add to that feel. I'm grooving to The Key as I write and am digging the bass and vibes work - a nice walking base line with an angular sort of melody by the vibes. Great stuff. I know this is probably old hat to those of you who have been digging these guys for some time, but to me it is ear-opening. That's one of the nice things about jazz, isn't it? New spins and directions mixing with old stuff still to discover. At any rate - recommendations on where to go in this realm appreciated.

Well my set FINALLY arrived 4 days ago. I've been binging on Billie Holiday ever since. Marvelous, marvelous, marvelous music. All the other adjectives mentioned above apply as well. I can't say enough about the beautiful singing and music on this set. I'm so very glad I took the plunge. It's been a very rewarding purchase. Easily one of the best sets I've got. I find the sound to be excellent - given my rather indiscriminating ears and rather low-end equipment. I've actually been listening to the set the last few nights out on the deck using a boom box, so you get the picture. But I've spun it some on my main 1985 vintage equipment with a similarly satisfying experience. A word about the packaging. It's the single best box set package I've ever purchased. Great concept, fantastic booklet (or should I say book ) and easy access to the discs which are cleverly housed in those 78 looking carboard sleeves. I'm a sucker for this sort of thing and they've done a great job establishing a look and feel that's perfect for the excellent music therein.

Finally, the staple of every used record store makes it to cd! That's funny. I have an LP copy of this one as well. I guess I won't be getting much if I trade it in. At any rate, FWIW, CD Universe has indeed adjusted the availability date of this set of releases to July 8. My order is in. The Lovano's coming out on that day too. Looking forward to hearing that one. I hope it's a good one. I remember Tom Evered mentioning that there was enough material for a second release if this one sells.

Definitely get the Tristano/Konitz/Maarsh. It's as ear-opener. I like JLarsen's reasoning as well. You can grab a Select any time. This is a special occasion purchase and the T/K/M set fits the bill in that regard.

There should have been a poll to see who should have been in the poll I voted for Unitas. I'd take Bradshaw, Favre and Jim Kelly over Marino in a heartbeat.

Which set did you order?

I've got the Baker, Eckstine, Rushing and Washington on the way. I did not get the Basie as I have the Mosaic. Those Verve's look very nice as well.

I can't stop listening to this thing. It's 10 PM on a Sunday night and I'm spinning this as I write. My wife thinks I've gone over the edge. Help!

Tod I'm going to be putting in Mosaic order fairly soon. I plan on picking up a couple of Selects and one Mosaic set. The set was going to be the Bix/Trum/Tea set. Would you go for the Berigan set first? And yes, I dig the vocal stuff. I have the Bailey Mosaic and love it. I've got the Billlie Holiday 10 CD set on the way and if you saw my Carlos Gardel post, am now a fan of his stuff as well.