wesbed

Mmmm...

I wish I could say more than I already have about how freaking great the Vee Jay Mosaics are. The sound is VERY good. The playing is equal to any example set by the Blue Note sound. Also, to me, the sets contain quite a good choice of songs. It hardly gets much better. For anybody who is still wondering about getting these sets before they go OOP (potentially soon)... make sure you take DrJ's advice and don't let these collections slip by. As I wrote in another thread... I thought the Duke Pearson Select was an example of the 'worst of Mosaic.' Regarding the Vee Jay sets, the opposite is true. The Vee Jays, to me, are an example of the 'best of Mosaic.'

What is really the problem there? I've listened to the Moncur Select tons of times and I do not have any problems with the way it sounds. Is it really a poor remastering job, or is this merely a (very) subjective opinion? I agree with Jazzdog regarding the Moncur. I've listened to it numerous times. I have never heard anything wrong with any of the three disks. What did McMaster make a mess of, exactly?

I like Shank too. I enjoyed the Bud Shank Mosaic Complete box very much. He sounds so... 'Bud Shank ish.' I've heard only the 2nd disk of the Shank/Cooper Select so far. I purchased too many other Mosaics at the same time that I purchased the Shank/Cooper Select. You make a good point about Pacific Jazz. I look forward to future Mosaic releases of Pacific Jazz titles. It's probably due to the West Coast thing, but Pacific Jazz titles, from what I've experienced, seem to offer a very easy-going, nice-flowing, yet grooving & swinging type of sound. I blame the warm & friendly climate of Southern California for creating these pleasant and soulful sounds.

Since reading some negative reviews of the 2nd disk of the Shank/Cooper Select, I had to listen to that disk first. I've listened to only the 2nd disk so far. It is definitely a Bud Shank / West Coast type of sound. The 2nd disk, containing the (B1, B2) sides, the horns with strings, features some very stylish/sublime playing. The listener needs to be in the right mood to enjoy this set (the 2nd disk). I don't like to use this word to describe jazz music, but, the 2nd disk has music that borders on being relaxing. If you're in the mood for some hard, raw jazz playing, this is the wrong disk to start with. However, I listened to this disk while sitting at home on a warm spring afternoon in Tucson. The music fit the day very well. I did enjoy it. >Shank/Cooper Select<

I'm glad to learn I'm not the only one to think the Duke Pearson Select is not great. I thought I was alone in my negative view of the Pearson box.

The aggresive nature of this board, if it can be called such, has taught me much. If you want an honest answer about jazz music, information, opinions, history, post it to the Organissimo board. You may or may not like what you get in return, but it will be an honest answer derived from several knowledgeable opinions. Take from it what you will, listen to some music, than add your own opinion if you so desire. Around these parts, it's acceptable to agree, to fight it out, to love on one another, throw rotten tomatoes, name-call, take sides, express your opinion, and engage in discussion. There is no physical harm done. To me, this is what a good online discussion community is all about. Organissimo is a lively and self-sufficient board. It creates its own life, aura, and energy. The various members keep the board alive and continue to keep the board alive. I've noticed the moderators at AAJ trying to start discussion by posting given topics now and again. There's hardly any activity, period, at the Harlem.org board. You can put a fork in it over there. She's done. Whether the political forums are liked or not... they are needed. If there is no outlet on the board for political banter, the exact same political posts will pollute the non-political and music forums. I believe this is a part of human nature. The political forum is a necessary evil, or pleasure, depending on how it is interpreted. I like that I have the choice to post-in, read-in, or completely ignore the political forum. Hard bop only? Hmmm... I'm thinking of recent discussions of ELO, reggae, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, WAR... to name a few. This is a jazz bulletin board. Blue Note only? Hmmm... I'm thinking of many recent discussions revolving around Mosaic, to include Verve, Pacific Jazz, Roulette, and Vee Jay. What about Shigeo Miyamoto and Tamaki Beck?

This makes me think... Who was the comedian who had the old drum-roll two-liner? Patient: "Doctor, doctor. It hurts when I do this." Doctor: "Don't do that." I don't know why but this makes me laugh every damned time.

I'm not offended in the slightest. I don't tend to be easily offended in general. I like knowing that we are mostly free to post what we want here. I've enjoyed this board immensely since its inauguration. I'd even offer to pay a little money, now and again, to assist in keeping the board operative. It's a sense of freedom, in a way, to believe that I can post what I want, in pictures and text, and can usually get away with it. On the other hand, to have a good bulletin board community, the board cannot be let slip into anarchy. The members must do what they can to assist in keeping the board active, comfortable, happy, to preserve the board for each other. Too many unhappy/unsatisfied members will result in members who no longer post and, at some point, will leave the board and, ultimately, kill it. An inactive board is no fun. Witness the board over at www.harlem.org. A too heavy-handed management will kill the board. Witness what took place at the BNBB. Each member must take it upon his/her own merit to self-police posts in an attempt to maintain a thriving community. I like to post what I want to post. I enjoy the freedom very much. If I have any sense, though, that something I posted or am about to post, might be offensive to somebody, I'll refrain from acting on said post. I'd rather leave a little of me out, to keep the thriving community in. I say, post what you want. Pesonally, I am not offended... never have been. If, however, you feel a need create a poll to ask if anybody is offended, because you have a reasonable doubt... then self-police your posts and do what is necessary to remove the doubt. What's the old saying? Let it begin. And let it begin with me.

Aren't interest rates under 1%? Man, I don't know. The interest rates have been so strange lately. However, my bank still pays me interest at a rate greater than zero percent. The government offers me zero percent for holding my money.

I'll agree with the wicked part.

I can listen at work but choose not to. One, I tend to listen to the music rather than working. Not good. Two, I don't like for my jazz collection to remind of where I work. I like to have my jazz listening associated with relaxation, enjoyment, and the many other positive vibes of home.

I just had to do it!!!

Yes, indeed. All the way back to day one. Here is one of my early 'classics.' >link<

Yeah. People often interpret a tax refund as a benefit. To me it's not. It lets me know that I could have purchased some more Mosaics had I had MY money that the government was keeping from me. Whether the refund be for $50, $5,000, or $10,000.

I'm not sure how much I PAID, between $5,000 and $10,000. I'm getting a $500 REFUND. Which means that the government had $500 too much of my money for several months. And paid me no interest to boot.

And any other old jazz he gets his hands on.

RDK: I don't mean to use your words against you or quote your words out of context. Forgive me if I have done so. Your words inspired a lot of thoughts about Mosaic. I disagree that the Mosaic sets are pricey. However, I agree that the sets are generally worth the price and do hold their value (although I won't be selling any of mine). If I choose to rid myself of the Pearson Select, it's going back to Cuscuna. I recently purchased the Miles Davis Complete at the Blackhawk set. Four disks at a total price of $50 = $12.50 per disk. There aren't a lot of nice pictures in the two CD inserts. Only pictures of Miles. What about Hank Mobley and Wynton Kelly? Were they not at the Blackhawk with Miles? The remastering is good but not incredibly good. Overall, though, a very enoyable box set. Common sense (not facts) tells me that Columbia has a much larger market than Mosaic and, therein, could give a bit of a price reduction due to sales volume. A Mosaic Select contains three disks at $40 per set = $13.33 per disk. The set contains the original liner notes plus, sometimes, new notes written by Cuscuna, the man himself. The Selects contain color duplications of the original album art plus several black & white pictures of ALL the session players. I'll gladly pay the less-than-one-dollar difference per disk, in this example, to purchase a Mosaic Select box. As RDK writes, a Mosaic reissue will probably hold it's value in the secondary market much better than, say, a Columbia reissue. I don't mean to be a 'Mosaic hack' with my typing and blabbing about Mosaic, of late. Mosaic is not perfect. The following words are presented as a more critical view of Mosaic. I love the hell out of the Vee Jay sets. But, all those alternate takes? I like the idea of the alternate takes but I'll generally program my CD player to bypass most of them. I paid for 12 disks (six disks per set) but received only about 6 disks worth of unique music. I enjoy the Bix/Tram box. But, some of the stuff on the set is not necessarily the 'best of jazz.' Some sides are quite good but some make me want to place peanut butter in my ears. Some of the set is very enjoyable on a historical level but only mildly enjoyable for day-to-day listening. Overall, I enjoy the Blue Mitchell Mosaic box. To tell the truth, though, some of the tunes remind me of a re-hash after re-hash of Sidewinder-like material. The playing is very good. The sound is very good. But, how many Sidewinders does one need in a box set? The Duke Pearson Select. It has its high points -- the Christmas songs and The Phantom. It has its low points -- can you say, 'Lawrence Welk Goes to Church?' On my first listen-through to the Duke Pearson box I thought, 'Is Cuscuna serious? This is a Mosaic product?' I had a friend visiting on that fateful night. He is another poster from this board, to be exact. We sat on my couch and laughed our asses clean-off at parts of the Pearson box. I paid $40 for THIS? Gimme a friggin' break, Mosaic. With this said, I like Mosaic very much. I believe Mosaic does a very good job, overall, and offers a competitive price when considering that Mosaic sells to a very specialized market. I will continue to purchase Mosaic's product. I will continue to anxiously await the delivery of said product. I will continue to get butterflies in my stomach and a smile on my face when I open each new Mosaic box. Conn500: It makes me feel a little let-down that you spent your money and anxiously awaited the delivery of a top-quality product, only to be disappointed by it. I suggest, make a CD-R of the parts of the Pearson box that you enjoy. Then send it back to Cuscuna and let him eat the cost. Even when considering my own words, here, I will admit that I don't have the guts to send my Pearson Select back.

Sorry about your negative first experience with Mosaic. For what it's worth, I believe the Duke Pearson Select to be the worst of Mosaic. Which is to say, the worst of the best. I have the Duke Pearson set. I almost want to make a CD-R of the Christmas music and send the box back to Cuscuna every time I see it taking up space on my shelf. I don't believe it to be something for Mosaic to be proud of. You'd have been much better served with the Bennie Green, the Curtis Amy, the John Patton, or what the hell, ANY of the other Selects. I was very impressed with the my recent purchase of the Tristano/Konitz Mosaic. And, VERY, VERY, VERY impressed with both Vee Jay Mosaics (an outstanding remastering effort from Malcolm Addey). I say, phooey, to any TOCJ/JRVG, that I've heard, being better, soundwise, than the Vee Jay Mosaic/Addey boxes. I, too, plan to purchase the Turrentine Mosaic sometime soon.

I just now completed my taxes, 4/13/04 at 10:20PM. Whoo hoo!!!

Congratulations on your Mosaic purchase. I like the first disk on the New Orleans Jazz box. Unless I'm just 'hearing things,' it seems like the first set on Disk 1 has a repeating theme, like a suite. Is it just me or is the theme really there? When will Blue Note get around to giving the RVG treatment to The Procrastinator?

I wondered about this same thing. If the source of the original recordings, Vee Jay versus Blue Note, was simply better? Blue Note and Rudy Van Gelder have brought me so much pleasure over the years that I have a difficult time in thinking that Vee Jay may have done a better job with the original recording. At the same time, I accept that Blue Note may not have been 'the best.' Maybe Claude is correct and the brilliant sound is not all due to Addey? Maybe Vee Jay captured the sound, originally, better than Blue Note and Rudy Van Gelder? Claude is correct when he writes that you don't hear, in the Vee Jay recordings, the RVG-style distortion, etcetera.

Yes, fek me. And that darned DrJ for starting this whole mess.

The Vee Jay Mosaics should have been released as the first two titles in a new Malcolm Addey Series. Sold exclusively through Mosaic Records. I'm COMPLETELY AMAZED by the music on these sets. Both, peformance and sound quality. I wonder if Addey would do an interview with b3-er for the Organissimo Forums? How did he make this music sound so fresh and vibrant? Just incredible. Addey held a virtual remastering clinic on these sets.

You generally get more than one copy of the receipt from Mosaic. The pink copy and the yellow copy. Place the pink copy in one box and the yellow copy in the other. See? Problem solved.