John Tapscott

All right, bad enough, but nothing on Buddy. I like the way he gives the guys three days to "get it right", then one week "to get it right. " A few more minutes and it would be two weeks to "get it right." A little while longer and it would be the whole tour "to get it right". Personnel changes in the middle of a tour are a pain, no doubt.

I have it. It's an excellent set, marred only by a couple of sub-par pop tunes which not even Gerald can redeem by his arrangements. However 90-95% of it is top-notch. If you like powerful big bands that swing (and it sounds as if you do), then this is a great set to have. Personally, I'm really looking foward to the Johnny Richards Select.

Of the three you mentioned I only have the JJ. I've heard some of the Stitt, and enjoyed it, and I have some of the Hodges on Lp. They are all very good sets. I would get the JJ first for the reason you mentioned.

I remember the day after the "not guilty" verdict, OJ proclaimed on national TV that he would spare no time and personal expense to find Nicole's "real" killer. Uh.... we'e still waiting, OJ.

Though 80% at least of my jazz listening is in the mainsteam/hardbop/straightahead vein, I must say that this is really great album, easily my favorite Taylor. to Jimmy Lyons, too.

I guess not - that's too bad. I would have ordered a couple.

32 years ago at age 17. Jazz has been my only real musical interest since then. I have probably bought 500 jazz recordings for every one of any other style since then, and since I have 5,000+ jazz recordings, you can figue out how much "else" I have. My wife and daughter buy the "other" stuff around our house.

I listened to Dinah last night on the website (very nice, BTW). On that tune, it sounds to me that Cooper solos first.

Sam Noto. I very much enjoy two of his mid 70's Xanadu albums - "Entrance!" and "Act One" (especially the latter).

Paul Chambers/Wynton Kelly disc 2. Ok, you guys told me this was a good set, but c'mon, I didn't know it would be THIS good! Cannonball - man alive- he is on fire! Give me all the alternate takes you want when they're this good. Right now I'm listening to the 1st Bassman set - another winner! This set is on course to becoming one of my favorite Mosaics (out of the 40 or so that I own). And to think I still have 4 more discs to listen to.

Chambers/Kelly Disc 1 - just arrived today. This is GREAT stuff, freakin' GREAT. And to think that I did the hesitation shuffle over it!

Oh, just the thought of a Mosaic set being destroyed cuts me to the heart. I know it's just silicon, plastic, cardboard and paper, but still! I believe that the numbers do matter when a set comes to the end of the run. The Vee-Jays must have both topped out under 2,000. Again, I'm guessing 1,850. Hopefuly, someone who ordered in the last couple of days will post their number.

Well, I'm a bit surprised, too, but to call them "popular" is stretching it a bit. My Kelly/Chambers, ordeed 2 weeks ago is #1,795 of 5,000. At most they sold 1,850. Someone posted that Mosaic had expected to do one more pressing even after the Vee-Jays passed into the "running low" category, but then were unexpectedly told "no." So my guess is that they just didn't have that many sets on hand when the word came down.

This is an interesting thought that is quite plausible. I hadn't considered it. It's possible, but if it's that's the case, it would mean that Mosaic still has some sets left in the warehouse. What ae they going to do with them - destroy them? I don't think so. My understanding is that the time out basically puts a limit on the pressing date, ie. no more sets can be made past a particular date. In the case, of the Vee-Jays, that date came a couple of months ago, much to eveyone's (including Mosaic's) surprise. But they were allowed to sell the sets they still had on hand as of that date. Glad I got one of them.

For those outside the US My country's currency is at a 3 year high (or 5, 10, whatever is convenient) against the US$. Therefore, better buy a set now and throw in an extra set while I'm at it. It will only get more expensive later.

T/K/M Disc 3. This is some of the most incredible jazz piano I've ever heard. Almost overwhelming. For me, it's ranks right up there with Powell and Tatum, two of my piano heroes.

Absolutely. Every one of them, I would say.

Wow! That's an incredible batch of music you've got there. Don't feel guilty. You'd only spend the money on something less valuable anyway. And hey, what did somebody say about money - they're printing it everyday! But they sure aren't making music like this everyday! I know the money's not coming out of my pocket, but I'd say you've got a million bucks worth of music there. There, feel better?

T/K/M disc 1

I just ordered "One Day With Lee"- a 2002 Konitz date with the Mark Masters Jazz Ensemble on Capri. Really looking forward to it. To me, Lee always sounds great as soloist with a larger ensemble. I give a big to that Metropole CD, the Nonet recordings, and the Kenton stuff (check out Kenton's "New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm") . I love Lee's small group playing too, esp. on the T/K/M Mosaic.

J.J. Johnson - Disc 7. Rather unexpectedly, the quartet session with Victor Feldman, Sam Jones and Louis Hayes keeps emerging as my favorite session of the whole set.

I don't think it's coincidence, but a deliberate programming decision. It's much like one might call tunes on a live set, in order to give variety and balance to the program. I also read somewhere that you should start your recording with one of the strongest, brightest tunes, since that's the one DJ's are most likely to play (the thought being that they're too time challenged or just can't be bothered to listen to the whole recording).

One more question about Morgan/Shorter as I consider taking out a second mortgage to get yet one more Mosaic set. I have the Wayning Moments Cd and have been giving it a spin over the past couple of days. I consider it to be excellent. Is the rest of the M/S set generally at the same high level as this one? If so, then I know what I'll have to do.

J.J. Johnson - disc 5, tomorrow disc 6

Well, its my favorite Evans recording. Desert island music for me. And yes, it is fiery for an Evans recording. IMHO Philly Joe was THE drummer for Evans.