John Tapscott

Yes, indeed. When I was in my late teen's and 20's, the big bands were still touring extensively and I saw many of them and often more then once - Herman, Rich, Kenton, Ferguson, Basie, TA/LT, Jones/Lewis, Bellson, plus local bands such as the Boss Brass, Phil Nimmons etc. Regretfully I didn't get to see Ellington live. When a big band is on and you're sitting 5 rows from the front, with the lead trumpeter playing every note straight at you, there's nothing quite as exciting in all of music. (But it's sounds great no matter where you'e sitting). Your ears ring, but it's not the kind of deafening, hearing-destroying sound played by rock bands. Hearing Woody's Herd swing into Opus de Funk was pretty close to musical heaven, for me, anyway.

Man Wes, I love your enthusiasm! If Mosaic ever needs a promo person, you're it! I was kind of waffling on the Chambers/Kelly set but no more. This sounds like my kind of jazz. It may not be my next purchase (I've been saving for months for the JJ and I'm just about there) but the C/K going to be mine before it goes out of print. Hope you'll also fill us in on the Selects you received. Thanks

That's a great observation Wes, and right on in my view. I think Philly Joe was by far the best drummer Bill Evans ever had. He kicked Evans when and where he needed to be kicked and kept him from sinking into the dreamy doldrums.

Unless you simply don't like the New Orleans jazz style, this set is so much better than you might think. You'll need to be watching for the frying pan when the T/K/M and Liebman sets show at the door too? Hey, weren't some posts a while back about some guys hiding in the bushes outside their homes and intercepting the delivery person before the Mosaic sets reached the front door? No problem for me. I just get them delivered to my workplace, listen to them there first, then quietly bring them home at an opportune moment (such as on an evening my wife isn't going to be home when I arrive). A few more black boxes on the shelves aren't even noticed. And we have an agreement. She doesn't look at my Visa bill, and I don't look at hers. A great arrangement.

Mine too, for what it's worth. Personally, I've never quite understoood the harsh criticism of Wynton's trumpet playing. Yes, the man can really play. My problem with Wynton is that he goes on and on about the value and nature of "swing" in jazz, then writes and plays a lot of music a lot of music which doesn't really swing. I am hot and cold about his composing. Some of his pieces and CD's I really dig; others not so much. But as far as his trumpet playing goes, thumbs up from me.

Recommendations - Nearly anything you can find in print. I would start with his MAMA Cd's from the mid-late '90's - Theme for Monterey, and State Street Suite - the record company is gone, but you still see the CD's for sale. Grab 'em quick, though. If you like those then go to the Moasic set - absolutely fabulous music (aside from a few mediocre pop tunes thrown in, but don't let that deter you, the rest is great) The recent New York, New Sound CD which I like a lot, though some people are not crazy about the sound (and I'll admit it's not as good as the Mama CD's, but still OK IMHO). So start with the MAMA's.

It's definitely there on mine. I'd always assumed it was in the tape. I'm at the office late tonight, so I don't have my set at hand, but it's on the previously uniussed set, isn't it? Maybe that's one reason it stayed unissued 'til now. This is a very small defect in what is otherwise an excellent and very enjoyable set, IMHO.

The trio sides are very nice. they swing like crazy, but I must say that a certain sameness (I hate to use the word predictability) sets in after a while. I really do think this set would have been even better if the recordings had been placed in chronological order (of course, we can listen to them in whatever order we choose). 2 discs of straight piano trio shows off Parlan's strengths, but also his limitations. To be perfectly honest about it, if I had ALL the other stuff, I don't think I would buy the Mosaic set for just the trio sides (even though I do enjoy them and am glad I have them).

It is sad, especially givenn the reasons behind it. I own several Menza recordings and have seen him live several times. I like Don Menza's playing and writing. OTOH, he is 68, not old, I know, but surely the age when a person is entitiled to retire if he's financially able. I'm just hoping and praying I can keep working 'til I'm 65. Some days I have serious doubts, though. (16 more years...hmmmm)

I generally agree with Matthew's comments. It should be pointed out that the Kenton Presents only includes one big band set, Holman's "Great Big Band", which is very good BTW. The Rosolino tracks are my personal favorite in this set. Also, you might enjoy the Gerry Mulligan Concert Band set.

Well, I do think there are same similarities, though if you heard Freeman and Prez back to back there would be no trouble in distinguishing them. My problem with this track is the context. Seems to me to be a style in which you are much more likely to hear Bud than Prez. At first, I was thinking World's Greatest Jazz Band, and though I don't think it's them, it's the same general style. And that's why I thought of Bud at first, though listening again I do think it's Lester (or more likely a clone - Quinichette?)

What a great and happy listen these discs are. Thanks, Jim. There are a couple of tracks that I should be able to get but can't quite nail them down. They're driving me crazy! I'm pretty confident on the Big Band tracks, can identify some of the soloists here and there, and with the exception of one, strike out completely on the vocalists. Here are some of my guesses, a few I'm pretty confident about. 1-4 Woody Herman, very early 70's band - I believe the trombone soloist here is Rick Stepton. 1-6 Rosemary Clooney 1-8 I should know this tenor player - he sounds familiar but I can't quite nail him down. 1-13 Can't quite identify the band, but I'm pretty sure it's a late '50's NYC band - Bill Potts, perhaps? The sax soloists are Zoot Sims and Phil Woods (though it could be Gene Quill). 1-14 - Got to be Getz, doesn't it? 1-16 This is a very intriguing track. It sure sounds like Lionel Hampton. At first I thought it was an early recording, but isn't that a conga player in the rhythm section? And the piano player sounds like Earl Hines at times. So I'm guessing it was the album Hamp made with Buddy Rich circa '77. Did the 'Fatha guest on one track? 2-5 At first I thought it was Bud Freeman on tenor. But isn't that Prez? 2-6 Warne Marsh on tenor with the Clare Fischer Big Band playing Lennie's Pennies. 2-7 - The Anthony Braxton Big Band (circa '76) One of my favorite tracks here. 2-8 Basie with Prez. 2-9 A Bird tune. Don't ask me which one. Reminds me a bit of Lew Tabakin, but not quite as polished. Another player I should get. Most of the rest, not a clue, but am looking forward to findingout. 1-1 is a great track BTW.

Happy birthday, Phil, and thanks again for a making a wonderful CD. Convergence Zone is outstanding - my favorite Big Band disc of '03. I just bought another as a Christmas gift for a friend.

Conversations With Myself is a great record, esp. Blue Monk. I had forgotten about this one. I'll have to give it a spin soon.

I agree totally. I think the best drummer for Evans was Philly Joe. He brought out the straightahead side of Bill's playing that for me is often missing from his other work. With Philly Joe Evans had no choice but to swing hard. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Evans and his recordings. He really is one of the most important pianists in jazz. But when the music starts to really swing, he seems to cut the piece short or let the bass or drums have a solo, and I find it a bit frustrating. Like some others, I can only listen to Evans for relatively short periods of time, a recording here and there. Somewhere Gene Lees says words to the effect that Evans sometimes got lost in himself. What he's saying I think is that Evans often got so locked unto his unique harmonic concept that he tended to forget or downplay some of the other dimensions of his playing, like straight-ahead swinging. One of my favorite Evans albums is California Here I Come - a live double Verve LP with Eddie Gomez and Philly Joe. Interesting that it is one of Evans more straight-ahead recordiongs and wasn't released until after his death.

Yes, I have a late '80's Verve Cd of "Sweet Rain." No extra tracks, origianal liner notes, I believe. I don't know of another Cd issue has ever come out.

Many happy returns, Jim. You're now the same age as I am. Ah - the age of wisdom, also an age when the waistline begins to expand alarmingly (at least in my case - too much time at the #@!$ computer!) BTW, if you want to get that Eldridge set in the shopping cart, you have to use the LEFT HAND! (Thanks also for the Blindfold CD's - they arrived safely).

First thing, buy a new turntable. Then I'd hop on the next plane to Chicago, hit the Jazz Rrecord Mart, and dig into that recently delivered collection.

Holy smokes! What I want to know is "How did she deliver the collection to the store - with an 18 wheeler?"

I would have to go with Free For All on this one - The Thad/Mel set is the one I would keep if I could only keep one. What 5 after that - The Basie live, the Thad small groups, the Mobley, the Mulligan Concert Band, the McLean, & the Kenton Holman/Russo charts Oh, that's six, probably I would scratch off the Thad small groups. It's great but too short (only 3 discs!)

I have just been listening again to the first three discs of the Shank set and I would have to agree with this. I was more enthusiastic about this set when I first got it. (Discs 4&5, with Carmell Jones on a couple of the sessions are better and I'm looking forward to digging in to them). The music on the first three 3 discs is OK but Shank was not yet the fiery player he later became (but he certainly takes a big step forward on the "New Groove" session). It probably didn't help that I was listening to the Phil Woods set just before the Shank (though these days, Shank is probably just as good an altoist as Woods). OTOH, I really like the Giuffre set, except for the session with the overdubbed saxes which I think has mediocre sound. Brad, don't give up on this set too soon. Give it another try, esp. the sessions with Jack Sheldon, and the trio with Brookmeyer and Hall. Also, the first two discs of the Serge Chaloff set are difficult to listen to because of the sound. Probably they did they best remastering they could but the original tapes/masters must have been in very bad shape. I don't regret buying any Mosaic set really, but the problem is that you get it "all", meaning everything from great to mediocre. Thankfully, the stuff on most of the sets I have is at least good or better.

If you looked in my music room you would say I was a collector, but I don't consider myself a collector in the classic sense. I buy music not to collect it but because I am genuinely curious about it and want to hear it. I don't have anything unheard in my collection at the moment (well except the CD that arrived in the mail today!). I am also quite selctive about what I buy now, just because there's so much out there, and I don't exactly have money to burn.

OK Chuck, I respect your opinion, and I agree that the music is far more important that the photos. But Chuck, I honestly doubt that you would do such thing on any of your releases. If I were a record producer, I sure as heck wouldn't allow that to slip through. BTW, is there any significance to the fact that it's the Verve Mosaic reissues that generally have these little slip-ups, as opposed to the Mosaic sets from other labels? That does make me wonder if Cuscuna has a little less input on these.

This is a great list, for sure, but I too, am surprised there's no Mobley in sight.

Well, I haven't got this set yet, but I concur with you, David. All this does speak of an uncharacteristic carlessness on Mosaic's part. Could it be that Michael Cuscuna is not paying as much personal attention to each set as he used to? I have been listening to some of my Phil Woods Mosaic set today. I'm sure glad they didn't reverse Phil's picture on that. It would drive me nuts to see his hands upside down, so to speak, especially on the cover.