sal

This set doesn't seem to be discussed much, and the reviews on the Mosaic site aren't very positive. However, I'm a big fan of both musicians, and I am considering putting this one on my wish list. Does anyone own this set, or is anyone very familiar with the material on the set? Is it worth the $96? I already have most of the sixties BN material for both of these artists. Is this music essential? Thanks in advance for your help!

Cornbread is probably my favorite. What a funky melody!

I really enjoy it. Its took me a minute to get used to, but its really grown on me and its up to the calibur of Lovano's best releases. I can see how people might have a complaint about the sound, but it sounds fine to these ears.

Ed, glad the recommendations helped! Let us know how you like them. I'm particularly interested in how you like "Sustain", as I have seen that in the store and considered buying it, along with "Blue Decco", Maneri's other Blue Series title. Has any one else heard these? My interest in modern violin "avant-garde" jazz has surged lately with my purchase of "Scrapbook", a great new album with William Parker, Hamid Drake and Billy Bang.

Agreed! I've had "Insight" for quite some time now and its enough to convince me that he's one of the most exciting young players out there on ANY instrument.

I own the JJ and the Hodges. Both are essential in my opinion, but if I had to choose one, I would pick the JJ, only because I am more of a fan of bop orientated music than I am of "pre-bop". Both sets are great.

I recommend David S Ware's album "Parallels & Corridors"

You MUST acquire "State of the Tenor", his blue note release from the mid eighties. In my opinion, its his greatest album ever.

Thanks for the heads up, guys! Just ran to my local Borders and picked up JJ Johnson "Eminent Vol. 2", Freddie Hubbard "Open Sesame" and Hank Mobley "Roll Call". All for $8.99 each.

I agree with Harold Z. While the distortion is a bit high on some pieces on the first disc, the set for the most part is very nice and quite listenable. I would recommend this set to anyone.

Ed - Check out Matthew Shipp's album "Pastoral Composure", also in the Blue Series. If you dig that, for something a little heavier, try David S. Ware's "Parallels & Corridors". Its got Matthew Shipp playing a synth, along with the same bass player (William Parker) and Guillermo E. Brown on drums.

I have to jump in and say that, Soul Stream....I couldn't have said it better myself. I saw Tom with his quintet about two months ago here in Chicago, and I walked out of there thinking the exact same thing. The best trumpeter I've ever seen.

Congrats, TempleJazz. Best of luck to you!

Ang Lee is a very talented director. Although I'm not expecting it to be the film of the year, nearly everything Ang Lee does is decent at least. "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "The Ice Storm" are both brilliant films. I'll most likely see it in a few weeks. Thank you for your perspective on the fim, RDK!

I saw this post on the AAJ board, and thought it would be a good one to bring over here. Some have called it a label that produces music that lacks fire. Others have compared it to the Blue Note of the fifties and sixties. What do you all think about the music coming out of this label?

I guess I don't get it....are you selling this? Or just trying to find information on it?

The cats from the "downtown" scene have been a revelation to me recently. David S Ware, Matthew Shipp, William Parker...all those guys. Very great stuff. Although I've had some of his stuff for years, I'm only really now just starting to understand Sonny Rollins. What an amazing musician. I don't know where he comes up with that stuff. And of course, Randy Weston, Bennie Green, and Carmell Jones have been beautiful discoveries, thanks to Mosaic.

I was going to tell you about that disc, E! I've got mine pre-ordered from CD Universe, can't wait to get it!

Wow! I had no idea that the album was hard to find. I found it in a small record store in Washington last summer for $16.99. Definitely one of the best Mingus albums in my collection. I think its even better than "Mingus at Antibes". Any Mingus fan should do whatever it takes to acquire this one.

I actually love Blue Mitchell! His work with Horace Silver is some of my favorite trumpet playing, and I recently picked up his Mosaic set and I think its great. I understand what you mean by neither of them being innovators. But to my ears, Blue has a high level of skill, and lots of talent. To me, he is a gifted trumpet player. Hank Mobley to me just sounds like any old sax player that you can find in any jazz club in any city anywhere. I don't hear anything special about him. And also, I didn't mean to make my post sound like the only reason I don't dig Hank is because other players are better. That's not why I feel the way I do at all. I always try to look at each artist as an individual. I was just using those players as references to tenor players that I feel are great players. And I don't think Hank fits the bill as a "great" player.

It's really interesting to read your posts. Dan, to answer your question, when it comes to tenor sax work, I'm quite easily impressed. Guys from Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins, to Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, from Fathead Newman and Sam Rivers, to Joshua Redman and Chris Potter have all blown me away at some point or another. Its funny because I consider myself to be much less critical on sax players than I am on other musicians. I don't think my opinion of Hank comes from the fact that he's neither a heavyweight nor a lightweight. I enjoy the different styles of tenor sax that have emerged throughout the decades. I just don't hear anything special in Hank's playing. I'll admit that he was a fine composer, had cool names for his songs, and surrounded himself with the best players. But it just always seems to me that his skills are mediocre. His tone is decent, but I much prefer Joe Henderson's. His ability to improvise over a melody is decent, but is nothing compared to Sonny Rollins. He could handle complex high tempo chord changes alright, but nothing like John Coltrane or Johnny Griffin could. And he could play a nice ballad, but sounds like a novice compared to Dexter Gordon. To these ears at least. I don't know.....like I said, I don't think he's a bad player. He can hold down any tune without a complaint from me. He just doesn't stand out at all. I wish I did get it, but I just don't.

I've been absolutely obsessed with the sound of Sonny Rollins's tenor lately. When I finally got a job last month after a year of unemployment, I went nuts and bought two Rollins box sets, "The Freelance Years" and "The Complete RCA/Victor Recordings". Man, I think I'm finding my new favorite tenor of all time! I've also been loving everything about Mosaic. I only discovered thier stuff last month, and have alrady acquired 4 sets along with all four Mosaic selects. They must be the greatest thing to ever happen to recorded jazz.

In spirit of the "confessional" mood we are all in courtesy of the great thread started by Connisseur Series 500, I wanted to bring the topic of Hank Mobley up for discussion. In the 4 years or so that I've been listening to jazz seriously, I have acquired quite a number of recordings that feature Hank Mobley as a sideman. In addition, I even have two of his own recordings, "Soul Station" and "No Room for Squares". What makes is so strange is that even though I enjoy most of the albums I have that feature him, he has never once made me take a step back and marvel at his playing. While I feel that his playing is solid, it really doesn't do anything for me. I guess that I've always heard alot of talk, especially on the old BNBB, about Hank Mobley and his greatness, how he was unfairly underrated,etc... Even alot of musicians, new and old, seem to love Hank and his style of playing. I don't know, I guess for me, he just seems to "be there". He has never made me say "God, this guy really sucks", nor has he ever made me say "Wow, this guy is a great player!". He just seems to be a filler saxophone player, who while he filled in the tenor spot in many great settings, never really stood out on anything. I guess I don't particulary like his style of playing. Strange, since I love albums like No Room for Squares, Cornbread, the Miles Davis Blackhawk albums, Six Pieces of Silver, Whistle Stop, New Perspective, various Jazz Messenger albums, etc. So, what do you all think about Hank? Especially regarding his skills on the tenor? Does anyone feel the same, or am I just not understanding something?

After being backed up with music (I listen to them the order I receive them), I've finally gotten around to listening to the first two discs of this set, and I must attest to its greatness as well. Never having heard his music before, I'm surprised that Randy Weston was not more widely recognized...he's an amazing composer and pianist! I can't wait to spin disc three tonight and finally hear his African music fusion. Don't miss this one, folks!

Hey Red, One of my favorites is a Jack DeJohnette concert featuring Dave Holland, Herbie Hancock, and Pat Metheny. I can't remember the name of the DVD, but its from a jazz festival in Canada circa 1990. Its an amazing concert, and the DVD picture is very sharp, and the sound mix is a very nice Dolby 5.1. Check this one out if you have any interest in those musicians, its availiabe on amazon.com. Its a great one!