mikelz777

I got into the Crusaders in a big way with my first exposure to the group when a friend played "Southern Comfort" for me. I was quickly hooked and started buying up more of their 70's recordings before their sound changed and they started selling out. (I can't believe that their best selling/best known recording is probably "Street Life'. That recording makes my skin crawl.) I liked them so much that I wanted more so I started picking up their Jazz Crusaders stuff but was very disappointed that a lot of it was very hard to come by. Enter Mosaic. I was so pumped by this set that I bought it almost immediately upon discovering it. What a fantastic way to pick up a lot of music that was otherwise unavailable! Now with the single exception of "Old Socks, New Shoes" (I'm still looking for a reasonably priced one) I have everything studio and live that the [Jazz] Crusaders put out up until the point where Wayne Henderson left the group. After that, they ceased to be the Crusaders in my opinion and I stopped caring. Henderson's departure signaled a sharp decline and an unwelcome change in sound. I'd highly recommend the Jazz Crusader's Mosaic. These guys were all strong players, the real deal, and composed a lot of their own stuff with each member contributing. I'd agree that they weren't trailblazers but they were as solid as bedrock. I think they had a truely unique sound as well, not at all contrived. I can't think of anyone before or after who had their sound. Since they grew up together and played together for so long there is a great cohesiveness which translates to the music and their playing. I think anyone who is even remotely interested in this type of jazz would really enjoy this box set.

I should have my Coltrane box tomorrow! I see by the FedEx tracking that it is only about 25 miles away. I feel pretty fortunate that I'm getting one at all. I had ordered both the Evans and Coltrane box and was pretty much resigned that I would get neither. To end all torture and speculation, I called Concord's customer service on 8/16 to check on the status of my orders. The rep there was very nice and helpful and informed me that both were probably out of stock. He offered to contact the warehouse to check and give me a call back. He called back shortly thereafter and told me that the Evans was out of stock but that they would be shipping me the Coltrane box that same day. Expecting to get nothing, I was pretty pumped to get that good news! I'm really glad that I called because I don't think I would have gotten the Coltrane if I had waited it out. Good luck to the rest of you who are still waiting.

I think someone mentioned them earlier but has there been any motions or investigations made on putting out a Three Sounds set?

"Scratch" is one of my favorites as well. I'd agree that "Images" is definitely one to avoid. Way, way back when when I still had/played LPs I owned both "Rhapsody and Blues" as well as "Street Life". I remember nothing about "Rhapsody and Blues" which basically speaks for itself. "Street Life" makes my skin crawl and represents the ultimate in sell out in my opinion. As far as I'm concerned, the Crusaders ceased to be the Crusaders when Wayne Henderson left the group. "Those Southern Knights" was Henderson's last and even so, it's not one of the Crusaders more memorable ones and it's where I stopped listening to them. "Free As The Wind" was their first without him. The first time I heard it I immediately knew something was missing from their sound and it was Henderson. Their sound and approach changed and they ceased to be the group that distinguished themselves from all others. Another big sign of their decline was when they started adding vocalists. Maybe I stand alone because I know a lot of people really dig "Street Life" which is totally beyond me. I just loathe it. I guess it's one of those "to each his own" kind of things.

This is probably one of the European sets that aren't directly from Mosaic, and aren't numbered. Still a good deal though! Yes, it's one of the Universal (import) Mosaics. The source really doesn't bother me and it would be hard to pass up on that price. Just from various conversations I've read on various jazz boards, I'm not the only one to pick up the Tal Farlow because it was available at such a low price. If this set pans out to be as good as the first impression I got from listening to samples then this is going to be quite the bargain.

In my case, it was because I was first exposed to Coltrane at the wrong (for me) end of his career. All I had initially heard of him was his free and avant garde stuff. I hated it and thus avoided Coltrane for years. Then I was in a music store listening to samples and I gave "Blue Train" a listen and really enjoyed it. That lead me to listening to his earliest work on Prestige which I really enjoyed as well. When I discoved this sale, the price was too good to pass up and out of the handful of Coltrane CDs I had picked up at this point, only 2 of them were included on the Prestige box. (one of them a Red Garland date) Thus, with one fell swoop I would be able to pick up the best (for me) of Coltrane's career which will be rounded out by the smattering of Blue Note, Atlantic and Impulse recordings I've also come to enjoy. In a broader sense, I don't believe that just because one is a jazz fan that they are automatically going to like Coltrane. Was I not a jazz fan during those years where I consciously rejected Coltrane but listened to scores of other jazz artists?

The Tal Farlow box set is going to be a "first pick" for me as I have none of his stuff yet. I read a lot of talk about the set and liked the samples I heard (via AMG) so I sprung for it. Normally, I probably wouldn't have done it but I found a brand new set for $50.00 and couldn't resist. Hard to lose at that price. Horace Parlan was also a first pick for me and I loved it! Then again, I did my homework on both sets so I wasn't going into either blindly. Maybe those who feel the Mosaics are overrated are expecting too much. They're generally a "snapshot" of a particular segment or period of an artist's work. If they buy a Mosaic thinking that it's going to be the ultimate all-encompassing set which is all you'll ever need of an artist or all that's really worth listening to, then they may end up disappointed.

I had the LP version of this way back when and I seem to recall that it cut off on there as well if I'm not mistaken. Maybe someone else here who plays vinyl can verify. I haven't heard this in over a decade but if I'm remembering it right, the cut-off kind of works in a way doesn't it? I'd definitely recommend "Southern Comfort" as well as "Scratch". You might also want to consider their live sets at the Lighthouse. (3 separate CDs)

Cool I wasn't aware of them before now. Weird that I could never find "The 2nd Crusade" before now. I'm glad I saw this thread or I might not have discovered it. They must have just re-released it recently because I see it is available all over the internet. I'm definitely going to pick this one up along with the RVG versions of Donald Byrd's "Royal Flush" and "Off To The Races".

These are my favorite two Crusaders albums from the funky latter days. "Mystique Blues" and "A Message From The Inner City." Yeah! I was just browsing at Musty Groove, and noticed they've got this in the new arrivals ($13.99): Better image. Do they have an online store?

I've been looking for "The 2nd Crusade" for quite a long time but was never able to find a copy. If I did find one it was so expensive I wouldn't even consider it. Did the place you found them have any more? I'd love to pick one up. That and "Old Socks New Shoes" are the only gaps I have in my Crusaders collection up until Wayne Henderson left the group. In my opinion, it was all down hill from there starting with "Free As The Wind" as they became more pop-ish, slick and (over) produced. "Those Southern Knights" was the last of their releases that interested me. I have 13 of their CDs besides the Mosaic Jazz Crusaders box. One rarity I stumbled on was "Pass The Plate" on the MoJazz label. It features a 5-part "suite" among other stuff. I'd also recommend all their live "Lighthouse" recordings.

I know that this is an incredible longshot, but does anyone out there who owns or received the Evans box set possibly have a little buyers remorse? Maybe the significant other is giving you some static? Maybe the credit card bill or hit to the bank account were a bit much? Maybe the set is too much or not as much to your liking as you thought? If so, PM me or email me at michaels777@hotmail.com and maybe we can work something out. I'd love to pick one up.

This thread got kind of quiet all of a sudden. Did everyone here who wanted the Coltrane box finally get one?

That Crusaders Box set is definitely not overrated. I totally agree, the Crusaders box is definitely not overrated. I'd say it's probably underrated, definitely unique in a very good way. I'm into 4 of the big boxes at this point, The Crusaders, Hank Mobley, Horace Parlan and Stanley Turrentine. I really don't have the funds or required desire to spring for many (if any) more. I'd like to pick up the Gillespie box eventually.

By your smiley it looks as if you are kidding but I thought I'd pass on some advice to everyone anyway. I worked for a bank's telephone customer service department for 12 years. Being bitchy, rude, hard core, antagonistic, etc. is not going to help matters at all. The customer service rep on the other end of the line can often have the power of discretion on whether they are going to help you or not and they are going to be perfectly within their service guidelines whether they choose to help you or not. If you are coming on strong, (and I'm not saying you actually would or that you did) the customer service rep can basically shut down and not assist you in reaching your desired outcome, especially if they have to work a little outside the box. I know it shouldn't be that way but I did it and everyone I ever knew in the customer service dept. did it as well. We can kind of see that from the prior posts. One rep went out of their way to call the warehouse and get the order shipped. The other rep just toed the line and said it was at the warehouse and that you should check back in a few days if you didn't hear anything. I'm pretty certain that both reps would be considered to be operating within their service guidelines. It can be a lot like gambling. It depends on who you get, what they do or don't feel like doing or how they interpret how the caller is coming across. Whatever the case may be, there is a lot of truth in the saying that you can attract a lot more bees with honey than you can with vinnegar.

I gotta say that this whole mess is a pretty shabby way for Concord to treat their customers and to conduct business. What a monumental disappointment. I'm restraining myself from saying a lot worse. I'm tempted to take the money I should have been able to spend on the box sets and spring for the Mosaic Gillespie box. For those of you who have shopped with Zweitausandeins, is the Gillespie box likely to show up there? If so, what is the likely asking price judging from their Mosaic listings in the past? I know even with shipping running about $29.00, I saved quite a bit purchasing Dexter Gordon's box set there.

A very apt analogy. I'm just jittery because I know I'll never find a connection as good as this one. This whole situation is just making me feel more strung out. I'm desperate to get this fix but I'm not sure if the connection is ever going to be able to deliver the goods even though they said they would weeks ago. The word is out that the streets are now dry. My connection is late and the only way I'm ever going to find out if he's going to come is when he comes. But when may never happen so I'm never going to know if until when which never may be. Does that make any sense? Don't listen to me, I'm just a junkie! Although life goes on and I've been listening to other music all along, I'll distract myself with 11 CDs worth of my new Dexter Gordon Prestige box, forget I ever ordered the Evans and Coltrane boxes and hope I'm pleasantly surprised in the next 2 or three weeks.

Nice PR for Concord huh?

I think we're all going to be waiting forever. Paul, why don't you call on Monday and ask them what's up. Given that your 7/18 order contains only the Coltrane box, they should be able to tell you definitively whether you're going to get it. And if you get the same crap they've been giving the rest of us, ask for a supervisor. Maybe the supervisor could explain why the sets still show up for sale under the artist's names even though they no longer show up on the blowout sale page. That would lead someone to believe that the Evans and Coltrane were still available for sale but as rostasi's experience shows (pg 10) with the out of print email, they aren't. We can only hope that that is only for the new or very recent orders.

I'm looking at the Parlan, Stitt, Capitol Jazz, and Donaldson. Which, if any, I'd get now? That's a different question. I'd highly recommend the Parlan set. I was able to pick up a brand new one off Ebay for a nice price. The trio stuff is excellent as are the numbers with the Turrentine brothers and the stuff with Booker Ervin and Grant Green is awesome. You're able to listen to cuts of every song on the set at allmusic.com. I listened to all the samples 2 or 3 times before picking up the set and I don't regret it for a second. I love Parlan's Mosaic.

.....My only consolation is that if neither Concord nor Zweitausendeins come through by the end of the month, I can then justify an order from the Mosaic sale. Unless they can keep you hanging for two + weeks. I'm guessing by now, they're capable of it. Doesn't matter--I got 'em beat. If their orders don't show up by August 31st, I'm Connecticut-bound (virtually speaking). And maybe even if their orders DO show up, so there! What Mosaic(s) are you looking at?

.....My only consolation is that if neither Concord nor Zweitausendeins come through by the end of the month, I can then justify an order from the Mosaic sale. Unless they can keep you hanging for two + weeks. I'm guessing by now, they're capable of it.

Ooooo... I'm taking this as a faint ray of hope as I have both Evans and Coltrane in the pipe and I haven't got a reject email yet. I'm re-crossing my fingers.

Just to put some more perspective on this whole mess, (as if the discussion so far hasn't already been enough) I placed an order with Zweitausandeins in Germany on July 31st. I received a shipping notice on Aug. 2nd and the item was delivered today. (Dexter Gordon's Complete Prestige Recordings for those who might be curious.) Overcoming language barriers, placing the order and delivery across the Atlantic Ocean in one and a half weeks is pretty darn good and as timely as many domestic orders. They certainly have the operators at Concord beat.

Fretting over your 3rd order when many are still waiting for their 1st order probably isn't going to go over very well here. I'm just wondering, is there any point in calling (what they are passing off as) customer service? From what I'm reading here, it seems that all they are doing is saying whatever they have to to complete the call without actually providing any kind of real help or providing any tangible information or assistance of any kind. I feel inclined to call but I think I'd just end up more frustrated than when I started.