gmonahan

As others have said, they're occasionally useful for finding something that hasn't otherwise been issued, and likely never will be. Also for sampling the work of an artist that one might not otherwise know much about. I used the series to get some albums by Jack McDuff I didn't have. I think I have a couple of others sitting on my shelf somewhere. The sound can be wildly inconsistent, as one would expect. gregmo

Me too! I guess we have to add Buddy DeFranco's name to this sad list. gregmo

There's too little Art on clarinet. What I have heard has always intrigued . Agreed--way too little. Sure wish Art had done a clarinet album. gregmo

Second that one. My favorite Kenton record! "Reuben's Blues" is a great track, but the whole album is wonderful. gregmo

Have a good one in The Big!!

A fairly lonely voice for a long time playing modern jazz on the licorice stick. I always enjoyed his work. He will be much missed. gregmo

Uh-oh. :D gregmo

I'm also enjoying the set. I think the notes are pretty good, though I'm a little wary since Ross Russell collaborated with Tony Williams, and his "Bird Lives!" is, at best, controversial. That said, I like the inside stuff, and I think the musical analysis by Tony Williams is very good. Photos, discography, and the book in general are all up to Mosaic's usual very high standard. gregmo

I'm on disc 5 of the Dial set, the great, great Relaxin' at Camarillo session! gregmo

Done and done. Thanks Jim!

Complete Dial Modern Jazz Sessions, disc 1. My Christmas present to ME! gregmo

I'm also listening to the first disc, and it does sound very good to these ears. gregmo

"couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat" has to be one of the great baseball lines of all time! gregmo

Both cds are usually pretty spendy, assuming you can find them. Audio quality is ok, though. gregmo

I was always fond of Miles's and Bob Dorough's very cynical "Blue Xmas." I think we've had threads before on Christmas albums by jazz artists. There's a slew of them. As for aggravating ones, "Twelve Days of Christmas" tops my list. The only version I've ever been able to listen to, oddly enough, is Stan Kenton's. gregmo

So did I. Very cool. gregmo

Just got my shipping notice on this set. Merry Christmas!! gregmo

I enjoyed talking to Gilles when I was there in October--fun guy. La Dame Blanche is now classical--very little jazz there. Paris Jazz Corner is still a must! gregmo

Miles was not exactly renowned for his sociability. If I were going to sit down and *talk* to a musician, I'd want somebody who might be witty and fun to talk to, like Paul Desmond. If we're talking about going back in time to *hear* music, the choice is simple--the legendary battle of the bands between Chick Webb and Count Basie at the Savoy! gregmo

http://www.jazzlists.com/SJ_Label_Bee_Hive.htm Thanks for that, soulpope. Just for interest, does anyone know why the Johnny Hartman has been excluded? I assume because it was issued over the two "Bridges of Madison County" soundtrack cds from that movie? gregmo

Got my lovely sealed set from Reckless. Thanks again, djcavanaugh, for the heads-up! This means that I now have 18 cd-rs and a nicely photocopied booklet that I'll need to get rid of. As for the most valuable single set, this one would come close. I think it's the biggest Mosaic ever did. The Commodore LP sets would probably be next? gregmo

Got mine too just a couple of days ago. It's really remarkable that they're still doing this! Very cool. gregmo

As well you should!! gregmo

It's always nice to see any of Sarah Vaughan's Mainstream material back in print. The (now defunct) Jazz Heritage Society reissued a lot of it years ago. That's how I got this one. gregmo

Thanks for this heads-up! I was hopelessly lazy when this business with the defective disc first popped up and didn't do it. Now I have. We'll see if Savoy sends me one too! gregmo