gmonahan

Of course it is fair. I just wonder if this was a recurrent situation or a relatively isolated incident in a less than pleasant overall situation where probably one thing led to another. Maybe Mingus, being as hot-tempered as he was, really would not have been the person to state, for example, that the situation overall was fairly OK and a career step ahead for him (again, would he otherwise have stayed for more than one year if he had been confronted with that kind of thoughtlessness or degrading treatment day in, day out?) but that the situation deteriorated during that Southern tour and made things unbearable for him? That would have put things in perspective. The sad truth is that unfortunately this was no isolated incident. Just remember the shabby and downright "couldn't care less" behavior of Benny Goodman in the face of how Wardell Gray was treated in certain places while in his band. Let's face it, when it came to being articulate and outspoken in everyday life and assuming responsibility for their own employees many band leaders were just utter dimwits. Or Roy Eldridge with Krupa and Shaw. Such stories are legion. That said, _Beneath the Underdog_ has always been one of the most problematic of jazz autobiographies. Have we ever had a thread on it? gregmo

Bing Crosby, disc 7. It's taken me a while to listen through all these, but I've really enjoyed 'em. gregmo

Happy birthday Jack, and thanks for cluing me to this Board a few birthdays ago! gregmo

More likely with "older" collectors who are also serious (and damned near everybody on this Board!). I can remember exulting when I finally got hold of the 8-volume VSOP set on French Columbia. Figured I had all the Satch that mattered (I was young), and I did have some very good Satch (and I still have those LPs), but over the years there have been SO many more. I got the Definitive sets of the Deccas before Mosaic issued them better and with alternates, so I got those too--and this after I'd gotten all the old Decca Jazz Heritage LPs years before. I got the JSPs for the Hot Fives and Hot Sevens on cd even though I had them already on LP. I'd bought "Louis in the 30s and 40s" on LP before the Complete RCA recordings came out on cd, so, of course, I got those too. It goes on and on.... But in the words of George C. Scott's "Patton" in the movie, "I love it...God help me, I do love it so...."!! :blush2: gregmo

The problem for a label like Mosaic is that so much of the "essential" (master takes) music from these periods has been reissued with much of it available used from various sellers, that I just don't think any of it would be viable for them to rework. I especially agree with you about the earlier 25-31 Sony-owned material, though. My guess, however, is that this will be the last Ellington from Mosaic. Not that I wouldn't LOVE to be proved wrong! And welcome to the group! gregmo

That would be a BIG set! JSP put out the late 40s Columbia stuff a few years ago, and Legacy has done just about all (*just about* all) of the classic 50s Columbia albums. Of course, it would be nice to have the 20s Okeh material with acceptable sound (that 2-cd Okeh Ellington set on Columbia is really horrible), and the Mercers would be interesting, if small. Frankly, I think this set will fill just about the last big hole, won't it? I put in a plug in my little email exchange with Scott for a 60s Johnny Hodges Verve set to follow up the two they've done. Hodges did some marvelous things for Verve during that decade, especially with Wild Bill Davis and Earl Hines. gregmo

Yeah, that family just doesn't get nearly enough attention! gregmo

Or start another thread on Wynton. THAT would do it! gregmo

Most (if not all) of the Reprise material ia available also in this format: Not all by far! If memory serves me right, the Reprise Ellington is one with very full discs, almost two albums per disc. But these Original Album Series sets are pretty nice to sample some new music, even more so as they can be found very cheap! Yeah, it doesn't include "Afro-Bossa," "The Symphonic Ellington," "Concert in the Virgin Islands," "Recollections of the Big Band Era" (a second volume of the sessions from "Will the Big Bands Ever Come Back?") or the music from "Duke Ellington's Greatest Hits." Plus all the alternate takes. The Mosaic is still well worth having. gregmo

Bump. Scott Wenzel emailed to say they hope to make this set their Christmas release. Oh yeah. gregmo

Mine, too. And mine. gregmo

Maybe the more interesting question is, if we don't like these guys (and so far, I think they're all guys) that much, what on earth are we doing with so many recordings by them? I have all of Trane's Prestige, Atlantic, Blue Note, and Bethlehem recordings and a good number of the early Impulses! Lots of Brubeck too--though there, I really do get them for Desmond's alto, which I love. (but I have the trio stuff! :blush2: ) gregmo

That's interesting. Ed Kirkeby's book was also one of the first books I ever read about jazz, and my first jazz biography. I did a term paper on Fats in high school that used it. We won't talk about how long ago THAT was. Love the photo, Chris! gregmo

Oh, I think so. I like Brubeck's "The Duke" and Coltrane's "Giant Steps." I like the first as a tune (and Desmond's solo, of course), and the second because it's just amazing. gregmo

I could play this one fairly safe and just say Brubeck, whom I keep trying and failing to like, but I'll commit a combination of hara kiri and horrendous blasphemy and say (he quakes)...Coltrane. I have just about *everything*, especially the Prestiges and Atlantics, and a lot of the early Impulses, but there is just something about the tone. I love the ideas, the structures, but despite *constant* effort, I've never gotten myself to love Trane's tone on the tenor. Sorry to all of you worshipers, but he always sounds slightly flat and a bit "blaring" to me. (I have a friend who says Tony Bennett sings flat--I tell him he's crazy--different ears to different listeners I guess.) I promise to keep trying. gregmo

I was looking at that, too. It's so damned expensive, though. That's what stopped me buying the Buddy Johnson box, which I regret now... MG Yeah, it's not cheap, but it's kind of rare to find a Bear Family box for any kind of sale price at all. At least, I've seldom found one. You have to love Louis Jordan's juke box music. I do, but for some it's definitely an acquired taste! gregmo

"Teranga," a more recent disc by Faddis on Koch, is a fine record. I come back to that one now and then. gregmo

I've never had a problem with any orders from them. I appreciate the heads-up on the Bears. I took the opportunity to order the Louis Prima. That one should be great fun! I'd also recommend the Louis Jordan. gregmo

EXCELLENT deal! Congrats! You'll love the Basie set. I preordered the Jamal set today. No problems...so far. gregmo

Late 2010 at the earliest, but probably later. Haven't heard from them lately. There were no LP albums in the 1930s, just 78s. Tranemonk probably meant reissue albums. It should have all the material from the two classic old Ellington Era 3-lp boxes which are still sitting on my shelf as well as innumerable European reissues over the years. Wish we'd see it sooner rather than later! gregmo If I remember correctly the Ellington Era 3LP-boxes also included recordings from the 1920s. Those will not be included in the upcoming Mosaic. You're right. My bad. The Mosaic will be devoted to the 1930s Brunswicks and, presumably, any big band stuff for subsidiary labels. gregmo

And you are a better person for having "ridden the dinosaur". Regarding the chops- one thing that starts to happen (to most, not all) with age is some "unpredictability" comes into play, usually in the mechanical areas of flexibility, range & endurance (the physical aspects of playing a brass instrument). Regardless, Curtis is still Curtis. The SOUND is still there & the message is still strong- the years of experience have resulted in a vast (bop & blues) vocabulary. Curtis is one of the major trombone cats, and he still has a lot to say. I haven't met him, but if I did I would thank him (I got to meet J.J. for about 5 minutes. I avoided the thousand questions I had for him- it was after the set and he was relaxing. But I did thank him (that was important to me). I hope I get to cross paths with Curtis. I hope *if and when* I make it to 75 I can still play. In general the larger trombone mouthpiece is more forgiving than the much smaller trumpet mouthpiece, so the effects of age (chops getting stiff) tend to hit the trumpet players harder than the low brass guys, I'll pick this recording up for sure. Actually, those brontosauruses were kind of uncomfortable! Like I said, I've always loved Curtis Fuller's music. I imagine I'll shell out for this one too. gregmo

Late 2010 at the earliest, but probably later. Haven't heard from them lately. There were no LP albums in the 1930s, just 78s. Tranemonk probably meant reissue albums. It should have all the material from the two classic old Ellington Era 3-lp boxes which are still sitting on my shelf as well as innumerable European reissues over the years. Wish we'd see it sooner rather than later! gregmo

Back when this thread started, I would have voted for the swingers, but while I still love them, I've come around to the ballads, especially since TTK turned me on to the Original Master Recording (in gloriously recorded Mono) of "Only the Lonely." I'd owned the stereo version for years and loved it, but I've listened to this one many times now, and it just gets richer with each hearing. It used to be that I went directly to the saloon songs, of course ("Angel Eyes" and the sublime "One for My Baby"), but with added listenings, I go to the incredible title cut and Frank's version of "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry." Both are definitive and among those special recordings in my collection that make me shake my head in wonder. gregmo

Good for you John. I'd make sure it got back to them too. Let's hope it's an isolated error. gregmo

Or maybe about Curtis's wife?? I too was a bit perplexed. I must be too literal. I am wondering about the great trombonist's chops. Has anyone heard him lately? Always been one of my favorites, but then, I'm a sucker for trombonists, having been one when dinosaurs still walked the earth. gregmo