Lino22

Woo hoo, this is set I’ve been waiting for! As good as the small set is this one has the most gems, IMO. All the Mel Powell rank as his best, very swinging, creative and witty. The Braff and Larkins sessions are masterful. Although Mosaic has left things off like the Mel Powell “Bandstand” and the Nat Pierce session, which bewilder me. Nonetheless, this is a must have set for 1950 mainstream jazz and swing. I’m sure the sound will be the best ever. The last set topped previous releases of this material, even the Japanese ones.

Yes, Norman Granz released 4 albums of the Dream Band, which was not called that at the time. You should ask Terry about the recordings, Wally Heider and how the name Dream Band came about next Saturday during his show. He likes to talk about it.

This release is excellent! The band is tight and swings incredibly, due in large part to Mel Lewis! The sound is amazing as well because of the excellent job Wally Heider did in capturing the band. Terry Gibbs is now 100 and has a weekly “call” in Question and Answer show on Facebook on Saturday’s 1:00 pm PST. His memory and humor make for a very entertaining show! I highly recommend checking it out and asking Terry some questions.

Mine dropped last night! So far this set is the hands down winner for sound quality. The Japanese and the French reissues are close, but you really get the airiness of hall where they recorded these sessions on this Mosaic set. Boy, Jo Jones cymbals ring!! Essential 1950s mainstream swing!

Looks like Mosaic is on schedule with this set. I just got the mail saying my order is be processed. No shipping and tracking email yet but this is progress.

And, I think the Vanguards are recorded better than a lot of the Verve sessions. The Vanguards are similar to the Buck Clayton Jams on Columbia, also produced by John Hammond in many cases. And, as much as I love those Clayton jams the Vanguards rate higher to me. In fact the Vanguard sessions have the majority of my favorite 1950’s mainstream jazz recordings. To me this is an essential set!

Here’s the French cd with the complete Nat Pierce 10inch lp and almost all of the complete Mel Powell “Bandstand” 10 inch lp. https://www.discogs.com/release/10880164-The-Nat-Pierce-BandMel-Powell-Band-Easy-Swing 1The Nat Pierce Band*–Stomp It Off2The Nat Pierce Band*–Constance3The Nat Pierce Band*–Blues Yet?4The Nat Pierce Band*–Why Not?5The Mel Powell Band*–Firebug6The Mel Powell Band*–Easy Swing7The Mel Powell Band*–When Did You Leave Heaven8The Mel Powell Band*–Ezz-May9The Mel Powell Band*–Everything I've Got This set has the complete “Bandstand” lp. And, is worth it for the lp “Jam Session at Carnegie Hall,” with the swinging “Lighthouse Blues” and some awesome Powell. https://www.discogs.com/release/10451116-Mel-Powell-Six-Classic-Albums?srsltid=AfmBOorT_awcaRfzG21xxTYSFuzGZJaP5D6OMZjsrEI89oKGVafQ7NoC

Those will be on the next set for sure and I believe even the "classical" piece from the Septet 10 inch lp, "Sonatina for Piano"

RS-8502 Mel Powell - Thigamagig is the session with Paul Quinichette and Bobby Donaldson and it's great so is Borderline with Ruby Braff. I'm confident they will be on the next set but not so much about the Nat Pierce. There was a French release with the Nat Pierce and most of the Mel Powell "Bandstand" sans the 2 vocals. Also, the Nat Pierce date is on a Fresh Sounds release. But, I am sure the sound on the Mosaic set would beat anything.