SwingItTrev

Agreed! (about the greatness, that is)

My Bechet set arrived today. These boxes are a bargain! I've only had a quick listen to some of the early tracks, and I can report back that the sound quality is good, but not on the same level as a JSP, HEP or Mosaic type box set. Probably more comparable with a Proper box or a Chrono[lo]gical Classics disc. But the sets are fairly comprehensive, cheap, and the packaging and booklet is beautiful, so I'd still cautiously recommend them.

Those Fats Waller sets are SO good. Been listing to Volume 6 this week and I think it's my favourite of the boxes.

Sound quality report anyone?

Any word on the sound quality? Looks promising!

They can be played on a Mac, but yes, the Mosaic website uses windows media files, which are not ideal. You need an extension called Flip4Mac (it's free). This allows you to play Windows Media files on a Mac. http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/video/flip4macwindowsmediacomponentsforquicktime.html The other catch is that it only works in 32 bit mode, so if you are running the latest OSX Snow Leopard, your browser may ask you to switch to "32 bit mode" which is okay. If none of this makes sense, then just take my word for it - the samples are really nice!

Lunceford ordered. Those sound clips are the best I have heard of Lunceford's material, and I have a lot already.

Great timing, I was looking for a good collection of The Boswells!

So excited about the Lunceford Box. The fact that they've had access to such pure sources is particularly exciting. The purchase of this set is a no-brainer.

Is there an equivalent box set for her Atlantic recordings? I have barely any Aretha and don't know where to start.

That news has made my day!

Amazon.com let me know that they have it back in stock and are now shipping, FWIW

I recommend anything by: Mills Blue Rhythm Band or The Missourians (who became Cab Calloway's Orchestra) The track "Ozark Mountain Blues" will convince you.

This was the album that got me hooked on Jazz! Highly recommended! If you like this album, the 1959 Basie Newport performance has recently been made available here: http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/count-basie-and-his-orchestra/ It's not really on the same level in my opinion (Lambert, Hendricks & Ross don't quite do it for me) but worth a listen!

Thanks to Jeff we have tracked down a copy of the song in question. I'll post here once I have video of the resulting performance! Thanks again to everyone who helped!

I'm looking for a clean copy of Sam Wooding and his Orchestra - Downcast Blues 10-24-1929 (Pathé X-8684 Cellodisc C-8684) I'd prefer it on CD or MP3 but a vinyl copy would work too. It's for a re-creation of Josephine Baker's Banana Dance, as seen and heard here: It was issued on a French CD in 2000: www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&a...10:dbfrxq9dldde More about Sam Wooding: www.redhotjazz.com/woodingo.html Any help appreciated!!

I have to disagree with you there. It's quite possible to love Duke AND think that the music sounds mediocre - and I'm not talking about the quality of the playing or the arrangements. To me it's like listening to Duke's orchestra playing through a telephone line, or from three rooms away. You're going to get more out of the experience if you're listening in the same room. Now certainly 1929 technology isn't quite up to delivering at that level, but it doesn't need to be dulled down as much as it often is on these cheap sets in the name of "noise reduction". I'd rather be listening in the same room as Duke with a noisy air-conditioner in the corner than in the next room with the door closed where I can't hear the air-con.

Agreed, but I started with that box set and I have used it as a "roadmap" to purchase releases from this period with better remastering.

Have you tried eMusic.com? Chronological Classics and the nearly identical Complete Jazz Series are available there (in most countries)

Slightly off-topic: Does someone have a recommended buying guide to early (pre-1947) Ellington, based on best sound quality? I have all of this material on cheap, poorly remastered discs and I'm gradually upgrading it, but I'm trying to avoid repurchasing the same material over and over again. I have... History: The Complete Works 1924-1947 BOX SET (poor) Dreyfus: Ko-Ko (okay) JSP: From the Cotton Club to Sweden (okay) RCA: Centennial Edition (good) Sony/BMG: The Best of Duke Ellington: 1932-1939 (good) Mosaic: Small Group Sessions (excellent)

I've just listened up to disc 5, and I'm really happy with this set so far (although the Elder Eatmore sermons were a bit of a suprise). We've got cold rainy weather here at the moment and Louis makes everything warmer! BTW, did anyone else cringe during the Pee Wee duets "Rockin Chair" and "Lazybones"?

I just ordered this set. The comments here and the video on the Mosaic site convinced me! Looking forward to its arrival!

I've been saying for a few years now that a Charlie Barnet reissue/remastering project seems overdue. I would love someone like Mosaic or HEP to take this on board

Any update on this yet?