sidewinder

Yeah, their service is excellent. TNT shipping to over here was only a couple of days with the second box, couldn't be happier. Any issues and they are very responsive to help as well. From what I have heard so far of the Hines it is great ! The Jamal is a nice set too (but it would be difficult to do a bad set of him).

image of Mickey Mouse and the the endlesly filling buckets in Fantasia comes to mind..

As you say Bill, London is sadly depleted on the jazz front these days. They moved Rays away from the cafe some years ago. To be honest, not totally a bad thing as the cafe size has improved so better chance now of getting a seat at busy times (I recommend the lunchtime main course + wine deal for a tenner ). Last time I was in Rays the CD selection wasn't too bad at all and their were some nice second hand offerings in there. Not sure on the stores around Soho but I suspect spiralling rents have kyboshed the more interesting offbeat places. Bring back Mole ! Yeah, heard about this. Too bad - albeit more of interest to classical fans than jazz, I always thought. No doubt to be replaced by another purveyor of trendy designer tat. I heard that the original financial backer of the store, who provided their stable base, had retired and that the bean counters pounced..

Had a couple of Mosaic packages arrive from JM in the past week and they arrived in immaculate condition via courier. They package the boxes double lined i.e. inner boxes housing the mosaics within an outer liner. As good as I've ever seen for packaging of these boxes. No issues with bent booklet covers/pages either !

You won't go wrong with that Beehive set. I've had CD 1 (Brignola) on repeat plays since yesterday - fantastic. The only 3 I 'need' at this stage are the James P Johnson, Goodman and Armstrong Decca, which are all on backorder. Can live without the Bing Crosby I think.

Jazzbo is bang on correct. That booklet is one of their best, a lavish production and a fascinating read. The music, although lo-fi, is miraculous and has real presence. May not be to everyone's taste though as in most cases only the Parker solos were recorded.

All of those are great and the RRK vinyl is great value at $75. Did they dig out a spare Jordan set?

The Mrs?

Spinning CD 1 (Brignola) right now. The sound is excellent !

Just got the email too - pretty well re-iterated the information given to J.A.W and others. What a great story that is from Mosaic's inception and what a string of achievements ! Whatever happens, they get my eternal thanks and very best wishes. Plus hopefully more orders.. By total coincidence my latest Jazz Messengers packages have arrived. All in immaculate condition and packaged like Faberge eggs. Anyone going that route to pick up the sets they need can be pretty confident on the shipping (disclaimers apply ).

Plus another factor that has got to be very significant for European customers of Mosaic is the huge fall in the currencies (Euro, pound) against the $. That is making the sets at least 30% more expensive than they used to be - potentially a major disincentive and another reason why purchases are iften deferred.

Hope it worked - still seems to be in stock. That is a very significant factor at present. Never used to be the case but these days at least 50% of in print items are on back order. Your point 2 - may well be valid within the Continental US but for intenational customers the shipping charges (and in particular the customs/tax) are a very significant hit. Customs agencies are getting more stringent in applying the full charge whereas in the past they may have waived it throug. Waiting for such sales is entirely rational in this respect.

I remember the 'Red Trumpet' incident and was nearly affected by it. As a risk mitigation approach I've ordered all of the sets still remaining on my 'wants' list from our esteemed European outlet, so that's me sorted for the immediate concerns (and broke ). I really hope Mosaic pull through this OK but figured that quite a few of those 'in print' sets might well become 'backordered' in the near future. Jazz Messengers still have the Savoy in stock, I think. Probably not for much longer.

Yeah - I have a good number of them on vinyl but not the Matthews, Hartman or several others. That is one set I figure not to miss out on.

Have a good one !

My Beehive set is on order so looking forward to those.

Yep, the 'Catch Me' material is a real highlight of that set. Available at Jazz Messengers still, I think, should it disappear from the Mosaic site.

Just checked the Nick Catalano bio on Brown. No mention of Louis sitting in with Dameron's band at Atlantic City but it does mention that on one occasion Sammy Davis Jr sat in on drums !

Liberty blue/white sterreo

Go for it ! (not that I want to influence you or anything).

Meanwhile, on the Mosaic site the Savoy set is now on backorder and the Coltrane Sun Ship is back in stock.

Never heard it but it wouldn't surprise me, sounds plausible.

Fabulous set !