Mosaic 2004--what's on the horizon?

[ghost of miles]

I know the Brookmeyer and Shank/Cooper Selects are slated for January, or thereabouts. Any confirmation on regular or Select sets to follow (that goes beyond Alan's site listings)? At one point I heard that the Woody Herman Columbia was targeted for the spring...

[Free For All]

In addition to the Herman Columbia First and Second Herds, the Lankin site site mentions a few more Mosaics- an Errol Garner Columbia, McCoy Blue Note and a Tal Farlow Verve. Hope those all really happen! For me, the Mulligan was a definite high that's going to be tough to surpass- that one might just top my list of 2003 reissues.

[ralphie_boy]

I remember some talk about a Dizzy Reece Select a while ago too. I hope this comes to pass.

[Ed S]

......For me, the Mulligan was a definite high that's going to be tough to surpass- that one might just top my list of 2003 reissues.

You're not the only one to think that. Here's a review from my local paper (the Buffalo News) from yesterday:

Jazz

Gerry Mulligan

The Complete Concert Band Sessions

[Mosaic]

The great jazz reissue of the year, without question and even with all the competition, too.

When Gerry Mulligan, in 1960, decided to take a flier and assemble New York's finest studio jazz musicians into something deliberately called a "concert jazz band," there was certainly a vigorous chorus of hosannas and hallelujahs. But there was also a cadre of jazz listeners who noticed that something revolutionary was happening elsewhere in the world of orchestral jazz, using some of the same players. Its arrangers and leaders had names like Gil Evans and Oliver Nelson. So, despite his crucial presence a decade before at Miles Davis' "Birth of the Cool" sessions, Mulligan's large ensemble versions of his own quartets and sextets just didn't seem all that remarkable at the time.

Four decades later, this is - clearly - some of the most delightful jazz of an era that, blessedly, exploded with it. Mulligan had assembled such a loose, joyful bunch of players to rock back on their heels and play with the preternatural lightness and fluidity of his legendary pianoless ensembles. Listening to his achievement four decades later, it is astonishing, gorgeous and merrily infectious music all at the same time.

What made this band work so magnificently well is the number of soulmates he had who all shared his vision of what it should be - most notably his old cohorts Bob Brookmeyer and Zoot Sims and newer cohorts drummer Mel Lewis and arranger Bill Holman.

In typical Mosaic Records style, this is beautifully turned out - four discs of near-classic and classic music from May 1960 to December 1962, with typically beautiful black and white photography and informative booklet. Only 7,500 of these have been made. Available by mail only from Mosaic Records, 35 Melrose Place, Stamford, Conn. 06902.

- Jeff Simon

[BruceH]

I heard that there might be a Clifford Jordan select, which would be nice. Looking forward to the Herman Columbias and Tal Farlow Verve.