Artie Shaw Mosaic box

[jazzbo]

Sound is great. I'm still not the world's biggest Shaw band fan. But this is the set to get.

[J.A.W.]

I've heard complaints from a few people who say that the sound restoration was a bit too drastic in that the highs sound muffled, "scrubbed", and the lows were suppressed.

Any comments?

[jazzbo]

That's not how I hear it on my system at all. Other than that I can't comment. Our systems are different, our listening/mastering tastes seem to be as well.

This sounds as other Meyer restorations have to me. That may be the best information I can give you if you're familiar with his work.

[J.A.W.]

I've heard complaints from a few people who say that the sound restoration was a bit too drastic in that the highs sound muffled, "scrubbed", and the lows were suppressed.

Any comments?

That's not how I hear it on my system at all. Other than that I can't comment. Our systems are different, our listening/mastering tastes seem to be as well.

I totally agree

Anyone else?

[neveronfriday]

I've heard complaints from a few people who say that the sound restoration was a bit too drastic in that the highs sound muffled, "scrubbed", and the lows were suppressed.

Any comments?

That's not how I hear it on my system at all. Other than that I can't comment. Our systems are different, our listening/mastering tastes seem to be as well.

I totally agree

Anyone else?

I was about to jump on this set when two colleagues of mine whose judgment I absolutely trust in all sound matters warned me NOT to get it (both buy every Mosaic set when it becomes available). If you read one or two of the customer comments re this set on the Mosaic site you get a pretty good idea of what these colleagues told me. They also didn't say "some audio restoration issues" (as one Mosaic customer put it) but I think it would be fair to say that what I was told about the sound quality can easily be summed up with "serious restoration issues"! I decided to stay away from the set. I'm thinking of borrowing a box over Christmas and checking it out myself. If the issues are "bearable" on my system, I'll buy it anyway.

[Clunky]

I am surprised to see complaints regarding the recent Armstrong set, I've no trouble with the sound at all, thought it sounded great on my system. I probably won't be going for the Shaw having enough of his material on various Hep releases and the 5CD Portrait set on RCA.

[Ed S]

Clearly late to the party, but I just ordered this set. I have ZERO Artie Shaw in my collection. It was between the Goodman and Shaw sets this time around, as I have a bunch of Goodman including his Mosaic, I thought Shaw would be a good choice this time around.

Have to say I am a little put off by the reviews that I saw that were critical of both the Goodman and Shaw relative to omission of vocals. I have to say that in general, I'm a fan of the vocal stuff - even if it is commercial or "pop". Never having heard any of the vocal Goodman or Shaw, so I guess I don't know what I am missing. Hope the rest of the material makes me forget about the fact that they've omitted some vocal pieces.

[golfcrazy1984]

I've got both the Shaw and Goodman 7cd Mosaic sets, and love them both. It seems to me that the Goodman has a majority of "big band swing" and it's great. But the Shaw has a TON of variety, and the sound quality (initially less pleasing than Malcolm Addey's work on the Goodman) is SUPERB.

I think you'll be in for a treat. Artie Shaw was a clarinet genius.

[Edward]

Now that the Artie Shaw set is officially on the endangered list, does anyone have any additional insight to offer with respect to the quality of the remastering? There are two very well written reviews on the Mosaic Records website that express reservations of the set in this regard.

Edited August 23, 2014 by Edward

[miles65]

Now that the Artie Shaw set is officially on the endangered list, does anyone have any additional insight to offer with respect to the quality of the remastering? There are two very well written reviews on the Mosaic Records website that express reservations of the set in this regard.

I have no problems with the sound.

[Sandman]

If I have the Self Portrait box set release from the early 2000s, any opinion about whether I "need" this one too? Thanks all!

[gmonahan]

If I have the Self Portrait box set release from the early 2000s, any opinion about whether I "need" this one too? Thanks all!

That depends on how much you like Artie Shaw. I have both as well. The Self Portrait box is particularly heavy on the later (50s) recordings with the Grammercy Five groups that Shaw liked very much. The Mosaic box focuses strictly on the RCA period of the early-mid-forties. It has a fair number of alternate takes and, like a lot of Mosaic boxes, is designed for big fans of that particular artist and completists like me. I think it's worth it, but then, I like Artie Shaw.

gregmo

[Sandman]

Thanks -- this is very helpful. I often tell myself that I have enough of a particular artist, but once they hit "Last Chance" it's hard to say no! I'll listen to Self-Portrait this week and see how I feel.