What's the oldest 'current' Mosaic box?

[wesbed]

What's the oldest 'current' Mosaic box (set of CDs)?

I don't mean the Mosaic of the oldest music based on the music's original recording date. But, what's the oldest Mosaic based on Mosaic's release date? I found the Condon record set with a Mosaic date of 1994. The oldest CD box I can come up with is the JJ Johnson box from 1996. Is there a CD box I missed with a Mosaic release date older than 1996?

Edited April 27, 2004 by wesbed

[J.A.W.]

According to the March 2004 Mosaic brochure it's the Dean Benedetti/Charlie Parker set (Mosaic 129).

[wesbed]

According to the March 2004 Mosaic brochure it's the Dean Benedetti/Charlie Parker set (Mosaic 129).

The Benedetti/Charlie Parker box will never expire. Is this correct?

I checked the Mosaic discography but, unless I missed it, could find no release date on the Benedetti box.

[ghost of miles]

According to the March 2004 Mosaic brochure it's the Dean Benedetti/Charlie Parker set (Mosaic 129).

The Benedetti/Charlie Parker box will never expire. Is this correct?

I checked the Mosaic discography but, unless I missed it, could find no release date on the Benedetti box.

Correct in theory, as Mosaic actually owns the material in the Benedetti/Parker set, as opposed to having leased it.

[J.A.W.]

According to the March 2004 Mosaic brochure it's the Dean Benedetti/Charlie Parker set (Mosaic 129).

The Benedetti/Charlie Parker box will never expire. Is this correct?

I checked the Mosaic discography but, unless I missed it, could find no release date on the Benedetti box.

You asked what the current Mosaic CD box with the oldest release date was - well, that's the Benedetti/Parker set. It was released before the Condon set, which is the oldest still available limited-edition Mosaic set. Mosaic sets are released "chronologically", i.e. set 129 (Benedetti) came before set 152 (Condon). The oldest still available limited-edition CD-set is indeed set 169 (J.J. Johnson).

Edited April 27, 2004 by J.A.W.

[BruceH]

Yeah, so supposedly this set will remain available as long as Mosaic exists asa functioning company. Somehow I don't consider it a 'real' set though. I mean, c'mon, live recordings of solos only??? Please.

[jazzbo]

One man's meat is another man's poison. . . the Charlie Parker Mosaic is among my favorites! (And about half of it or almost half are complete performaces or near complete performances).

[wesbed]

The oldest still available limited-edition CD-set is indeed set 169 (J.J. Johnson).

Okay. This does it for me. I'll have to purchase the JJ Johnson box in my next Mosaic order. Nope, no choice. I have to do it. B)

[BruceH]

One man's meat is another man's poison. . . the Charlie Parker Mosaic is among my favorites! (And about half of it or almost half are complete performaces or near complete performances).

Woah! Really? I'd always heard That Benedetti only turned his recorder on for Bird's solos.

[J.A.W.]

The oldest still available limited-edition CD-set is indeed set 169 (J.J. Johnson).

Okay. This does it for me. I'll have to purchase the JJ Johnson box in my next Mosaic order. Nope, no choice. I have to do it. B)

The J.J. Johnson is one of my favorite Mosaics. It's an absolute must-have.

According to Mosaic's Scott there were about 170 J.J.J. sets left last week; it will remain available for quite some time, i.e. well into 2005, and they'd order additional sets if necessary.

Edited April 27, 2004 by J.A.W.

[Jazzdog]

One man's meat is another man's poison. . . the Charlie Parker Mosaic is among my favorites! (And about half of it or almost half are complete performaces or near complete performances).

Considering Frank Zappa released 5 CD's of JUST guitar solos, its really not that big of a deal!

[AfricaBrass]

You guys are killing me!

I've been on the fence about that Parker set forever.

Feeling the urge to order....

Should I or shouldn't I?

[Parkertown]

According to Mosaic's Scott there were about 170 J.J.J. sets left last week; it will  remain available for quite some time, i.e. well into 2005, and they'd order additional sets if necessary.

This is good news, as it will be awhile before I can shell out for this one. But sure don't want to miss out on it. B)

[J.A.W.]

You guys are killing me!

I've been on the fence about that Parker set forever.

Feeling the urge to order....

Should I or shouldn't I?

Why not flip a coin?

[wesbed]

You guys are killing me!

I've been on the fence about that Parker set forever.

Feeling the urge to order....

Should I or shouldn't I?

AfricaBrass:

I don't have the Benedetti box. I can't honestly say 'yay' or 'nay' about it. My feeling is that it wouldn't be for me. But, one never knows. Yeah, you should go ahead and get this box while you're on your buying high. Man, get it.

[AfricaBrass]

You guys are killing me! 

I've been on the fence about that Parker set forever.

Feeling the urge to order.... 

Should I or shouldn't I? 

Why not flip a coin?

Works for me...

Heads - yes

Tails - no

Here I go....

It's "Heads"

I swear on my life, I didn't cheat.

[AfricaBrass]

I don't have the Benedetti box. I can't honestly say 'yay' or 'nay' about it. My feeling is that it wouldn't be for me. But, one never knows. Yeah, you should go ahead and get this box while you're on your buying high. Man, get it.

Thanks Wes,

I swear Mosaic needs to cut you in on the action.

Anyway, the coin toss said I should get it, so why argue with fate.

[sidewinder]

I find that the Benedetti Mosaic provides a unique insight into the genius that was Bird. Although very low-fi, there's some incredible solos here and the level of inventiveness is astonishing. This is a Mosaic to bring out every so often from the rack and to digest several LPs of end-to-end with the accompaniment of a single malt. Almost a Zen listening experience...

Oh - and the booklet is pretty damn good too ! (probably their best) :rsmile:

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I once saw the Bird Mosaic CD set in a used store for around $30. I had the store play some of it for me... man was the audio terrible. I could barely make out a saxophone on some tracks. I left without buying it. I figured someone who was really into Bird got a good deal and it would get a lot more play time than I would give it.

Kevin

[wesbed]

Hey. I never wanted the Charlie Parker box.

Never. Never. Never.

This thread, which 'I' started, had better not make me want the Charlie Parker box.

Not for a while, at least.

[sidewinder]

The audio quality of the first few LPs in my set remind me of the output from those baked-bean-can-with-string telephone rigs I used to put together as a youngster..

[AfricaBrass]

hmmm.....

[jazzbo]

Jeff, maybe it's because I'm listening to a lot of early jazz that many others find unlistenable, but really I find the sound adequate at its worst and there are sessions better in sound than others.

We've gone all over this time and again and here is the best thread about the set:

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php...92&hl=benedetti

I think that Mosaic has done a great service to jazz history by purchasing this and giving it the loving care and attention that they did. I'm so glad they own it and are offering it outside a limited edition status. One of the best booklets ever, as well, as noted above.

[AfricaBrass]

Thanks Jazzbo!

I think I'll go ahead a get it. I'm used to early jazz (and poor audio quality, also).

That set has piqued my curiosity for too long.

[brownie]

According to the March 2004 Mosaic brochure it's the Dean Benedetti/Charlie Parker set (Mosaic 129).

The Benedetti/Charlie Parker box will never expire. Is this correct?

I checked the Mosaic discography but, unless I missed it, could find no release date on the Benedetti box.

The Parker/Benedetti box was supposed to be released in the Spring of 1990 but there were last minute delays. The eagerly-awaited box was ready for shipment by Autumn 1990.