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Posted

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.

Man, get it!

Didn't I already tell ya? :P:P:P

Posted (edited)

I don't have the whole Benedetti, but I do have two discs from the set that I won on an ebay auction. I also have a copy of the booklet. Given the mixed reviews this box has received, I thought that this "sampler" approach was my most prudent course of action. Then, if I didn't like it, I'd only be out $20 or so, a far cry from what I would have spent for the whole enchilada.

While I would not characterize what I have as unlistenable, you have to go in prepared for some pretty marginal sound. For example, on one of the discs I have, Benedetti was recording from directly underneath the bandstand, so to say that Max Roach's drums dominate the proceedings would be an understatement. On the other hand, there are some marvelous Bird droppings to be savored. It's also quite interesting to follow along with the notes as you listen to the music. I agree with what others have said that this is probably the best Mosaic booklet ever. Just a wealth of "insider" information. I think a lot of anyone's buying decision should be driven by how big a fan you are. If you love Parker, this one's for you. If you just kind of like him, then it's not. For the record, I'm in the former category, although I admit I have not yet sprung for the complete set. That will happen, but right now, there are other things that are higher on my dance card.

Up over and out.

Edited by Dave James
Posted (edited)

The '52nd St' material is representative of the quality of the later disks in the set, after Benedetti had followed Parker to NYC. Performances tend to be longer and audio quality not too bad. The earlier material recorded at 'Jack's Basket' in LA (I think that was the name of the place) was from the more primitive recorder and (with recording media at a premium) in the main it was only the alto solos that were captured in full. Quite a few Earl Coleman vocals, for example, are cut out just as he gets started.

Having said that, its the early disks/LPs that - for me at least - really communicate the power of Parker's inventiveness and bring home just how fantastically Parker was playing during live dates at this time.

Edited by sidewinder
Posted

238243-music-resized200.JPG

listen to this one before you buy the set.

examples of the quality issues and parker's solos.

ss1

Excellent advice, soulstation! That's what I did, and I decided the Mosaic box was not for me.

Posted

We've gone all over this time and again

All the way back into the misty origins of the BNBB! :g FWIW I like the Parker set a lot, but obviously it's primarily for Birdheads.

What I want to know is whether or not Sinatra was a jazz singer! :excited::eye:^_^

Posted

Since the Parker/Benedetti box is not limited edition, I'll think about getting it after I've got all the limited edition Mosaics that I want. (Which may be never!)

Posted

I am fully with Lon on this one and thanks for posting the link because we've all weighed in on this before. Although it's not a limited set, any idea why Mosaic stopped selling the lp version. Did they just not want to make any more lp sets?

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