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The Pres Lives Again on Mosaic!

Brian Sheridan

One Too Many
Messages
1,456
Location
Erie, PA
I can't wait for this set to arrive from Mosaic!!!!!!!

Count Basie and Lester Young...the Essential recordings 1936-1940.
4 remastered CD's and Mosaic's amazing booklets.

Here is the description of the box set from Mosaic's website:

Together "Pres" & Basie Began To Completely Reinvent Jazz

Available at last: the most important collection imaginable from the legendary pairing of Lester Young with Count Basie... a set whose contents rank among the most influential recordings in history.
It was an era when the music was in transition; a time when musicians were achieving new milestones of personal expression; a point in his career when Basie, with Young and others beside him, was establishing his credentials as one of the leading band leaders of the swing era; and the moment when Lester Young was creating a completely new approach to the tenor saxophone. Without reservation, we can assure you these are masterpieces.

The suppleness of the Basie, Jones and Page rhythm section and how conducive it was for electrifying soloists has been well-documented. But you can't overstate the effect on Lester Young. Other musicians - great ones - would build solos that seemed utterly brilliant for their organization and improvised cleverness. Young's seemed brilliant for arriving places utterly unexpected. For decades, saxophonists have sought to match his level of carefree, confident command.

Our 4 CD set includes 84 tracks, beginning with Basie's and Young's first session together under the the name "Jones-Smith Inc." The collection is notable as well for including along with all previously-known gems on the Columbia labels, the results of our research in the vaults: almost a dozen of alternate tracks never heard before. Also included is the legendary session from the Benny Goodman Septet with Count Basie. Sidemen in addition to Page and Jones include Buck Clayton, Charlie Christian, Freddie Green, Jimmy Rushing, Harry Edison, Vic Dickenson, and Tab Smith.

You'll hear many tunes from the Basie book now considered classics, such as "Oh, Lady Be Good "Lonesome Miss Pretty," "Dickie's Dream," Young's signature tune "Lester Leaps In," "Easy Does It," and more. These are the definitive versions and the very tunes emulated by generations of saxophonists who followed Lester Young's lead.

The Mosaic booklet includes rare photographs from the period that are rarely seen including six photos from the Goodman session. Immersing yourself in Loren Schoenberg's passionate and well-documented liner notes while listening to the brilliant remastering production by Malcolm Addey from the original source material is a jazz lover's joy.

There was nothing like this music in jazz until this group set the standard. And today, it's hard to imagine that it wasn't always this way
 

Chas

One Too Many
Messages
1,715
Location
Melbourne, Australia
During this period, up to and including the 52nd Street days, the Basie band had the greatest rhythm section ever, and IMHO, was the greatest swing band of all time.

It's good that they re-released this; I have a copy of the Complete Decca Recordings, but that is out of print. Since the French Melodie Chronological Series stopped printing, it's hard to find definitive sets.

Still waiting for a box set of the Complete Andy Kirk.
 

Viper Man

Banned
Messages
860
Location
Stone City, IL
Chas said:
During this period, up to and including the 52nd Street days, the Basie band had the greatest rhythm section ever, and IMHO, was the greatest swing band of all time...

YEAH! Freddie Green, Walter Page, Jo Jones, and Bill Basie. It's pretty tough to find fault there. I have a feeling I'll be asking my wife for this set as a b-day or X-Mas gift. I do have some of Pres' small group stuff (Commodore, Keynote, the later Verve recordings) but I don't believe I have many of these sides so I am stoked!

BTW, Not sure how many Mosaics you guys own but if you dig small group swing, you owe it to yourself to pick up the Lionel Hampton box. It is phenomenal.
 

Brian Sheridan

One Too Many
Messages
1,456
Location
Erie, PA
Viper Man said:
BTW, Not sure how many Mosaics you guys own but if you dig small group swing, you owe it to yourself to pick up the Lionel Hampton box. It is phenomenal.


The Mosiacs all are great but pricey. The Basie/Young one is only $68. For me, it was between the Hamp and the Basie/Young one. I found though that Properbox from England (available through Amazon.com) had a "Story of Lionel Hampton" box set for $20! It contains the best sides from the 1930's until the late 1940's. It also comes with a thick booklet. While it doesn't meet the high quality of Mosaic, they do a great job of remastering the tracks.

When Mr. Bush tax gift comes to me, I want to pick up Mosaic's Chu Berry set. That puppy is $119! From what all went into putting it together, it is worth every penny.

Also, if you look on Ebay, out of print Mosaic sets go for more than their original price. It is like investing in musical gold.
 

Viper Man

Banned
Messages
860
Location
Stone City, IL
Yep. I have the Berry box and it's awesome. There is some overlap with the Hampton and it also contains alot of Cab Calloway stuff (rightfully so).

I know what you mean about the musical gold thing. I saw that the Hodges box went OOP recently. It's one of my favorites and now worth probably 3 times what I paid for it two years ago. My wife doesn't believe me when I tell her it's an investment. lol
 

Chas

One Too Many
Messages
1,715
Location
Melbourne, Australia
I don't mind paying big $$ for a box set IF: the quality of the remastering and liner notes are high. I once purchased a Duke Ellington box set from Membran which, in itself was a pretty complete and definitive set, very reasonably priced but the remastering of the recordings was brutally bad - it sounded tinny and muddy; all non-78 RPM artifacts, at that. I never understood why such a low level of quality was acceptable.

I will gravitate toward releases from companies that do their homework and do a good job on the recordings. Price be damned. Quality counts.

Bear Family (Germany) always does a super job of producing definitive collections. This one is on my wishlist!

San Antonio Rose - Bob Wills' Texas Playboys

Worth every damn penny.
 

Viper Man

Banned
Messages
860
Location
Stone City, IL
Very nice, Chas. I just recently got into "Western Swing" and Bob Wills is the cream of the crop for sure. I don't own any of the Bear Family stuff but I always read good things. I own several of the Mosaic boxes, some of the Selects, and a couple of Singles and I can honestly say I have never been disappointed with a purchase from them. ALL of their re-issues are top notch.
 

Brian Sheridan

One Too Many
Messages
1,456
Location
Erie, PA
I can give a brief review now that I am into disc #3 of 4.

The booklet, of course, is a treasure. AMAZING pics of the Basie band at work on stage and in the studio. Lots of candid pics of the Pres hanging out.

Not having had a Mosaic set from the early days of recording, I was BLOWN AWAY at the remastering. Of course, it helps Columbia had some of the best recording devices of the day but still, these pieces sound fresh and vibrant.

I had been listening to some of the Properbox stuff from the same period and became used to the pops and scratches. This set shows why Mosaic releases are treasures. They cleaned up the sound without digitally squeezing the life out of them. Not every track is that good, of course. Some of the rarer pieces have hiss and surface noise but the music is important enough that it doesn't detract.

A great value for $68 plus shipping.
 

nola89

Familiar Face
Messages
63
Location
New Orleans, LA
It's officially. I must have this. I can't believe I've never stumbled upon this collection of box sets. Jimmy Raney, Sidney Bechet. Oh man where do I start.
 

Viper Man

Banned
Messages
860
Location
Stone City, IL
My wife bought me a copy for Christmas and it is fantastic.

nola89 said:
It's officially. I must have this. I can't believe I've never stumbled upon this collection of box sets. Jimmy Raney, Sidney Bechet. Oh man where do I start.

No doubt about it, Mosaic is the king of jazz box sets. Here's a hint, check your local library for the out of print sets. You may be surprised...
 

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