Topic: Jazz recordings you are considering

[San Antone]

I wound up with all of the material on the Involution vinyl twofer via combination of Hill's Change and the BN Rivers CD Dimensions & Extensions. Being late to the game and generally too cheap to spring for Mosaic big boxes, research was necessary...
There's some great string quartet material (but no Rivers) on the Hill Mosaic Select #16.

Looks like I am mis-remembering the twofer recording - I had thought the string quartet arrangements were with Sam Rivers, but I guess they were the tracks of Andrew Hill Quartet, without Rivers.  I found Change on Spotify, and it is the four tracks from Involution with Rivers, but  not the tracks I enjoyed the most, which were the string quartet sides.  I have that Mosaic box and need to get it out and listen to it.  Andrew Hill is just about my favorite jazz pianist/band leader.   

EDIT: I Googled "Andrew Hill string quartet" and found the twofer I was really thinking of, One for One:

[San Antone]

Back to Sam Rivers, and recordings worth considering, there are two recordings of his big band, Rivbea All-Star Orchestra - Culmination and Inspiration.



I was in NYC during the jazz loft period, where this band was developed by Rivers.  These recordings are more like documents to capture the band, but during their performances, they would stretch out on the tunes far longer than is offered on the recordings.  Rivers no doubt wished to record as many of the songs as possible and limited the blowing on each one.

[T. D.]

Thanks for the suggestions. I really enjoy NYC loft-era big band music but missed out on the Rivbea Mosaic Select. Aurora, a similar single CD, has been in my Amazon wish list for a long time. Will add these two.

[T. D.]

Mosaic The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70
On the fence about this one...love the Mobley 50s box, but this is a big investment and I'm not overly fond of Mosaic packaging/format.

[San Antone]

Mosaic The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70
On the fence about this one...love the Mobley 50s box, but this is a big investment and I'm not overly fond of Mosaic packaging/format.

I bought that one when it first came out (for a while I was buying Mosaic boxes regularly) and enjoy it quite a bit.  But I like their packaging/format.

[josevalle]

Wow guys! Beautiful recordings. They are amazing!!!

[T. D.]

Mosaic The Complete Hank Mobley Blue Note Sessions 1963-70
[Follow-up] Had some unexpected year-end income and ordered the set.

[T. D.]

Just ordered the ZYX edition of the Complete Solo Masterpieces, originally on Pablo. I only recently purchased the ZYX Part 1 (Complete Group Masterpieces) box, and it's so incredibly good that I had to add the solo material.

[San Antone]

Just ordered the ZYX edition of the Complete Solo Masterpieces, originally on Pablo. I only recently purchased the ZYX Part 1 (Complete Group Masterpieces) box, and it's so incredibly good that I had to add the solo material.

I have the original Pablo solo recordings - I agree, great stuff.  I never bought the group recordings, except for the Tatum/Webster LP - now, that one is special.  Are the ZYX recordings re-mastered or improved in any way?  The Pablo discs sounded great, and I probably would not buy them in any event but it would be good to know.  All of the Pablo recordings are available to stream, anyway.

[T. D.]

I don't believe the ZYX are remastered or improved. The packaging is rather cheapo and contains no claims of remastering (which I wouldn't necessarily believe in any case, as with the "remastered" Proper Boxes  ). But I think the sound quality is fine.
I'd ordinarily go with the solo recordings first, but decided to take a chance and go the other route. The group sessions greatly exceeded expectations.
I'm an old dinosaur and haven't gotten with the streaming thing. Would have to do some audio system upgrades first, as my computer speakers are minimal and not suited for serious listening.

[Brian]

I prefer the group recordings, myself - it's fun to hear Tatum jousting with other gifted improvisers rather than running around on his own. You're gonna have some fun more listening coming soon, San Antone.

[San Antone]

I don't believe the ZYX are remastered or improved. The packaging is rather cheapo and contains no claims of remastering (which I wouldn't necessarily believe in any case, as with the "remastered" Proper Boxes  ). But I think the sound quality is fine.
I'd ordinarily go with the solo recordings first, but decided to take a chance and go the other route. The group sessions greatly exceeded expectations.
I'm an old dinosaur and haven't gotten with the streaming thing. Would have to do some audio system upgrades first, as my computer speakers are minimal and not suited for serious listening.

I prefer the group recordings, myself - it's fun to hear Tatum jousting with other gifted improvisers rather than running around on his own. You're gonna have some fun more listening coming soon, San Antone.

Yeah, I've been listening to the group sessions this morning.  I think when I first checked out some of them what I heard were had bad sound and it kind of ruined it for me.  Those Pablo sessions sound great, and include some really good bands.

Then I switched to some Earl Hines.  If you haven't heard those Mosaic recordings, you should check them out. 



They've been re-issued with different covers by Legacy (I think they're the same recordings, but can't be sure since I don't have the booklets):

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

[T. D.]

Interesting (Japanese) Hampton Hawes release coming up:

BTW, the shop Dusty Groove has a useful "coming soon" page https://www.dustygroove.com/coming-soon/jazz
(Standard disclaimer: I have no relationship to the vendor mentioned, etc.)

[hvbias]

Yeah, I've been listening to the group sessions this morning.  I think when I first checked out some of them what I heard were had bad sound and it kind of ruined it for me.  Those Pablo sessions sound great, and include some really good bands.

Then I switched to some Earl Hines.  If you haven't heard those Mosaic recordings, you should check them out. 



They've been re-issued with different covers by Legacy (I think they're the same recordings, but can't be sure since I don't have the booklets):

That Earl Hines Mosaic is one of my favorite Mosaic sets, absolutely amazing.

[Henk]

'Is That So' by John Mclaughlin

Recent interview in Downbeat.

"East-meets-West project with tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and one of India’s foremost singer-composers, Shankar Mahadevan."

https://downbeat.com/news/detail/john-mclaughlin-heads-out-on-the-road-again

[Brian]

(clicks Coleman Hawkins album on Amazon)

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