what are your favorite Mosaic box sets?

pglbook
pglbook Posts: 2,226
edited February 2014 in Music & Movies
I was wondering if there are any fans of the Mosaic jazz label on this forum and, if so, what are your favorite Mosaic box sets?

I just purchased my first Mosaic box set about a week ago: Jazz Crusaders: Pacific Jazz Quintet Studio Sessions (6 CDs) and I love it.

I had heard great things about Mosiac's attention to quality (both in terms of sound and packaging) and now I know why they get such great reviews and have such a loyal folowing.

I am curious what people think are some of the better Mosaic box sets (either in-print or out-of-print).

I have been looking at the Mosaic website and am trying to decide what box set to get next (in a month or two). I am looking at the following: Modern jazz Quartet, Charles Mingus, or Ahmad Jamal Box sets. Please let me know your thoughts if anyone has one of those box sets.

And please let me know what are your favorite Mosaic box sets.

Thanks.
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Comments

  • laotzu61
    laotzu61 Posts: 327
    edited January 2014
    I wasn't aware of mosaic until you mentioned it, but have since been checking it out. have it bookmarked, actually. pretty sweet site. I think any of the 3 you mention would be excellent boxed sets; I think I would go with MJQ as a first selection, tho.
    "The symbol is not the reality"
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  • pglbook
    pglbook Posts: 2,226
    edited January 2014
    Gary, thanks. I was also leaning to getting the MJQ box set as my next Mosaic purchase It looks great.
    But I am surprised you didn't recommend the Ahmad Jamal box first, since I know how much you like him. That also looks fantastic. However, it is a bit more expensive as well since it is a larger box set.

    Mosaic has an amazing catalogue. It is virtually a history of jazz in the 20th century. All of the box sets are limited editions and eventually go out-of-print because Mosaic leases the music catalogues from the original labels (Blue Note, Pacific, Impulse, etc) only for a certain period of time/number of years. If you check the Mosaic website, besides the current in-print offerings, there is also list of their out-of-print box sets. And, while those are no longer available from Mosaic, a lot of them do eventually show up on ebay.

    Mosaic is all about quality: excellent packaging and liner notes, detailed essays and discographies, great photographs in the booklets, and superb sound restoration.
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  • laotzu61
    laotzu61 Posts: 327
    edited January 2014
    I like ahmed a lot, peter. just like MJQ a bit better. btw, thanks for the heads-up on mosaic.
    "The symbol is not the reality"
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  • jersmith
    jersmith Posts: 11
    edited February 2014
    Woody Herman Columbia 1945-47 / discs one and two for more :)
    atlantarhinoplastycritic.com
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