and please take a look also here: The 1000 recording Series @ Hep Records, jazz in depth, Bigbands of the 30s and 40s.
None that I own but a few I have added to the want list: The Jazz Messengers at the Cafe Bohemia Volume 1&2 Jackie McLean - Vertigo Andrew Hill - Point of Departure Horace Silver - Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers Those are the standouts for me but he was reasonably prolific considering he died at 48. When I think of Miles Davis or Freddie Hubbard and the amount they recorded, you can't help but wonder how many more great albums Dorham might have recorded.
In my opinion it doesn't. The HatHut's first disc is the boxset's CD #7, the only performance with Han Bennink on their mini-tour, and while it is one of the best live sets included in the box (discs 7-11) it omits any live playing with the project's regular drummer Pheeroan akLaff who creates entirely different dynamics. And the live in studio material compiled on the second disc of HatHut release is simply too short to cover these sessions in depth, focusing (understandably) on the more obvious takes from the title perspective (although "Scrapple from the Apple" is included). I'd say they'd have needed at least 4 discs (two live + two studio) to do this material justice.
Pete La Roca - Basra (Blue Note CDP-7243 8 32091 2 5) Joe Henderson`s playing alone is worth getting this great album.
Unfortunately (unlike with Goodman) Hep has not issued any CDs or LPs covering the "prime" period of Artie Shaw, which is what I'm looking for (about mid-1938 to 1940 or so). Evensong certainly gets into part of Shaw's wheelhouse, but I would like something a bit more comprehensive.
How about the Mosaic set? Now that should be first rate, but the reviews and comments I've seen almost seem to damn with faint praise.
The Mosaic set is very good. The sound is pretty faithful tot he original recordings which is to say very good but perhaps not to every modern listener's taste? The music is very interesting to me. I need to go through this set again soon.
Personally, I would ignore those reviews. It is a great set, though not complete. If you want to hear the music on Hep, you will likely never hear it.
I have both collections (Mosaic and Hep beside others) - and to me the Audio Quality is far better on the Mosaic for sure, but on the other side I like to hear the music - and if the Sound is ok, then i can enjoy the records. So Mosaic is first place, Hep records are direct behind it and on third place I like the Jazz Tribune Records (RCA Victor).
Jimmie Lunceford: The CBS Records 1939-40 #2 And , yes, I do like the Mosaic set from Lunceford too (both music and sound)
I completely agree. If you want to hear the music, you try what is available. I can understand waiting for a price that is acceptable, but not for a new reissue that is unlikely to ever occur. Swing era reissues are definitely going to be an exception in the future. I donated a massive vinyl collection of swing era bands to a radio station about 5 years ago to make some room. I regret that now, because the station has abused its libraries. It discarded about 100,000 CDs and the vinyl may be next. I did keep a lot from that era, but I did have definitive collections of many bands that I culled.
The best I can do as far as auditioning the Mosaic set is Allmusic, which certainly isn't prime listening. However, the tracks I have listened to there indicate the SQ would top anything I currently have (namely, the Bluebird LPs and the Proper box). The Self-Portrait collection should be good, but I've read that the (re)mastering is on the "bright side", which I don't like.
I love this release by Herbie Hancock. Not sure how to describe this genre in music- proto funk jazz experimental fusion? Many similarities to Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew era, IMHO. Can any of you recommend artists with similar musical stylings? I want to expand my collection in this genre.
