crisp

Posting here (and in the jazz box bargains thread) because this is where it will probably get noticed: For today only Amazon UK is taking £10 off orders of £50 or more with the code BIGTHANKS.

Posting here because this is where it will probably get noticed: For today only Amazon UK is taking £10 off orders of £50 or more with the code BIGTHANKS.

Thanks again, John, for all that info.

Remaster the lot? Lease to Mosaic? I suppose they could combine with the Columbia material for a bumper box, but I wouldn't want to repurchase the material on the Mosaics -- there's too much of it. I'd honestly be happy with a budget version (Oh, if only I hadn't passed on that discounted copy in Tower Piccadilly in 1999!).

You will have the vast majority of it. As mentioned above, the Savoy recordings are not included. Also, there are essential early small group recordings made for Commodore and Columbia (Kansas City Six sessions). Then there are the Jubilee sessions, and, of course, his work with Teddy Wilson / Billie Holiday. Thanks, John. I have the Holiday sides, of course. Odd that the first Mosaic didn't include the KC6 sessions. Savoy and Jubilee -- what would be a good source for those?

I have the Aladdin and Nat Cole material and that's it, so this will be essential for me. I've taken the EU budget edition of the Decca Basie off my wish list. Interesting to see that the Aladdin material is now Universal-owned -- makes sense given that they bought the Capitol and Blue Note elements of the EMI holdings. I imagine that if you have the first Mosaic, the Verve and this box you will have everything Pres commercially recorded, yes?

No idea why Sony doesn't reissue this in a budget edition. What would it cost them?

Buried at the end of Mosaic's Sunday email was a link to this interview with Scott Wenzel. Most interesting is this part: "At Mosaic I’m currently working on a James P. Johnson set as well as yet another Count Basie/Lester Young project." Any ideas what those could comprise?

Agreed. If so could this open the floodgates for more Garner? Mosaic boxes of the Columbia and Mercury studio sessions would be great.

On the home stretch with Morse. One more to go plus the short stories.

Is there a way of telling if Japanese CDs are mini-LP sleeves or jewel case?

A couple of BBC transcription collections are due: BBC JAZZ CLUB RARE TRANSCRIPTION RECORDINGS (1959) VOLUME 1 BBC JAZZ CLUB RARE TRANSCRIPTION RECORDINGS (1959-60)VOLUME 2

The RCA must be this one. It's great.

I look at it this way: at least it ain't John Scott Trotter.

If you are at all interested in Crosby, this is the perfect introduction. The repertoire is stellar, the accompaniment tasteful and he's in fine voice. Great sound too. A fantastic set.

Great to see Mosaic doing another BIG set. The Capitol Jazz Classics set is one of my favourites.

And it's £45.74 now.

Fine, but my point is that a Dover edition of Shakespeare won't be far inferior to a Collins edition and other similar editions are available. But a recording is like a painting: it's a one-off, you can't recreate it. If a PD company releases an old recording, it will be inferior to a licensed version and will discourage legit label (indies and majors) from issuing legit versions of the only copy of that work. So copyright extension actually reduces choice. My suggestion would be to make it law that if an indie wants to license a recording they should be able to providing they meet reasonable costs. That would end the cheapo editions and ensure any reissues were of decent quality. Lots of Mosaic-style companies or lots of Real Gone Jazz-style ones? I know what I'd prefer and I'd pay extra for it.

Oh, that's right. Copyright protection covers only recorded works, not written works. Thanks for reminding me. Steady. I was just pointing out the comparison isn't like-for-like.

I read OHB a few years ago and enjoyed it so it isn't just a book for adolescents (unless I suffer from arrested development, which is possible I suppose). I found Philip sympathetic in his quest for fulfilment and the ending was satisfying. Naturally, I've forgotten most of it. But if you aren't enjoying it I'd recommend dropping the book. Life is too short to slog through books you don't enjoy when there is so much else to be read. If you want to give Maugham a second chance, try The Painted Veil or The Razor's Edge, both intriguing (and shorter).

The comparison with Bach and Shakespeare isn't fair because these works are compositions not recordings. Hamlet and the Goldberg Variations can be performed/recorded/filmed multiple times but even if you could get the Beatles together to re-record Sgt Pepper it wouldn't be the same as the original. Recorded musical works are all one-offs.

The Phase 4 set is £47.37 (40 discs) at Amazon UK.

Huge season at the BFI in London: details. I also like Touch of Evil best, then Lady From Shanghai. I struggle with the literary adaptaions (Shakespeare, Kafka).

Labels such as Mosaic, Ace, Vocalion, Cherry Red and Bear Family have no difficulty licensing music from the copyright holders, major and minor labels alike. I presume it costs more and that cost is passed on to the consumer. But they produce a quality product and haven't gone out of business. That European PD labels don't do this suggests to me that they are interested in neither quality products nor satisfied customers, just a fast buck.

Complete Billie on Verve (10 CDs): £24.78 at Amazon UK.