JohnT

I agree. I wasn't really thinking my "dumping" suggestion was actually plausable as I have nothing but great respect for Mosaic when it comes to service, etc. I was just venting my frustration at having received two sets -- both of which had the defective disc 6 -- from Caiman. However, even with that said, I guess I can live with the 30 seconds of bad sound at the begginning of disc 6 in that I still got a great deal pricewise from Caiman.

[quote Can someone explain to me why the Tal Farlow Mosaic (albeit not identified as such)is selling on Amazon US new for 53.00 (by Cascaiman) and on the Mosaic website for 119.00? Is this the European Mosaic? And if it is, is there any way adding a limitation number would more than double its value in the eyes of prospective buyers? Confused in PA] Maybe it's because both the original and my replacement european Tal Farlow sets from Caiman had defective Disc 6's. Seems like at least a few of these sets in the hands of other Board members have the defective Disc 6 as well (there's another forum topic discussing this somwhere). Maybe Mosiac is "dumping" these defective sets through Caiman??

Upright Bill Wow, that Roscoe is sweeeeeet!!!! And I'd love to have something like the Emminence. I need to get my digital camera hooked up so that I could post some of my pictures... Besides my Englehart Upright, I also have a really nice German Upright (c. unknown). I don't play as much electric these days but I have a 1972 Fender precision bass, a Westone Fretless Jazz copy (which believe it or not plays and sounds fantastic!!! -- I play it a lot with one of the groups I play with) and an old Peavey Fretless T-40 bass (heavier than %^&* but looks cool!!!!!! ). I sold off quite a few electrics, which today, I wish I still had!! I've played both five and six string electrics but made a decision a while back to put the majority of my energy into the upright -- I admire folks like yourself who can do both so well.

Bill, I thought it looked like a Fishman pick-up from the picture. I've heard a lot of good things about the Fishman Full Circle -- I've never heard how it sounds -- how does it compare to other pick-ups you might have used? I've tried a couple of others but I keep going back to the underwood. I should look into the Full Circle. I should have mentioned that I have an AI Contra Combo amp. I also have a polytone amp, a vintage Ampeg B15 and a Fender Bassman (from 1972 with 2 15s in it). I gave the Fender Amp to my son who plays bass in a punk rock/ska band -- that thing really sounds great for him (too big and heavy for me)!!!

As opposed to my above comments, about a month ago a family on "holiday" from Switzerland came in and sat in front of the band. They had 5 kids aging in range from 4 yrs to 12yrs. The kids sat and listened very intently to everthing we played -- they even knew many of the jazz tunes we did -- and clapped for solos and were incredibly well mannered and well behaved. Now I know why many jazz players moved to Europe!!!!!!!!!!!

Two weeks ago I was playing a jazz gig at a local restaurant and a family with 3 little kids came in and sat right in front of the band. The kids had one of those portable DVD players which the parents used as a babysitter while they ate. The kids had the sound on the DVD player so loud we couldn't even hear ourselves play. When we made some comments about it the parents completely ignored us!! Well, I guess I got to see AND HEAR some disney classic movies while I played but sometimes people can be so rude!!

Upright Bill Great pictures!! That's a really nice looking bass your playing -- reminds me of the German Bass I have. I also have "Mutt" bass -- an Englehart that I bought when I was in High school around 1971 (not too many years after Kay basses sold out to Englehardt). It's had extensive re-working (new fingerboard, etc.) done by Dan Seboldt -- a luthier up in Big Rapids, MI when I lived up there. The Englehardt has become my main bass - really great sound and action!! Are you using a Fishman pick-up? What kind of amplification are you using? I use an Underwood with an acoustic image amp -- really love my acoustic image amp for small group stuff but it's not loud enough for the Big Band I play with unless I run it through the P.A.

I really like your Avatar Jazz Kat. Have you picked up the Paul Chambers Mosaic Select which has all of P.C.'s Blue Note Material -- essential listening for all bass players!!!

Just an update on my Caiman purchase of the Tal Farlow set. I found that I had a defective Disc 6 and had debated about sending my set back. Well, I decided to "roll the dice" and send it back for a replacement. Well, I rolled the dice and lost!! The new replacement (sealed) set sent by Caiman also has the same defective disc 6 (I've played it on about 7 different CD players with the same result -- it is defintely a defective disc and not my equipment). I guess I will have to live with it because I won't be trying to get another replacement set.

Well, I changed my mind and sent the set back after listening to it over the weekend. I thought I would just "roll the dice" and hope for the best that I get a replacement set without the defective disc 6. This is probably going to be more hassle than it was worth but what the heck -- I'll have to be content with listening to the Art Pepper and Andrew Hill Selects ( ) and a dozen or so OJC's that were recommended by this Board while I wait. I'll keep everyone posted as to how this turns out!!!

Yeah -- Percy Heath's first solo CD after all these years!! Hope he does another one soon although I must tell you he does play some jazz "cello" on the new CD accompanied by Peter Washington on bass (whom I consider to be the new "Paul Chambers" -- he seems to be on everybody's recordings like Paul was during the 50s and 60s!!!).

Sounds like your on your way. To be told that "you swing" is a great compliment!!! In the Big Band I play with down here in Florida there are a couple of 80 and 90 year old players that still "swing" -- they're a real inspiration to me!!! I hope I'm still doing it at their age!! Several of them played with the many well known Big Bands of the 40's. The arranger of the Big Band I play with, for example, played with and arranged for Charlie Spivaks Big Band -- a well known Band of the 40's. Every time I play with these guys I learn something!!!!! I've been listening to a lot of Mingus and Gene Wright lately myself. Have you picked up a copy of the new Percy Heath CD -- it's great!!!

I agree -- I'll probably keep my set too. Seems like many others have the same problem with their set and sending it back may not guarantee a set without the problem. Also, I may run the risk of Caiman saying they have no more in stock as well. It was such a sweet deal and I'll learn to live with it.

Yes -- I have the Oliver Nelson LP on Inner City and the CD version on East Wind -- fabulous session!!!

Sorry about all the jokes Jazz kat but we Floridians get a lot of ribbing about the heat down here, our voting habits, etc. Actually I'm a very serious bass player having played electric since I was 15 and upright since I was 17 and I'm now 50 so I'm probably your elder!! (I quit playing for about 10 years but glad I came back to it -- long story). I play a regular jazz gig down here every Fri and Sat (we've had the same gig for a year so I'm really lucky). I also play with a 18 piece Big Band every Tuesday night at an ongoing gig. I have a regular day job so I mostly play for the love and fun of it (but I do get paid for all my gigs). My favorite bassists are Scott LaFaro and Sam Jones but I also have to give a nod to Ron Carter, Paul Chambers and Doug Watkins from my former Hometown of Detroit. Who are some of your favorite bass players?? Are you gigging a lot???

Mosaic will probably ban me for life from purchasing anything more from them because I bought a set from an "unknown source "!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know they've tagged my file!!!!!!! ...oh well, I guess I'll save some money...and be depressed for the rest of my life...

I talked to Mosaic but didn't let them know I got it from Caiman -- didn't want to blow a good thing!! They wouldn't break up a set to replace Disc 6 and told me to send the whole thing back to whoever I got it from. Have to admit I felt a little guilty talking to them (I've bought 30+ full sets and all 16 Selects from them) but then I remembered what a great price I got!! I definitely have an oscillating sound at the beggining of track 1 on Disc 6. Hate to have to send the whole thing back and with my luck they won't have any more to replace it!! AGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Dilemma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have the Disc with me here at work but I would say the first minute and a half of the very first track on Disc 6 has the scratchy noise. After thinking about it, it does almost sound like scratch that you might hear on an old record. The noise is is pretty prevalent and you really couldn't miss hearing it. I don't think there was any mention of this in the Mosaic booklet where they usually tell you about noise and tape problems. If it's found on everyone's Disc then I will feel better that it wasn't just my disc and I won't have to send it back. Thanks for all your responses to this question!!

My Disc 6 has the bad scratchy noise during the first track too -- it sounds like loud white noise. Maybe this is not a defect but it sures seems like something is wrong with the Disc. There are no visible scratches on the disc surface and thats why I thought it was a manufacturing problem. But if everyone has it then maybe I won't be sending my set back. Do more of you have this noise in the first track of the disc????? PLEASE LET ME KNOW BEFORE I SEND IT BACK. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wondered why my musician friends always said "Here comes the bassman -- better duck and run for cover!!!" hmmm...or was it my playing that they though was going to implode!!!!!!

Got in on this deal and it's great except that my box came with a defective Disc 6 (hope nobody else has this problem). Now I have to ship the whole thing back to Caiman and hope I get a replacement box. Tried to get just a replacement Disc 6 from both Caiman or Mosaic but it didn't work out. I hope Caiman comes through for me with the replacement box.

I live in Florida and have two uprights (and 4 electrics). I've yet to have either one of my uprights (or double basses as I like to call them) explode... ...but when it gets warm down here I think I'm ready to myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! B-)

I was really surprised when I found a copy of this CD at my local Borders about a month ago! Great CD! Nice sound and a great group of players.

Sent you a PM re: the Woody Shaw Mosaic.

Thanks again for the Bud Shank discog!!!!!