Face of the Bass

One last bump. Two sets are left, I've slashed the prices one more time on each if anyone is interested.

Where might be the best place to start with T-Bone Walker? The OOP Mosaic is prohibitively expensive...

I need to expand my understanding of blues music from the 1940s and 1950s especially. All that I have in this direction is the five disc Chess box set that samples that label's output. Any other recommendations are very much welcome. I have a preference for box sets just because I like methods of chronicling the music that are more thorough and comprehensive. Thanks!

Yes, it is.

Looking up some of these titles now, is the Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings better than the AMG guide? The online reviews seem to favor the AMG a bit.... I have to say, the Marybeth Hamilton book sounds really interesting to me.

That's really well-written, Allen. Thanks for sharing. This is giving me a lot to think about. In general I like provocative arguments, even if they are flawed; I like tracing the history of an idea, even an idea that might be out of date or wrong. I like histories that are more poetic than "objective" (since nothing is objective anyway), and I love good writing. I think I will snoop around my academic library and see what I find, then go from there. This has been really helpful. I knew you guys would come through!

So, far, far, too late, I've been getting into listening to blues music recently (Blind Willie McTell, Charley Patton, Bessie Smith, etc.) and need to know what are the best books out there on the history of the blues. Basically the only thing I've read that touches on the topic is Leroi Jones's Blues People.

Bump: Price reductions on the McPhee and Sanders, several new sets added.

It is still pretty much my favorite place to shop for music in person. I've always found the staff friendly and knowledgeable and I try to make a point of ordering from them when I can. I've discovered more music there than at any other store.

Only the Jones is left....

Continuing my pruning of my current collection of box sets, I have the following four Mosaic Selects for sale. Each of them is $30, shipping included to the U.S. Paypal only. PM if interested. Will ship internationally at cost. For all four sets, the booklets and discs are in like new condition. The outer boxes have minor shelf wear consistent with what you see in most Mosaic selects. The Jones outer box is a bit more banged up than the others. All Sold. Thanks for looking!

One more. In addition to everything I above, I've put a sealed copy of the Lester Young Mosaic up on EBay as well. The Buy It Now Price is $10 cheaper than the final price that the last one sold for... http://www.ebay.com/itm/251227584490?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Update: the Bill Evans Verve set and the Roland Kirk Mercury Set are now both on E-Bay. Here is a link to the auctions. You might be able to get them for a lower price: The Evans is here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251226782486?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 The Kirk is here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/251226784771?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649 The other sets that I still have available are listed above and can be had by sending me a PM. Thanks!

PM sent on the Parker.

Lou Donaldson is gone. Get 'em while they are hot!

Hawkins and Hutcherson select are both gone.

Nothing wrong with it, I've just got too much stuff and other things I need to listen to, so I'm selling it.

Just a note that if you have any interest in any of the remaining sets, let me know this week. As of Friday they will go to auction.

And another two boxes added. Thanks!

Up...4 more Mosaic boxes added to the list. PM if interested.

I have the following sets for sale. Prices include shipping to the U.S. Please inquire for international deliveries. Paypal Only, PM if Interested. Box Sets Peter Brotzmann -- Die Like A Dog: The Complete FMP Recordings -- $35 **ON HOLD** Thanks for looking!

Huh, I wrote that almost two years ago. Not sure if my opinion still holds. I do think, though, that hard bop as a genre was vital to jazz music until the early 1960s, by which point it was largely played out and overly formulaic. Of course, a lot of free jazz is also overly formulaic these days as well. Eventually everything gets played out.

Thanks for the suggestion. I contacted her and she said that the set has been sold out for years, but she hopes that sometime in 2013 Ogun will be releasing some unissued Harry Miller material. I'm just amazed that I can't find a single copy of this anywhere, not even a horribly overpriced copy on Amazon.

Well I absolutely love record stores. Every time I hit a new city I always find out where the record stores are (if there are any) and drop a boatload of cash. Online shopping is nowhere near as fun, and downloading is awful. I'm a human being, which means that I relate better to physical objects. Does that make me old-fashioned? Maybe. But I'm only 35.

Figured I'd take a stab at this. Checking the usual places, I cannot find a single copy of this for sale anywhere. (Only illegal downloads come up on searches.) I am trying to bolster my collection of South African jazz, and so if anybody happens to know where one can get a copy, or have a copy themselves that they would be willing to sell or trade away, then send me a pm. Thanks.