Johnny Hodges Mosaic.

[Matthew]

This week I've been listening to The Complete Verve Johnny Hodges Small Group Sessions 1956 - 61, and it has reminded me how truly great Hodges was as a player.

I've come to the realization that this is the best Mosaic ever. Every other song, my jaw drops to the floor, and I say to myself in amazement: "Did you just hear what the Rabbit played!!! " There is no substandard Hodges solo here, (I don't think he ever recorded one) and the sidemen are in top form. No musical revolutions here, just music played with the highest skill possible. All I can say is that if you ever considered buying this set, do yourself a huge favor -- do it. Just had to get this off my chest.

Edited May 15, 2004 by Matthew

[chris olivarez]

Thanks for the advice.

[wesbed]

Stop it! Stop it now!

I can't add any more Mosaics to my list.

No more! No, no, no more. Uh-uh, no way. No more.

[Jazzmoose]

Believe me, all they have to do is say this one is "running", and I'll find the way to get it before they can get out "low". No way this one is going to get away!

[BERIGAN]

Believe me, all they have to do is say this one is "running", and I'll find the way to get it before they can get out "low". No way this one is going to get away!

Sorry to tell you this Moose, but I just bought each and every copy up to sell on ebay at a later date!

I'm gonna be a millionaire!

[Alfred]

Both Hodges boxes are extremely great. They are my favorite Mosaic sets.

[Tom in RI]

Of the Mosaics I own this is the one I have been listening to the most over the last 3 months or so. Lots of Ben Webster on this.

[Tony Pusey]

This is the next one on my list, thanks for whetting my appetite!

[Harold_Z]

Don't miss this set. It's superb.

[desertblues]

I also heartily recommend this set - I got mine about a month ago and have listened to some of it almost every day. The musicians on this set are hall-of-famers: Hodges, Webster, Eldridge, Nance, Herb Ellis and the amazing Booty Wood! It is definitely one of my favorite Mosaics.

[wesbed]

I'm planning, as a definite, to purchase the J.J. Johnson Mosaic this-coming week. I was considering adding the Elvin Jones Mosaic to the same order. Damn, now I have to consider, instead, the Johnny Hodges box.

Or, maybe I should just get all three Mosaics? Along with the most recent two Selects? Yeah, yeah, now I'm talkin'.

[wesbed]

Damn, damn, and damn again.

I just checked the Mosaic site. It looks like the Hodges box is a Malcolm Addey remaster. I'll almost buy a Mosaic box based solely on Addey's name.

[sal]

I must add my praise. Its one of my favorite Mosaics as well. Beautiful music that never gets played out. Its excellent. Everyone who doesn't have it should buy it.

[LAL]

I'm thinking of getting a second set, not with the intention to resell at a higher price later, but as a spare in case I 'wear out' the discs on the existing set.

[wesbed]

Pleeeeeeaaaaassseeee stop!

I was thinking of purchasing the JJ Johnson Mosaic this week. I've also been trying to decide whether (or not) to add the Elvin Jones, Bobby Hackett and/or Johnny Hodges Mosaics to the same order.

[doubleM]

Sounds spendy, but infinitely rewarding!!!!!

[DrJ]

I found Mosaic long after the first Hodges box was out of print...since then have pieced together all the materal with single CD, CD-R, etc. While it's undoubtedly fine stuff, the 2nd Mosaic box of slightly later material smokes it, in terms of both musical quality and SOUND. Malcolm Addey did his usual wizardry with original tapes that were already generously well-recorded for the day, and the result is nothing short of magical. I agree with everything Matthew says, this is one of the strongest Mosaics.

[king ubu]

I don't think this should lessen anyone's appettite for the set (I have it on my list, but don't plan to get it too soon, unless it runs low): they failed to include two alternates from the "Blues-A-Plenty" session, available on the 2CD release by Ben Webster, "The Soul of Ben Webster":

This is a superb release, anyway, back from the days when Verve did it right. It includes an album each by Webster, Hodges and Harry Edison, all (obviously) featuring Webster.

ubu

[John Tapscott]

Oh, I'm glad you metioned this Verve reissue. Just seeing the cover of it warms my heart. It is A real favorite of mine, and highly recommended to all who, at the present time, may be too "financially challenged" to buy the Mosaic set. The Webster is a bargain too, because, as I recall, it has something like 155 + minutes of music.

[jazzbo]

I love both Hodges Mosaics, not sure that the second half of the first one isn't as good as any half of the second. . . .

I do want to mention something: I really love Malcolm Addey's work, but in many of the Mosaics, I think we also need to laud the work of the TRANSFERRER, in this case the credits are:

Tape transfers: Jeff Willins

Mastered using 24-bit resolution by Malcolm Addey

Jeff Willins did a great job as well as Malcolm Addey!

[king ubu]

I'm in the same boat as DrJ as far as the first Hodges box is concerned. I only have that one old Verve CD, lousy one, but good music. Never heard the rest of the music...

Now as we are discussing already other music than the second Mosaic, let me add a recommendation:

This release is sort of a dry-run for Hodges' years outside the Duke's orbit (well, musically not, of course). The first (of three dates) features Don Byas, Harold Baker, Jimmy Hamilton, Quentin Jackson are on all the tracks. (And the Hawk date is good, too).

ubu

[wesbed]

After all my whining, I placed my Johnny Hodges order, via the Mosaic site, only a few minutes ago.

Fek! Fek you, Matthew.

You and DrJ are the worst.

[brownie]

I don't think this should lessen anyone's appettite for the set (I have it on my list, but don't plan to get it too soon, unless it runs low): they failed to include two alternates from the "Blues-A-Plenty" session, available on the 2CD release by Ben Webster, "The Soul of Ben Webster":

This is a superb release, anyway, back from the days when Verve did it right. It includes an album each by Webster, Hodges and Harry Edison, all (obviously) featuring Webster.

ubu

Yes, that was another Uncomplete set from Mosaic!

But the second Hodges box from Mosaic was superb music with quite a lot of new material.

Always loved Hodges but this box grows on me every time I listen to it.

[Matthew]

After all my whining, I placed my Johnny Hodges order, via the Mosaic site, only a few minutes ago.

Fek! Fek you, Matthew.

You and DrJ are the worst.

If it's any help, I have zero interest in the Morgan/Shorter & Kelly/Chambers Mosaics -- too many alternate takes for my taste.

[DrJ]

You need to learn wesbed, NEVER trust my feedback about Mosaics - where those sets are concerned I'm pretty much a fanatic!