Tal Farlow Mosaic

[Brownian Motion]

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

[couw]

more on this here:

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=16542

no answers to your questions of why though.

[Ron S]

more on this here:

http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=16542

no answers to your questions of why though.

There's a lot of discussion in that thread by me and others specifically about the Farlow set and Caiman's selling of it. The so-called European set is identical to the one sold directly by Mosaic except that the set number is different (i.e., not a Mosaic number), the booklet is not individually numbered (although it does indicate that the set is one of a limited edition of 10,000), and the label on the spine of the box includes the words "Concert Band," apparently an erroneous hold-over from the Mulligan box. Other than that, the contents say "Mosaic" all over them, and at least in my set everything is indicated as having been made/printed in the USA.

[LAL]

Just received my copy from Amazon!!! Thanks to board members (Ron S etc) for the heads up on this deal. :tup

At half the price, I could live without the numbering on the booklet.

Btw - my box does not have any words printed on the spine.

[WD45]

But is the box photo intact?

[LAL]

But is the box photo intact?

Box photo looks fine to me.

[sidewinder]

My box spine definitely mentions Tal's 'Concert Band'

Love it !!

[Brownian Motion]

My box spine definitely mentions Tal's 'Concert Band'

Love it !!

Sure to be rarity someday--like an upside down airmail stamp!

[Dave James]

This isn't a set that was on my radar at the full meal deal price. But, at less than $60 including shipping, I couldn't resist.

Up over and out.

[mjzee]

Me too. It's shipping today.

[DrJ]

I got mine yesterday. Other than lousing packing (the back half of the box got bent, but they are sending a replacement so no big deal) it looks great. Definitely legit. What a deal (oh and I had a birthday gift card so I paid a grand total of $30!!!).

[Dave James]

I was shocked to get my Farlow set today, only two days after I'd ordered it from an outfit called CDQuest in Florida. Great service.

My box is like Sidewinder's. On the spine it says "The Complete Verve Tal Farlow Concert Band Sessions." But. on the cover of the box, it says "The Complete Verve Tal Farlow Sessions." Interesting, but considering I paid less than half the cost of the "real" Mosaic, it's not something that's going to keep me up at night. Everything else except the set numbering is bang on for an actual Mosaic.

Up over and out.

[sidewinder]

Good stuff. Whenever I see those words 'Concert Band' on the spine it conjours up images of Tal and the guys in tuxes and bow ties performing in a palm court, sort of Paul-Whitemanish.. :rsmile:

[Dave James]

I'm convinced that the wording on the spine is a deliberate attempt to differentiate this box from an actual Mosaic set.

Up over and out.

[Ron S]

I'm convinced that the wording on the spine is a deliberate attempt to differentiate this box from an actual Mosaic set.

Up over and out.

But it is an actual Mosaic set--one of the same limited edition of 10,000, obviously produced by Mosaic (Mosaic's name is all over the discs and booklet), but distributed by Universal as part of the licensing agreement that enabled the production of this set in the first place. There must be a story behind why the Universal copies of this set are being sold in the US at such discounted prices (maybe because the misprinted box spines?). If a Board Member with contacts could get the facts on this from someone at either Mosaic (Cuscuna?) or Universal, it would be interesting to know.

[tranemonk]

I'm convinced that the wording on the spine is a deliberate attempt to differentiate this box from an actual Mosaic set.

Up over and out.

But it is an actual Mosaic set--one of the same limited edition of 10,000, obviously produced by Mosaic (Mosaic's name is all over the discs and booklet), but distributed by Universal as part of the licensing agreement that enabled the production of this set in the first place. There must be a story behind why the Universal copies of this set are being sold in the US at such discounted prices (maybe because the misprinted box spines?). If a Board Member with contacts could get the facts on this from someone at either Mosaic (Cuscuna?) or Universal, it would be interesting to know.

I completely agree Ron... it is important to know... for a buncha reasons... for example...

1) Why the Tal Farlow and not other box sets?

2) Is Mosaic LOSING money by (us - me included ) buying the foreign version? (Although in my case I think they've made more than up for it... (See my purchase of the Chico Hamilton box and Hil Select...)

3) Should we expect more or less of this in the future??

I, for one, would like to know... (Even though I've already pre-ordered the Jazz Crusaders box and am waffling on the new Count Basie...)

And on Ron... Camian did ship a replacement (completely sealed - which was kinda interesting)... and I'm LOVING the Farlow....

What do you think of it?

[Dave James]

Am I wrong or wasn't there a cheaper version of the Farmer Golson Jazztet Mosaic available when the set was first released?

Up over and out.

[Ron S]

(Even though I've already pre-ordered the Jazz Crusaders box and am waffling on the new Count Basie...)

And on Ron... Camian did ship a replacement (completely sealed - which was kinda interesting)... and I'm LOVING the Farlow....

What do you think of it?

 

The Farlow is one of my favorites (not surprising--look at my avatar). I've also ordered the Django Reinhardt and the Johnny Smith sets (I already have the Joe Pass). I know the Smith set isn't as highly recommended by others as much as the Farlow, Pass, and Reinhardt, but I'm looking forward to it because of my interest in jazz guitar. I wasn't aware of Mosaic in time to get the Grant Green set but, fortunately, I've been able to assemble the equivalent of it from the current Blue Note Grant Green and Ike Quebec issues.

I'm glad you got the replacement Farlow from Caiman and are enjoying it.

And FWIW, I HAVE preordered the Basie set.

[tranemonk]

I'm curious what you will think of the Johnny Smith. Please post a mini-review.. .... I will say that it's a fine set... There are some beautiful ballads on it. I also have a feeling that this is one of these sets that when you give it multiple spins it gets better...

You know we're always kinda playing a little of a guessing game about, which if any CD's in a box set, will eventually be released as single CD's... but I feel VERY confident that 90% of the Johnny Smith will never see the light of day outside of Mosaic... FYI the number on my Johnny Smith box is 2497 (so they're about half gone...)

I'm glad I got mine...

[JohnT]

[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??

[couw]

no defect here, and I tried real hard to find it.

it seems they hit a bad batch with the later send-outs.

[Ron S]

No defect in my set from Caiman, either--and I also listened for it very carefully.

[Dave James]

Went through disc 6 on my set last night. No problems to report. Frankly, the "dumping" theory strikes me as very non-Mosaic behavior. Just from a simple economic standpoint, it make no sense. You have one bad disc, so you dump five perfectly good ones along with the box and book? I just can't see them doing this.

Up over and out.

[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.

[Ron S]

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.

Or, you could keep trying with Caiman until you get a good one. They seem to keep replenishing their stock (and other Amazon Marketplace sellers seem to have plenty at great prices).