Bobby Hackett Mosaic

[jmjk]

Is it good jazz, or is it mood music with a nice trumpet feature.

[jazzbo]

It's both. I like it. Others don't.

[P.D.]

If you have a turntable ( seems like a strange statement) go to a used record store, spend a couple of dollars and make up your own mind

For the Jazz try Gotham Jazz Scene

for the Mood.. try Soft Lights or In a Mellow Mood

Hackett's best two Capitol albums ( Coast Concert and Jazz Ultimate) are actually in the Jack Teagarden set, and not in his own Mosaic.

They are also available on CD as a twofer via Collector's Choice

Collectors Choice have twofers of other Hackett Capitols including one that puts together the two "mood" music albums mentioned above, which could be used as another sampling method

[montg]

Like Lon said, it's both. The thing is, Hackett is a superb trumpeter. He's very melodic and his tone is beautiful.

Gary Giddins reviewed this set when it came out.

giddins review

[clandy44]

Thanks for putting up the Giddins review, mong. I too enjoy the Hackett, mainly because he plays the most melodic cornet that I have ever heard (and that includes Ruby Braff). Unlike some artists (Sarah Vaughan, for example), Hackett is not bedeviled by poor songs but rather by awful arrangements. My way to deal with that is to focus my ears (yes you can) on his work and block out some of the goopiness around him. I like the set and would recommend it to anyone who gets off the melody of a song, and doesn't think that Hackett is a free player.

[Shrdlu]

Bobby Hackett always sounds good, plus Mosaic would not put out a bad collection by anyone, so I'm sure you would not be disappointed if you got it.

Kent Brockman's "Two Cents' Worth".

[Trumpet Guy]

Taking PD's advice how are Hackett's Live At Embers & Quartet on Capitol?I saw em for $1.99 on lp...

[Jim R]

Taking PD's advice how are Hackett's Live At Embers & Quartet on Capitol?I saw em for $1.99 on lp...

I agree with Lon and the others who praised this set for what it is. The bottom line is, the musicianship is quite high, and Hackett is just plain fun to listen to.

Between "At the Embers" and "Quartet", I think I prefer the latter. "Embers" is not bad at all, but "Quartet" is slightly hipper, IMO. Give it a shot! For $1.99, how can you go wrong?

Here's the complete Mosaic discog, for what it may be worth:

DISCOGRAPHY

Although Bobby Hackett switches freely between cornet and trumpet throughout his career, the majority of his Capitol work was done on cornet and are listed as such. For the purposes of this discography, only initial LP issues are used.

SOFT LIGHTS AND BOBBY HACKETT:

(A) Bobby Hackett (cor), Lou Stein (p), Billy Bauer (g), Arnold Fishkind (B), Denzil Best (d), string quintet (four violas and one cello), probably Sid Feller (arr).

NYC, May 11,1953

20130 That Old Black Magic H 458, T 458

20131 The Song Is You - -

20132 You Turned The Tables On Me - -

20133 Someday You'll Be Sorry - -

(B ) second session. same.personnel as (A).

NYC, May 11,1953

20134 Easy To Love H 458, T 458

20135 Soft Lights And Sweet Music - -

20136 I Cried For You (Now It's Your Turn To Cry Over Me) - -

20137 Bobby's Blues - -

______________________________________________________________________________

IN A MELLOW MOOD:

© Bobby Hackett (cor), unknown piano, guitar, bass and drums with French horns, reeds and harp arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser

NYC, November 7,1954

20519 Deep Night T 575

20520 Mood Indigo -

20521 All Through The Night -

20523 Flamingo -

All titles issued on Cap.T 575,CD Coll. Choice CCM 164-2.

(D) Bobby Hackett (cor) with unknown vibes, piano, guitar, bass and drums, Glenn Osser (arr)..

NYC, November 9,1954

20522 Rain T 575

20524 Serenade In Blue -

20525 Lazy River -

20526 Get Out Of Town -

(E) Bobby Hackett (cor) unknown piano, guitar, bass and drums with trumpets, French horns and reeds arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser

NYC, November 10,1954

20538 Carefree T 575

20539 You're My Thrill -

20540 Stars In My Eyes -

20541 In A Sentimental Mood -

________________________________________________________________________________

SOFT LIGHTS AND BOBBY HACKETT:

(F) Bobby Hackett (cor) with unknown piano/celeste, guitar, bass, drums and. string quintet (four violas and one cello).

NYC, July 18,1955

20813 How About You? T 458

20814 Under A Blanket Of Blue -

20815 Sleep -

20816 It's All Right With Me -

________________________________________________________________________________

RENDEZVOUS:

(G) Bobby Hackett (cor) with unknown vibes, piano, guitar, bass and drums, Glenn Osser (arr).

NYC, January 23,1956

20988-10 Isn't It Romantic? previously unissued

20989 Cocktails For Two T 719

20990-3 If You Were The Only Girl In The World previously unissued

20991-9 Together -

(H) Bobby Hackett (cor) unknown piano, bass and drums with French horns, reeds and harp arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser

NYC, February 13,1956

20999 Autumn Nocturne T 719

21000 We Kiss In A Shadow -

21001 The Way You Look Tonight -

21002 Love Me -

(I) Bobby Hackett (cor) unknown piano, guitar, bass and drums with trumpets and reeds arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser

NYC, February 15,1956

20998 The Very Thought Of You T 719

21003 One Kiss -

21004-6 My Heart Stood Still previously unissued

21005 Thank You For A Lovely Evening T 719

(J) Bobby Hackett (cor) unknown piano/celeste, guitar, bass and drums with reeds arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser

NYC, April 3,1956

21067 When I'm With You T 719

21068 You Are Too Beautiful -

21069 Moonlight Becomes You -

21070 Two Cigarettes In The Dark -

________________________________________________________________________________

GOTHAM JAZZ SCENE:

(K) Bobby Hackett (cor), Dick Cary (E flat horn), Ernie Caceres (cl, bari), Tom Gwaltney (cl, vbs), Mickey Crane (p), John Dengler (tuba), Milt Hinton (B), Nat Ray (d).

NYC, March 27,1957

21451-5 Caravan T 857

21452-13 Lazy Mood -

21453-8 The Continental -

(L) same as session (K) except Al Hall replaces Milt Hinton.

NYC, April 4,1957

21454-10 In A Little Spanish Town T 857

21455-3 Tin Roof Blues -

21456-11 Albatross -

21457-4 It Don't Mean A Thing previously unissued

21463-6 Cornet Chop Suey T 857

(M) same as session (K)

NYC, April 10,1957

21480-9 Henry Hudson T 857

21481-5 Wolverine Blues -

21482-4 Rose Room -

21483-5 At The Jazz Band Ball -

________________________________________________________________________________

DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME:

(N) Bobby Hackett (cor), Cutty Cutshall, one or two unknown (tb), Dick Cary (E flat horn), Bob Wilber (ts,ss), four unknown (saxes & reeds), Dick Hyman (p, harpsichord), unknown (g), John Dengler (B), unknown (d,tambourine), three females (background vocals), David Terry (arr, cond)

NYC, November 27,1957

21793 Autumn Serenade T 1002

21794 Moonlight Serenade -

21795 The Thrill Is Gone -

21796 Softly As In A Morning Sunrise -

(O) same as session (N).

NYC, December 12,1957

21809 Put Your Dreams Away T 1002

21810 Zigeuner -

21811 A Handful Of Stars -

21812 If I Had A Million Dollars -

(P) same.as session (N)

NYC, December 19,1957

21815 Ev'rything I Love T 1002

21816 Wonderful One -

21817 Don't Take Your Love From Me -

21818 Street Of Dreams -

________________________________________________________________________________

AT THE EMBERS:

(Q) Bobby Hackett (cor), Pepe Moreale (p), John Giuffrida (as John Giuff) (B), Buzzy Drootin (d).

NYC, May 6,1958

22126-12 C'est Magnifique ST 1077

22127-11 Spring, Beautiful Spring -

22128-13 All Of You -

22129-5 Rosalie -

® same as session (Q)

NYC, May 7,1958

22130-19 Cheek To Cheek ST 1077

22131-9 It's Been Su Long -1 -

22132-6 If I Had My Way -

22133-10 That Naughty Waltz -

-1 mistitled It's Been A Long, Long Time on the original album.

(S) same.as session (Q).

NYC, May 8,1958

22134-11 Paradise ST 1077

22135-9 I'll See You In My Dreams -1 -

22136-10 If You Were There -

22137-9 My Monday Date -

-1 Moreale plays celeste on the opening and closing melodies. ________________________________________________________________________________

BLUES WITH A KICK:

(T) Bobby Hackett (cor) with (collective personnel) ): Dave McKenna (p), Nicky Tagg (p, org), John Giuffrida, Milt Hinton (B), Joe Porcaro (d), Harry Breuer, Phil Kraus (vbs, perc), string section (nine violins, two violas and two cellos), Stan Applebaum (arr, cond)

NYC, November 25,1958

22471 Sugar Blues ST 1172

22472 Baker's Keyboard Blues -

22473 Blues With A Kick -

22474 Limehouse Blues -

(U) same as session (T)

NYC, November 25,1958

22475 Alcoholic Blues ST 1172

22476 Blues In The Night -

22477 Good-Bye Blues -

22478 Blues In My Heart -

(V) same as session (T).

NYC, November 26,1958

22479 Bye Bye Blues-1 ST 1172

22480 Weary Blues -

22481 Wang Wang Blues -

22482 Davenport Blues -

-1:McKenna or Tagg plays celeste.

_______________________________________________________________________________

THE BOBBY HACKETT QUARTET:

(W) Bobby Hackett (cor), Dave McKenna (p), Bob Carter (B), Dick Scott (d).

NYC, March 24,1959

22637 Don't Be That Way ST 1235

22641 Stereoso -

22642 High Society -1 -

22643 Stompin' At The Savoy -

22644 You Stepped Out Of A Dream -

-1 It's possible that "High Society" was remade on March 25 and that the master comes from that session. There is conflicting information in the Capitol files.

(X) same as session (W).

NYC, March 25,1959

22642 High Society (remake) (see footnote for March 24 session)

22645 Bernie's Tune ST 1235

22646 Swing That Music -

22647 Kahakalau -

22648 Michelle -

22649 Undecided -

(Y) same as session (W).

NYC, March 26,1959

22650 It Don't Mean A Thing ST 1235

22651 The Lady Is A Tramp -

________________________________________________________________________________

HAWAII SWINGS:

(Z) Bobby Hackett (cor), Bob Wilber (cl-1, ts-2), Lou Stein (p), Bill Kahakalau (steel g), Billy Bauer or Bucky Pizzarelli (g, ukulele), Bob Carter (B), Dick Scott (d), Johnny Cresci (bgo).

NYC, April 13,1959

22696 Kohala March -2 ST 1316

22697 Robby-San -1,2 -

22698 Puamana (Sea Breeze) -2 -

(AA) same as session (Z) except Dave McKenna (p) replaces Stein.

NYC, April 17,1959

22708 Hawaii Swings -1 ST 1316

22713 Maui Chimes -2 -

22714 Hapa Haole Hula Girl -2 -

22715 On The Beach At Waikiki -2 -

22724 Song Of The Islands -1 -

(BB) same as session (Z) except Stan Brauner (fl-1, cl-2, b cl-3, ts-4) and Dave McKenna (p) replace Wilber and Stein.

NYC, April 27,1959

22739 Orchids From Hawaii -1 ST 1316

22740 Soft Sands -2 -

22741 Ku Nei -3 -

22742 Aloha Oe -4 -

_____________________________________________________________________________

EASY BEAT:

(CC) Bobby Hackett (cor), Pepe Moreale (p), Bill Cronk (B), Buzzy Drootin (d).

NYC, November 24,1959

22947-12 'Tis Autumn ST 1413

22948-1 Take The A Train -

22949-8 Sleepy Lagoon -1 -

22950-20 Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere -

22951-6 Bright Eyes -

-1 Moreale plays celeste on introduction and the opeing and closing melodies.

(DD) same as session (CC).

NYC, November 25,1959

22952-9 I'm In The Market For You -1 ST 1413

22953-3 Mr. Wonderful -

22954-1 What's New? -

22955-10 Embraceable You -1 -

22956-12 Too Close For Comfort -

22957-8 C'est Fini -2 -

22958-3 Prelude To A Kiss -

-1 Moreale plays celeste on introduction and first melody.

-2 Moreale plays celeste on introduction, first melody and ending.

___________________________________________________________

Some or all original sessions produced by Andy Wiswell

Produced for release by Michael Cuscuna

Transferred from the original mono and stereo masters in 24-bit and mastered by Ron McMaster, Capitol Mastering, Los Angeles Sessions A-P are mono. All others are stereo.

Special thanks to the Institute Of Jazz Studies.

Masters appear courtesy of courtesy of Capitol Records, Inc.

This compilation (p) 2001 EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets. Product of EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets, 1750 N. Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws. Printed in the U.S.A.

© 2001 Mosaic Records, L.L.C., 35 Melrose Place, Stamford, CT 06902. All rights reserved.

Producer's note:

Because of the carefully constructed nature of many of these albums, we have maintained the original LP sequence in all cases. We have paired the albums by musical concept. Discs one and two contain the quartet plus orchestration albums. Discs three and four start with the jazz octet he led at the Henry Hudson Hotel in 1957 and contain all of the quartet recordings. Disc five contains the two thematic concept album.

Edited August 9, 2003 by Jim R

[Jim R]

B) = Bass

Edited August 9, 2003 by Jim R

[wesbed]

I've read so much 'bad' about this box. I went, about 20 minutes ago, and listened to the sound clips on the Mosaic site. Not that I'm in the mood to buy this set (yet)... but, it sounds quite good to me.

You don't get to hear much of the strings and such playing behind Hackett on the Mosaic sound clips. Hackett, however, sounds hot/cool and right on. I believe I could enjoy Hackett's cornet for an extended evening of listening.

Maybe I'm just in an odd mood on a Sunday night? For tonight, though, this music sounds very inviting and cozy.

Edited May 17, 2004 by wesbed

[wesbed]

I found this from poking around the Mosaic site:

DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME::

(N) Bobby Hackett (cor), Cutty Cutshall, one or two unknown (tb), Dick Cary (E flat horn), Bob Wilber (ts,ss), four unknown (saxes & reeds), Dick Hyman (p, harpsichord), unknown (g), John Dengler (bass), unknown (d,tambourine), three females (background vocals), David Terry (arr, cond)

NYC, November 27,1957

21793 Autumn Serenade T 1002

21794 Moonlight Serenade -

21795 The Thrill Is Gone -

21796 Softly As In A Morning Sunrise

Hmmm... harpsichord, tambourine, and 'three females' doing background vocals? Does this, maybe, say, "don't buy me, spend your money on a different Mosaic box?"

Here is another thread regarding the Bobby Hackett Mosaic. >link<

[andersf]

I've heard most but not all of the Mosaic set, but from what I have heard I can recommend it (to the right person) . It's not Bobby Hackett at his best or even most jazz oriented (look for his collaborations with Jack Teagarden; the Chiauroscuro CDs from the Rainbow Grill with Vic Dickenson are also worth getting), but the Capitol sessions are on their own terms quite good. Bobby Hackett remains himself.

Nothing earth shaking, but good music; nice tunes & well played by an exceptional musician; that about sums if for me.

It remains on my llist of Moasic sets to get.

[Jazzmoose]

I'm really up in the air about this one. Most Mosaics I can easily throw on one list or the other right away. The Four Freshman was a "no", the Berigan was a "yes, eventually", the Mulligan was a "can't wait", etc. This one and the Mildred Bailey I just have no idea. I picked up a Hackett CD for fifty cents when the Wherehouse was going under, and I see the appeal, but to spend Mosaic bucks for a whole set? I dunno...

[Brad]

This one doesn't particularly interest me, at least not at this time. This one has elicited a lot of discussion and as Lon said a while ago some like it, some don't. As with many others, I'll probably wait until it goes on the endangered list before making the plunge.

Four Freshmen? That could go oop today and I wouldn't bite.

[wesbed]

I don't, necessarily, believe the Hackett Mosaic is 'bad.' However, something tells me to not order it yet. I've read a couple of reviews saying that Hackett plays well but the arranging, at times, is quite horrid. This set will be available for a while. I might, instead, spend those same dollars on the Capitol Jazz Sessions (some Hackett contained there too).

The Four Freshmen is the one Mosaic I'd not purchase based on Malcolm Addey's name.

Edited May 17, 2004 by wesbed

[BruceH]

Most if it is good. Only one disc is what I would call bad, or at least, something I'll probably never listen to more than once or twice. The rest is good to great, but that's just my opinion.

Edited May 17, 2004 by BruceH

[BruceH]

Hackett's best two Capitol albums ( Coast Concert and Jazz Ultimate) are actually in the Jack Teagarden set, and not in his own Mosaic.

They are also available on CD as a twofer via Collector's Choice.

Hey, that's a damn good point. If those two were on the Hackett, it would be an absolute must.

Perhaps I should say that this particular set isn't a "gateway" box, so to speak. If you are already familiar with Hackett and dig his style, then by all means, this is a good set to get. As an introduction to him, though, you'd do better to look for Jazz Ultimate and/or Coast Concert.

[AfricaBrass]

I have the set and I like it a lot.

I think it is much more jazzier than those Jackie Gleason albums (which I love).

[Jazzmoose]

I might, instead, spend those same dollars on the Capitol Jazz Sessions (some Hackett contained there too).

Wise you are young Jedi; swing it does and essential it is!

[wesbed]

I might, instead, spend those same dollars on the Capitol Jazz Sessions (some Hackett contained there too).

Wise you are young Jedi; swing it does and essential it is!

Yeah, it's always smart to ask one's elders.

[Jazzmoose]

I might, instead, spend those same dollars on the Capitol Jazz Sessions (some Hackett contained there too).

Wise you are young Jedi; swing it does and essential it is!

Yeah, it's always smart to ask one's elders.

Ooooh....a smart ass this one is....not sure is Yoda...

[wesbed]

I might, instead, spend those same dollars on the Capitol Jazz Sessions (some Hackett contained there too).

Wise you are young Jedi; swing it does and essential it is!

Yeah, it's always smart to ask one's elders.

Ooooh....a smart ass this one is....not sure is Yoda...

Smart ass is better than dumb ass?

Mmm... well, no, maybe not. I think I'll go hide (from my elders).

[Brad]

I have heard that the Capitol Jazz Sessions are superb. Unfortunately, the price tag, $192, is a little too high. Of course, when it goes on the endangered list, I'll have to bite.

[Ed S]

I've had this set for about 2 weeks and have given it a pretty thorough listen. I like it - a lot. All the things said above about Hackett's tone and style hold true to my ears. It's part jazz, part mood music, but definitely an enjoyable, fun listen. I even dig the Hawaiian session for what it is.

You do have to be in the mood for this style of jazz. It tends to be on the lighter side but it is definitely well played. Maybe my expectations were lowered because of some of the negative comments I've seen, but I'm pleasantly surprised and very glad I made the pick-up.

[Harold_Z]

I'm pretty much in agreement with what Ed said and also Lon.

There is some stuff contained here that is VERY good. I'm glad I have it.