Mosaic Contemporary

[ghost of miles]

Lois just posted this over at JC:

Mosaic Records has announced the launch of Mosaic Contemporary

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Mosaic Records has announced the launch of Mosaic Contemporary, an imprint label that will specialize in reissues and compilations from the annals of contemporary jazz. Mosaic Contemporary will be spearheaded by producer Matt Pierson, formerly of Warner Bros. Records, and will begin with the release of four titles on March 6th. The four releases that will mark the label’s beginning are as follows: new comprehensive compilations titled Ultimate Jaco Pastorius and Ultimate Earl Klugh, and reissues of Freddie Hubbard’s Super Blue and Hubert Laws’ timeless CTI recording of Afro-Classic.

Decisions on which albums to release will be made based on an artist’s contribution to the music and the recording’s place in the pantheon of American music. In a press release, label director Matt Pierson explained, “Our goal is to fill a significant void that exists in the jazz business.” Added Mosaic Records President Michael Cuscuna, “Since Mosaic is an independent company with independent distribution, we are in a position to give great jazz and adult music the treatment it deserves.”

Edited January 30, 2007 by ghost of miles

[sal]

Earl Klugh on Mosaic?

[Clunky]

surely a joke !!!

[ghost of miles]

surely a joke !!!

I thought it might be, but I just called Mosaic & they confirmed the launch of the label.

[Dan Gould]

This clinches it:

2025 will see the release of The Complete Rod Stewart Standards Sessions

[Claude]

I find the idea of Mosaic "Ultimate" compilations even scarier than a reissue of an Earl Klugh album. Mosaic has always been a collector's label, and which collector buys compilations?

[Ron S]

Lois just posted this over at JC:

Mosaic Records has announced the launch of Mosaic Contemporary

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* * * *

Added Mosaic Records President Michael Cuscuna, “Since Mosaic is an independent company with independent distribution, we are in a position to give great jazz and adult music the treatment it deserves.”

Oooops.

[J.A.W.]

This clinches it:

2025 will see the release of The Complete Rod Stewart Standards Sessions

[J.A.W.]

I'm guessing they need to make a quick buck to keep their core business going... Nothing wrong with that in my opinion, but I certainly won't be buying any of the discs mentioned.

Edited January 30, 2007 by J.A.W.

[brownie]

The Ultimate Earl Klugh?

One Mosaic I won't need

Looks like I'll be ignoring Mosaic Contemporary...

I like my Mosaics and Contemporarys separate!

[ghost of miles]

I'm guessing they need to make a quick buck to keep their core business going... Nothing wrong with that in my opinion.

Quite possibly the case, though I think they're messing a bit with the brand. It won't keep me from buying the Chu Berry sets and everything else they're going to release in the future along those lines, but it does seem a bit--well, at odds with what I've thought Mosaic to be. Ultimately it's a business, of course, and perhaps MC is also prepared to make the argument that some good jazz has been overlooked simply because it's been put into said "contemporary" category. (There's a lot I haven't heard because previous experience has led me to develop a prejudice against it in general.)

Edited January 30, 2007 by ghost of miles

[Eric]

I agree with most of the skeptcism/criticism expressed above, HOWEVER, we will get Super Blue, presumably with the extra tracks that have been discussed elsewhere on this board. Can High Energy be far behind (which was remastered by Columbia at the same time)?

[ghost of miles]

I agree with most of the skeptcism/criticism expressed above, HOWEVER, we will get Super Blue, presumably with the extra tracks that have been discussed elsewhere on this board. Can High Energy be far behind (which was remastered by Columbia at the same time)?

SUPER BLUE is already up for pre-order on Amazon.

[Hot Ptah]

I note that the Ultimate packages are described as "comprehensive compilations." What is a "comprehensive" compilation? Is is all of the tracks recorded by an artist for a label? What does "comprehensive" mean if it does not mean complete?

There are some good albums from the 1970s which have not been reissued on CD. Except for the inclusion of Earl Klugh, the idea looks potentially promising. What does Chuck Nessa sometimes call himself? I forget, but it reminds me of the inclusion of Earl Klugh in this particular punchbowl.

[Hot Ptah]

I agree with most of the skeptcism/criticism expressed above, HOWEVER, we will get Super Blue, presumably with the extra tracks that have been discussed elsewhere on this board. Can High Energy be far behind (which was remastered by Columbia at the same time)?

SUPER BLUE is already up for pre-order on Amazon.

There are no extra tracks added in that Amazon listing.

[White Lightning]

BLAH!

[Eric]

I agree with most of the skeptcism/criticism expressed above, HOWEVER, we will get Super Blue, presumably with the extra tracks that have been discussed elsewhere on this board. Can High Energy be far behind (which was remastered by Columbia at the same time)?

SUPER BLUE is already up for pre-order on Amazon.

There are no extra tracks added in that Amazon listing.

Noticed that - hopefully a typo. I thought David Weiss reported listening to the tracks tracks when he was traveling with Freddie.

EDIT - CD Universe shows the three extra tracks.

Edited January 30, 2007 by Eric

[GA Russell]

There is already a jazz label called Contemporary, and I am surpised that Concord will allow Mosaic to use the word in its title.

[Hot Ptah]

If this program results in the CD reissues of all of the A&M Horizon albums, and the India Navigation and Horo labels, I will be all for it.

If it is confined to the commercialized efforts of Columbia and CTI from that era, it will tarnish the Mosaic brand, in my opinion.

[BFrank]

I'm guessing they need to make a quick buck to keep their core business going... Nothing wrong with that in my opinion, but I certainly won't be buying any of the discs mentioned.

This is pretty much my thinking, too. If Mosaic needs to expand its horizons in order to keep releasing the good stuff, it's OK with me. I'm not sure I understand what people are concerned about "tarnishing the brand" unless it somehow impacts their ability to continue the boxes.

[clifford_thornton]

My dad will be pleased...

[bertrand]

Matt Pierson is a moron. No good can come of this.

Bertrand.

[sidewinder]

Looks like Tony Williams 'Million Dollar Legs' will be a shoe-in for this label.

Not to mention the Chick Corea 'Smurfs' LP.

However if it gives them the working capital to keep the 'real' Mosaic boxes and Selects rolling off the press ad infinitum then I am for it. Especially with all of the current problems at EMI.

Edited January 30, 2007 by sidewinder

[J.A.W.]

Matt Pierson is a moron. No good can come of this.

Bertrand.

That's not very nice. Elaborate, please.

[Eric]

I'm guessing they need to make a quick buck to keep their core business going... Nothing wrong with that in my opinion, but I certainly won't be buying any of the discs mentioned.

This is pretty much my thinking, too. If Mosaic needs to expand its horizons in order to keep releasing the good stuff, it's OK with me. I'm not sure I understand what people are concerned about "tarnishing the brand" unless it somehow impacts their ability to continue the boxes.

I think the concern might be that it reduces the price/collectibility of the full-size boxes in the secondary (ebay) market. Kind of like putting a Sears 8-track in a new BMW.