New jazz box sets on the horizon?

[JETman]

Hip O Select / Verve Select is releasing Volume 2 of the Clifford Brown Master Takes on Oct 22nd.

No description on amazon as yet but here is the link anyway:

http://www.amazon.com/Emarcy-Master-Takes-Clifford-Brown/dp/B0094GW93W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1347551620&sr=1-1&keywords=clifford+brown

This has got to be the solo stuff. The Brown/Roach stuff was on the 4 cd first volume. In true intelligent record company fashion, this is nowhere to be found on the Hip-o website!

Vol.2 contains the master takes of the recordings with Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Helen Merrill: AMG.

You're right. It even states this in the Hip-o site's description of the 1st volume. I guess this means there will be a third volume containing the jam sessions and string date?

[J.A.W.]

Hip O Select / Verve Select is releasing Volume 2 of the Clifford Brown Master Takes on Oct 22nd.

No description on amazon as yet but here is the link anyway:

http://www.amazon.com/Emarcy-Master-Takes-Clifford-Brown/dp/B0094GW93W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1347551620&sr=1-1&keywords=clifford+brown

This has got to be the solo stuff. The Brown/Roach stuff was on the 4 cd first volume. In true intelligent record company fashion, this is nowhere to be found on the Hip-o website!

Vol.2 contains the master takes of the recordings with Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Helen Merrill: AMG.

You're right. It even states this in the Hip-o site's description of the 1st volume. I guess this means there will be a third volume containing the jam sessions and string date?

The master takes of the jam sessions (4 tracks) can be found on disc 2 of Vol.1 and the master takes of the string dates with Neal Hefti's Orchestra (12 tracks) on disc 3.

[jazztrain]

I'm back home and have had a chance to look at the four King Jazz cds. They were issued in 1992. Alessandro Protti is listed as one of the producers, and John R.T. Davies is credited for transfers but with others credited for pre-mastering re-recording and for DAT mastering. The back of each cd states that Mezzrow sold the King Jazz label to Alessandro Protti in 1960. (Anyone know if that's true?)

The four cds include all of the Mezzrow-Bechet Quintet and Septet sides but do not include the Mezzrow speaking parts, the Sammy Price solos, the Pleasant Joe vocals with Sammy Price, the Sammy Price/Big Sid Catlett duo, or the mystery harmonica side.

THE KING JAZZ STORY, Vol. 1

SAMMY PRICE (p)

New York: possibly March 27, 1945

1. In a Mezz KJ 1 – 2:55

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

2. Mezzrow talks 1:38

3 Those Mellow Blues KJ 2 - 2:41

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

4 Gully Low Blues KJ 3 – 2:24

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

5 Cow Cow Blues KJ 4 – 2:43

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

6 133rd Street Boogie KJ 5 – 2:22

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

7. Mezzrow talks 0:51

8. I Finally Gotcha KJ 6 – 2:56

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

9 Boogin’ With Mezz KJ 7 – 2:47

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

10. Callin’ ‘Em Home KJ 8 – 2:40)

(Mezzrow – S. Price)

11. Step Down, Step Up KJ 9-1 - 2:36

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

12. Shakin’ Loose KJ 9-2 – 2:51

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

13. Shakin’ Loose KJ KJ 9-3 – 2:51

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

PLEASANT JOE (vo) SAMMY PRICE (p)

14. Broken Man Blues KJ 10 – 2:38

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

15. New Jailhouse Blues KJ 11 – 3:08

(W. Wilson - C. Grant)

MEZZROW-BECHET SEPTET

Milton Mezzrow (cl); Sidney Bechet (ss); Oran “Lips” Page (tp & vo1);

Sammy Price (p); Danny Barker (g); George “Pops” Foster (b);

Sidney “Big Sid” Catlett (dr).

New York, July 30, 1945

16 House Party KJ 12–1 - 3:11

(Mezzrow)

17. House Party KJ 12-2 - 2:40

(Mezzrow)

18. Perdido Street Stomp KJ 13-1 – 2:22

(Mezzrow – Bechet)

19. Perdido Street Stomp KJ 13-2 – 2:52

(Mezzrow – Bechet)

20. Revolutionary Blues (Part 1) KJ 14-1 – 3:14

(Mezzrow)

21. Revolutionary Blues (Part 2) KJ 15-1 – 2:34

(Mezzrow)

22. Mezzrow talks 0:49

23 Blood On the Moon (1) KJ 16-1 – 2:24

(O. Page - Mezzrow)

MEZZROW-BECHET SEPTET

Personnel same as above, add Pleasant Joe (vo 2).

New York, July 31, 1945

24. Levee Blues (2) KJ 17-1 – 2:54

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

25 Mezzrow talks 1:08

26. Layin’ My Rules In Blues (2) KJ 18-1 – 2:35

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

27 Bad, Bad Baby Blues (2) KJ 19-1 – 2:59

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

28 Bad, Bad Baby Blues (2) KJ 19-2 – 2:57

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

Total time: 70:49

THE KING JAZZ STORY Vol. 2

MEZZROW-BECHET SEPTET

Milton Mezzrow (cl); Sidney Bechet (ss); Oran “Lips” Page (tp);

Sammy Price (p); Danny Barker (g); George “Pops” Foster (b);

Sidney “Big Sid” Catlett (dr); Pleasant Joe (vo 2).

New York, July 30, 1945

1. Mezzrow talks 0:37

2. Saw Mill Blues (2) KJ 20-1 – 2:59

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

3. Minor Swoon KJ 21-1 – 3:03

(Mezzrow)

4. Minor Swoon KJ 21-2 – 2:55

(Mezzrow)

5. Minor Swoon KJ 21-3 – 3:02

(Mezzrow)

6. The Sheik Of Araby KJ 22-1 – 2:58

(Smith – Snyder - Wheeler)

7. The Sheik Of Araby KJ 22-2 – 3:04

(Smith – Snyder - Wheeler)

SAMMY PRICE-SIDNEY “BIG SID” CATLETT

New York, July 31, 1945

8. Boogin’ With Big Sid KJ 23-1 – 3:07

(Mezzrow - S. Price)

MEZZROW-BECHET QUINTET

Milton Mezzrow (cl); Sidney Bechet (ss); Fitz Weston (p); George “Pops”

Foster (b); Kaiser Marshall (dr); Douglas Daniels (vo 3)

New York, August 29, 1945

9. Mezzrow talks 1:14

10. Baby, I’m Cuttin’ Out (3) KJ 24-1 – 2:43

(Mezzrow - D. Daniels)

11. Baby, I’m Cuttin’ Out (3) KJ 24-2 – 2:51

(Mezzrow - D. Daniels)

12. Baby, I’m Cuttin’ Out (3) KJ 24-3 – 3:06

(Mezzrow - D. Daniels)

13. Ole Miss KJ 25-1 – 2:36

(Trad.)

14. Ole Miss KJ 25-2 – 3:04

(Trad.)

15. Mezzrow talks 2:04

16. Bowin’ The Blues KJ 26-1 – 2:46

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

17. Bowin’ The Blues KJ 26-2 – 2:48

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

18. Jelly Roll KJ 27-1 – 3:12

(Mezzrow)

19. Jelly Roll KJ 27-2 – 3:34

(Mezzrow)

20. Jelly Roll KJ 27-3 – 3:39

(Mezzrow)

21. Jelly Roll KJ 27-4 – 3:03

(Mezzrow)

22. Perdido Street Stomp KJ 28-1 – 2:20

(Mezzrow – Bechet)

23. Perdido Street Stomp KJ 28-2 – 2:57

(Mezzrow – Bechet)

Same personnel:

New York, August 30, 1945

24. 32 Bars Of Blues KJ 29-1 – 2:31

(Mezzrow)

25. Forgotten Harmony KJ 29-2 – 3:31

(Mezzrow)

26. Revolutionary Blues KJ 29-3 – 2:42

(Mezzrow)

Total time: 72:34

THE KING JAZZ STORY Vol. 3

MEZZROW-BECHET QUINTET

Milton Mezzrow (cl); Sidney Bechet (ss); Fitz Weston (p); George “Pops”

Foster (b); Kaiser Marshall (dr).

New York, August 30, 1945

1. Mezzrow talks 0:30

2. Gone Away Blues KJ 30-1 – 2:44

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

3. De Luxe Stomp KJ 31-1 – 2:33

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

4. Mezzrow talks 1:18

5. Out Of the Gallion KJ 32-1 – 3:22

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

6. Out Of the Gallion KJ 32-2 – 2:35

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

7. Out Of the Gallion KJ 32-3 – 2:33

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

MEZZROW-BECHET QUINTET

Milton Mezzrow (cl); Sidney Bechet (ss, cl 4); Wesley “Sox” Wilson

(p, vo 5); Wellman Braud (b); Warren “Baby” Dodds (dr); Coot

Grant (vo 6).

New York, September 18th, 1947

8. Mezzrow talks 1:14

9. Breathless Blues (4) KJ 33-1 – 2:57

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

10. Mezzrow talks

11. Really The Blues (Part 1) ( 4) KJ 34-1 -3:11

(Mezzrow)

12. Really The Blues (Part 2) (4) KJ 34-2 – 3:05

(Mezzrow)

13 Really The Blues (Part 1) KJ 35-1 – 2:57

(Mezzrow)

14. Really The Blues (Part 2) KJ 35-2 – 2:52

(Mezzrow)

15. Evil Gal Blues (4, 6) KJ 36-1 – 2:59

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

16. Mezzrow talks 1:59

17. Fat Mama Blues (4, 6) KJ 37-1 – 3:09

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

18. Mezzrow talks 0:34

19. You Got To Give It To Me (4, 6) KJ 38-1 – 2:42

(Mezzrow - S. Wilson)

20. Hey Daddy Blues (4, 6) KJ 39-1 – 2:42

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

21. Whoop This Wolf Away From My Door (6) KJ 40-1 – 3:00

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

22. Whoop This Wolf Away From My Door (6) KJ 40-2 – 2:55

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

23. Whoop That Wolf Away From My Door (16) KJ 40-3 – 2:51

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

24. Mezzrow talks 1:48

25. You Can’t Do That To Me (5, 6) KJ 41-1 – 2:33

(Mezzrow - W. Wilson)

26. Groovin’ The Minor KJ 42-1 – 3:21

(Mezzrow)

27. Groovin The Minor KJ 42-2 – 2:55

(Mezzrow)

Total time: 66:11

THE KING JAZZ STORY, Vol. 4

MEZZROW-BECHET QUINTET

Milton Mezzrow (cl); Sidney Bechet (ss); Sammy Price (p);

George “Pops” Foster (b); Kaiser Marshall (dr).

Chicago, December 18, 1947

1. Where Am I KJ 43-1 – 4:43

(Bechet-Mezzrow)

2. Where Am I KJ 43-2 -4:43

(Mezzrow-Bechet)

3. Where Am I KJ 43-3 – 4:42

(Mezzrow-Bechet)

4. Mezzrow talks 0:43

5. Tommy’s Blues KJ 44-1 – 5:03

(Mezzrow)

6. Tommy’s Blues KJ 44-2 – 4:15

(Mezzrow)

7. Revolutionary Blues (Part 1) KJ 45-1 - 4:14 (aka Chicago Function)

(Mezzrow)

8. Revolutionary Blues (Part 1) KJ 45-2 - 4:06 (aka Chicago Function)

(Mezzrow)

9. Revolutionary Blues (Part 2) KJ 46-1 – 3:47 (aka Chicago Function)

(Mezzrow)

10. Revolutionary Blues (Part 2) KJ 46-2 - 4:44 (aka Chicago Function)

(Mezzrow)

Same personnel

Chicago, December 19, 1947

11. Mezzrow talks 0:55

12. I Want Some KJ 47-1 - 4:18

(Mezzrow)

13. I Want Some KJ 47-2 – 4:11

14. Mezzrow talks 0:38

15. I’m Speaking My Mind KJ 48-1 – 404

(Mezzrow)

16. I’m Speaking My Mind KJ 48-2 - 3:44

(Mezzrow)

17. I’m Speaking My Mind KJ 48-3 – 4:08

(Mezzrow)

Total time: 63:04

THE KING JAZZ STORY, Vol. 5

1. I’ll Never Forget the Blues KJ 49-1 – 3:44

(Mezzrow)

2. I’ll Never Forget the Blues KJ 49-2 - 4:24

(Mezzrow)

3. Mezzrow talks 0:33

4. The Blues And Freud (Part 1) KJ 50-1 - 4:32

(Mezzrow)

5. The Blues and Freud (Part 2) KJ 51-1 - 4:12

(Mezzrow)

6. Kaiser’s Last Break KJ-52-1 – 4:18

(Mezzrow)

7. Kaiser’s Last Break KJ 52-2 – 4:30

(Mezzrow)

Same Personnel

Chicago, December 20, 1947

8. I’m Goin’ Away From Here KJ 53-1 – 4:21

(Mezzrow)

9. I’m Goin’ Away From Here KJ 53-2 – 4:12

(Mezzrow)

10. I Got You Some KJ 54-1 -3:37

(Mezzrow)

11. I Must Have My Boogie KJ 54-2 – 3:44

(Mezzrow)

12. Funky Butt KJ 54-3 – 4:13

(Mezzrow)

13. Funky Butt KJ 54-4 – 4:14

(Mezzrow)

14. Delta Mood KJ 55-1 – 4:21

(Mezzrow - Bechet)

15. Delta Mood KJ 55-2 – 4:21

(Mezzrow)

16. Blues Of the Roaring Twenties KJ 56-1 - 4:03

(Mezzrow)

17. Mezzrow talks 0:55

18. Blues Of the Roaring Twenties KJ 56-2 – 3:59

(Mezzrow)

The following track only included out of curiosity.

Unknown personnel: (Harmonica, b, dr)

19. Caravan KJ 57-1 – 4:00

(J. Tizol)

Total time: 72:19

[gmonahan]

No sign of "King Jazz Records Story" on the Storyville website. Any notion on a release date?

gregmo

[Christiern]

Any day now, as I understand it. The boxes (CDs too, perhaps) are made in China. What isn't, these days?

[jeffcrom]

The GHB sets are still in print and available from Jazzology - they also include all the complete alternate takes - no harmonica track or spoken intros by Mezz. The sound is good, as are the liner notes by Paige VanVorst. (Although I'm sure that Chris's are great as well!) Apparently, Jazzology has the U.S. rights to the recordings, and Storyville the European rights. The GHB sets aren't particularly cheap, but they may be a good alternative if you find them at a good price, or have trouble getting the Storyville box.

One little annoying thing about the GHB issue is that the originally-issued take of each tune is not indicated. I may sit down with a good discography and mark the master takes in my booklets.

Edited September 16, 2012 by jeffcrom

[gmonahan]

Any day now, as I understand it. The boxes (CDs too, perhaps) are made in China. What isn't, these days?

Cool! I'm in Europe for the next few weeks, so I'll look for them here!

gregmo

[king ubu]

(did Storyville ever care to fix the unlistenable Boswell Sisters set?)

[J.A.W.]

Hip O Select / Verve Select is releasing Volume 2 of the Clifford Brown Master Takes on Oct 22nd.

No description on amazon as yet but here is the link anyway:

http://www.amazon.com/Emarcy-Master-Takes-Clifford-Brown/dp/B0094GW93W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1347551620&sr=1-1&keywords=clifford+brown

This has got to be the solo stuff. The Brown/Roach stuff was on the 4 cd first volume. In true intelligent record company fashion, this is nowhere to be found on the Hip-o website!

Vol.2 contains the master takes of the recordings with Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Helen Merrill: AMG.

You're right. It even states this in the Hip-o site's description of the 1st volume. I guess this means there will be a third volume containing the jam sessions and string date?

The master takes of the jam sessions (4 tracks) can be found on disc 2 of Vol.1 and the master takes of the string dates with Neal Hefti's Orchestra (12 tracks) on disc 3.

I picked up a copy of Vol.1 earlier this week and am listening to disc 1. Though I'm not really a fan of mastering engineer Kevin Reeves' work, I like the sound on this set. Recommended!

[felser]

Hip O Select / Verve Select is releasing Volume 2 of the Clifford Brown Master Takes on Oct 22nd.

No description on amazon as yet but here is the link anyway:

http://www.amazon.com/Emarcy-Master-Takes-Clifford-Brown/dp/B0094GW93W/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1347551620&sr=1-1&keywords=clifford+brown

This has got to be the solo stuff. The Brown/Roach stuff was on the 4 cd first volume. In true intelligent record company fashion, this is nowhere to be found on the Hip-o website!

Vol.2 contains the master takes of the recordings with Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan and Helen Merrill: AMG.

You're right. It even states this in the Hip-o site's description of the 1st volume. I guess this means there will be a third volume containing the jam sessions and string date?

The master takes of the jam sessions (4 tracks) can be found on disc 2 of Vol.1 and the master takes of the string dates with Neal Hefti's Orchestra (12 tracks) on disc 3.

I picked up a copy of Vol.1 earlier this week and am listening to disc 1. Though I'm not really a fan of mastering engineer Kevin Reeves' work, I like the sound on this set. Recommended!

I also own the set and am very happy with it.

[brownie]

Bessie Smith The Complete Columbia Recordings box (out November 6, 10CDs):

Bessie Smith

[EKE BBB]

Bessie Smith The Complete Columbia Recordings box (out November 6, 10CDs):

Bessie Smith

Will I have to buy Bessie's complete recordings for the third time? Columbia, Frog and now...

[J.A.W.]

Bessie Smith The Complete Columbia Recordings box (out November 6, 10CDs):

Bessie Smith

Will I have to buy Bessie's complete recordings for the third time? Columbia, Frog and now...

Why not? Then you can tell us if Sony newly remastered the set or used the atrocious no-noised masterings from the early 1990s

By the way, this set has been discussed recently in at least two other threads, this one and this one.

Edited September 28, 2012 by J.A.W.

[EKE BBB]

Bessie Smith The Complete Columbia Recordings box (out November 6, 10CDs):

Bessie Smith

Will I have to buy Bessie's complete recordings for the third time? Columbia, Frog and now...

Why not? Then you can tell us if Sony remastered the set and didn't use the atrocious no-noised masterings from the early 1990s

By the way, this set has been discussed recently in at least two other threads, this one and this one.

Now that's a good reason!

[Bluesnik]

On 13/09/2012 at 8:09 AM, jazztrain said:

Ironically, I just finished reading "Really the Blues" while away on vacation.

I'm rereading it, while getting ready (it's raining horribly here) to pick up my copy of

Edited March 24, 2017 by Bluesnik