Mosaic Record

Chico Hamilton - The Complete Pacific Jazz Recordings Of The Chico Hamilton Quintet (1954-1959) {6CD Mosaic MD6-175 rel 1997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.74 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 906 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 152 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1954-59, 1997 Mosaic / Pacific Jazz / Blue Note / EMI-Capitol | MD6-175
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Bop / Drums / Percussion

The original Chico Hamilton Quintet was one of the last significant West Coast jazz bands of the cool era. Consisting of Buddy Collette on reeds (flute, clarinet, alto, and tenor), guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Carson Smith, and the drummer/leader, the most distinctive element in the group's identity was cellist Fred Katz. The band could play quite softly, blending together elements of bop and classical music into their popular sound and occupying their own niche. This six-CD, limited-edition box set from 1997 starts off with a Hamilton drum solo from a 1954 performance with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet; it contains three full albums and many previously unreleased numbers) by the original Chico Hamilton band and also has quite a few titles from the second Hamilton group (which has Paul Horn and John Pisano in the places of Collette and Hall).

Miles Davis with John Coltrane - The Complete Columbia Recordings (2000) {Vinyl, Mosaic MQ9-191 rec 1955-1961} (Out-Of-Print)
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/48kHz - VINYL RIP -> 2.26 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 929 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 193 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1955-61, 2000 Columbia / Mosaic Records | MQ9-191
Jazz / Hard Bop / Cool / Bop / Jazz Blues / Modal Music

Some nine years after Miles Davis’ untimely death, Columbia Records is still repackaging his recorded legacy. The most recent efforts in this area have been made available both on compact disc and in 180-gram vinyl versions by way of Mosaic Records. It is the latter edition that this review is based on, though it should be noted that basically the only difference between the two sets, besides the presentation medium, is that Mosaic’s package is a 12 x 12 box with an album-sized booklet accompanying the records.

For their new album "Mosaic", their first in four years, the German brothers Julian (trumpet) and Roman (piano) Wasserfuhr have put together their personal, international dream band and written music with each special member in mind. The result is music in which all these masterful players put their skills in the service of melody, groove and atmosphere.

Stan Getz - Stan Getz: The 1953-54 Clef/Norgran Studio Sessions (2011) {180g 4LP BOX Mosaic}
Vinyl rip @ 24/96 | FLAC(tracks) – 3.79 Gb | Full Scans – 17 Mb | Label: Mosaic Records
Genre: Jazz | RAR 5% | Rec. CAT #MRLP 3001

Gaps. We hate them. We admit it, we’re completists, and we can’t tolerate inaccurate personnel logs, song edits imposed on artists, or sessions split up over scattered LPs. We’re compelled to jump in and fix the errors and re-create mis-handled recording dates. Our Stan Getz Quintet box with Jimmy Raney – one of Mosaic’s earliest sets and out of print nearly 20 years – was an example of our efforts to clean-up an important body of music that over time had been re-issued haphazardly, and with substandard sound. More recently, when we learned that Getz’s Norgran Studio recordings were coming out on CD, we thought: - shouldn’t LP enthusiasts get the Clef/Norgran set in full, sumptuous Mosaic editions, on 180-gram audiophile LP?

Johnny Richards - Mosaic Select 17 (2005) {3CD Set Mosaic MS-017 rec 1955-1966}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.03 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 495 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1955-66, 2005 Mosaic Records / Capitol | MS-017
Jazz / Progressive Jazz / Third Stream / World

This three-CD set reissues arranger Johnny Richards' Capitol and Roulette albums that originally were called Wide Range, Experiments in Sound, The Rites of Diablo, My Fair Lady, and Aqui Se Habla Espanol, the great majority of his recordings as a leader. In addition, Richards' portion of the album Annotations of the Muses plus a few unreleased selections are included. Johnny Richards, who is most famous for his association with Stan Kenton, was an inventive writer who starting in 1957 and had a band of his own. The music on this three-fer includes the adventurous three-part third stream piece "Annotations of the Muses," a set of Richards' adaptations of themes from My Fair Lady, a few Afro-Cuban projects, some relatively straight-ahead but complex jazz, and Richards' hit "Young at Heart." There are many short solos from the top-notch sidemen, but it's Johnny Richards' writing that makes this set quite definitive and memorable.

Anita O'Day - The Complete Anita O’Day Verve/Clef Sessions (1999) {9CD Box Set Mosaic MD9-188 rec 1952-1962}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.17 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.40 Gb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 105 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1952-62, 1999 Verve / Clef / Mosaic Records | MD9-188
Jazz / Vocal Jazz

Anita O'Day is one of the very best jazz vocalists of all time. Her recordings for Norman Granz represent her best recorded work. Here it all is. The sound quality of these CDs is better than any others of the same recordings. I know because I have them all, in shellac, in vinyl, in CD. In addition, the booklet that comes with the set, like the ones in all Mosaic sets, is first class. Well written, nice photos, accurate information. The one shortfall is that Anita was very much a visual artist, the way she worked, led the band, her timing all that was fascinating to watch and of course other than the photos in the booklet, this is an entirely audio experience. Without question this is the best Anita you will ever hear. It is a shame that it is out of print.