Some of Count Basie's finest recordings were cut for the Roulette label during 1957-1962, and all of his studio performances are included on this massive Mosaic ten-CD boxed set. Among the classic former LPs that are reissued here are The Atomic Mr. Basie, Basie Plays Hefti, Chairman of the Board, Everyday I Have the Blues, and Kansas City Suite. With such soloists as trumpeters Thad Jones and Joe Newman, the tenors of Frank Foster and Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Frank Wess on alto and flute, vocals by Joe Williams, and the timeless arrangements of Neal Hefti, Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Ernie Wilkins, and Frank Wess among others, this essential (but unfortunately limited-edition) set features the second Count Basie Orchestra at its very best.
The long-awaited 11-CD box set of Braxton's interpretations of the Charlie Parker songbook. Very limited number of advanced copies. Braxton’s hard-swinging Charlie Parker Project, recorded in 1993 with a brilliant band including two geniuses since deceased—trumpeter Paul Smoker and pianist Misha Mengelberg—expands beyond its original two-CD form into a 11-CD box on New Braxton House, the imprint operated by Braxton’s Tri-Centric Foundation. The notion of listening to everything in sequence, including numerous versions of the same tunes, admittedly is daunting, but this is a set that you can drop into literally anywhere and be swept away instantly.
In early 1961, the 16-member Count Basie band lost a few key soloists (Billy Mitchell, Joe Newman, and Al Grey), but that did not slow them down. By June of that year they quite adequately reloaded. In fact, it could be said they were re-energized, and this live set at Birdland, the self-proclaimed "Jazz Corner of the World," provides proof of how great they continued to be. This CD reissue contains the original nine tracks, plus an additional eight more. There are repeats, but included are some restored piano intros that were previously edited out, and a correction on the misidentified jam "Discommotion."
“Sinatra-Basie”; “Count Basie and the Kansas City 7”; “The Atomic Mr. Basie”; “Basie Plays Hefti” plus five previously unissued mono tracks from Newport 1956.
“Sinatra-Basie” continues our new series revealing the hidden qualities of stereo sound and here we again quote from the original liner notes to give you a flavour of what to expect within the grooves. “I’ve waited twenty years for this moment” said Frank Sinatra as the recording session for this historic meeting of two genuine musical giants of the 20th Century began on the 2nd October 1962. A few more quotes… With arrangements by Neal Hefti… ”it is the balance of power (between Sinatra and Basie) “that is so successful”…
With Mosaic Records expanding its horizons over the past few years, fans of many different styles have had the opportunity to expand their collections and recent Mosaic honorees have included Mildred Bailey, Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett, Chico Hamilton, and Anita O’Day. But to those long time followers, it continues to be the hard bop verities of the Blue Note label that have often been synonymous with Mosaic’s mail order dynasty. ~ AllAboutJazz