What's New @ shop.allaboutjazz.com: The Complete Ahmad Jamal Trio Argo Sessions 1956-1962

Source: Michael Ricci
July 21, 2010
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NEW MOSAIC RECORDS LIMITED EDITION BOX SET!

The Complete Ahmad Jamal Trio Argo Sessions 1956-1962 (9 CDs)—$149.00

Miles once said, “All my inspiration today comes from Ahmad Jamal."

These recordings are the reason why.

His recording as a piano trio leader on Argo, owned by Chicago's Chess recording label, began in 1956. And that's where this new retrospective begins on The Complete Ahmad Jamal Trio Argo Sessions 1956-62. The first definitive collection of his work from this seminal era of his career, it includes all the tunes for which Jamal became renowned, such as “Ahmad's Blues," “Poinciana," “But Not For Me," and “Billy Boy," a song so often re-done in Jamal's style that his version has almost become the new standard.

Rehearing these records today is no passive experience. His performances have a quality that forces you to hang on every note. Nothing is ever predictable, and a listener can go from disc to disc with no danger of fatigue setting in. Even songs you are certain you know inside and out are transformed by his tempos, his rhythmic transfusions, or his playful avoidance of familiarity; he will take his time working into the melody, and just as that glow of comfortable recognition surrounds you, he'll break off unexpectedly, often before the line is complete.

Like all Mosaic Records Limited Edition Box Sets, the collection comes with a deluxe, full-size booklet. It includes discographical information, an extensive interview with Jamal by Kenny Washington, an essay on the sessions by Washington and many rare contemporary photographs.

5,000 copies only | Purchase Now

THE MOSAIC RECORDS STORY

Although Mosaic Records' first release came out in July of 1983, the seeds for the business were planted in 1970. As a journalist, radio show host and record producer, I began coming into contact with many musicians who had been major players in Blue Note's repertory company. Since Blue Note had always been my favorite label for its consistent quality, conversations would ultimately drift to those great days of the label.

Increasingly, I would hear about tantalizing unissued sessions. Soon I began writing down sketchy information from musicians about these unknown treasures in a notebook. The staggering amount of unissued material soon became evident, and I tried constantly to get into the vaults. But George Butler, who had been put in charge after Frank Wolff's death, was oblivious to serious jazz and took the label into a very commercial direction. He stalled me for years. Continue

MOSAIC SELECTSש CD SETS

There are a number of great jazz recordings that remain in the record vaults and unavailable to many jazz fans. These may be too small for a Mosaic Records box set treatment or may not fit into a concept for a box set.To make these recordings available Mosaic created two new product categories; Mosaic Select (3 CD sets) and Mosaic Singles

Complete Listing of Mosaic Selects | Complete Listing of Mosaic Singles

Mosaic Select: McCoy Tyner (MS-025)—$44.00 Influenced by the beauty and intensity of Coltrane's music and Eastern forms of music, McCoy Tyner fashioned a dense, lyrical sound. This set covers the last two years of McCoy Tyner's tenure with Blue Note.	Mosaic Select: Gerry Mulligan (MS-021)—$44.00 In December 1957, Pacific Jazz's Dick Bock came to New York for several weeks of a marathon recording schedule that included dates by Bob Brookmeyer and Chet Baker as well as four Gerry Mulligan sessions.	Mosaic Select: Andrew Hill (MS-016)—$44.00 Only six of the 31 selections on this set have ever been out in any form. Their common denominator is Andrew's brilliant improvisations and unique compositions.
Mosaic Select: Dave Liebman & Richie Beirach (MS-012)—$44.00 Coming of age in the late '60s, saxophonist David Liebman and pianist Richie Beirach are virtuosos on their instruments. It has enabled them to take the lessons that they learned well from Miles and Trane and create exciting, often tumultuous jazz of the highest creative order.	Mosaic Select: Paul Chambers (MS-005)—$44.00 Paul Chambers was more than the greatest bassist of his generation; he was the premier team player with a pliant, robust sense of swing that took any group he played to another level.	Mosaic Select: Tony Williams (MS-024)—$44.00 Throughout a career filled with achievement and innovation, this body of work remains among Tony Williams's most satisfying music.