Sold Date: May 24, 2019
Start Date: January 6, 2019
Final Price: $925.00 $800.00 (USD)
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Before you read these wonderful reviews know this: There are three volumes, each in it's own hard bound library box. Each volume has its own 48 page booklet and discography, which includes wonderful pictures of the artists. There is also a Complete Mosaic discography Booklet. Each box is stamped as a limited collector's edition of only 2,500. There are 66 Records in all,  and all are in mint condition, never played and housed in beautiful acid free high density inner sleeves.  A very rare Jazz Collection in Pristine Condition. As you may know the Mosaic label is known for it's audiophile, high quality recordings. THE REVIEWS
THE COMPLETE COMMODORE JAZZ RECORDINGS VOL 1, 2, 3 MOSAIC CONDITION Box has very slight visible wear, have been well cared for and never moved from the shelves since it was bought. Out-Of-Print Limited Edition Collections this 23-LP limited-edition box set is in its title, Vol. 1. On a total of 66 albums, Mosaic has reissued the entire jazz output of Milt Gabler's Commodore label, one of the most important jazz record companies of all time. There is an incredible amount of music included on this first set (the most essential of the three). After five early titles that Commodore acquired from other labels (featuring Cow Cow Davenport, Fletcher Henderson, and Django Reinhardt), one hears the birth of Commodore with the exciting January 17, 1938, outing by Eddie Condon. In addition to a lot more of Condon's freewheeling sessions (much of his best work was for Commodore), there are dates led by Bud Freeman, the Kansas City Five and Six (with Lester Young), Teddy Wilson, Jess Stacy, Chu Berry, Willie the Lion Smith, Billie Holiday, Stuff Smith, Jelly Roll Morton, Jack Teagarden, Art Hodes, Joe Marsala, Joe Bushkin, Coleman Hawkins, Lee Wiley, Pee Wee Russell, Bunk Johnson, Mel Powell (with Benny Goodman), Wild Bill Davison, George Brunies, and Edmond Hall. There are many previously unissued performances (not just alternate takes) and literally dozens of classics. Fans of Chicago jazz and small-group swing should bid as much as necessary to acquire this out of print box (along with the other two volumes). ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide The second of three "volumes" put out by Mosaic that reissues the entire Commodore catalog is, like the first, a 23-LP set; all of the music in this massive box was recorded within 13 months. The limited-edition series is a must (although it will be quite difficult to locate) for collectors of Chicago jazz and small-group swing for it is literally overflowing with classics. The first box is the most essential but Volume II is pretty close with recording sessions led by Sidney and Wilbur DeParis, Albert Ammons, Eddie Heywood, Hot Lips Page, Sid Catlett, Billie Holiday, the Kansas City Six with Lester Young, George Zack, Muggsy Spanier, Miff Mole, Joe Bushkin, Max Kaminsky, Edmond Hall, George Wettling, Bobby Hackett, Hot Lips Page, Pee Wee Russell, Red McKenzie, Jess Stacy, Jack Teagarden and Wild Bill Davison. In addition to the usual performances (many of which were previously hard-to-find), there are quite a few previously unissued alternate takes and some selections (including an entire Joe Bushkin Trio date) that were never out before. This set (if it can be found) will be expensive but worth it. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music GuideThe third and final Mosaic box set that reissues all of the valuable recordings from Milt Gabler's Commodore label is the smallest of these reissues, a mere 20-LP set. All three of the volumes (which total 66 albums) are wonderful but since they were originally limited-edition releases (just 2500 copies ) and have gone out-of-print, they will be difficult to locate and expensive to acquire; buy them anyway if you have any interest in small-group swing and Chicago dixieland. Volume III starts out with some recently discovery alternate takes by Bud Freeman, Chu Berry, Bunk Johnson and Billie Holiday from 1938-44 before concentrating mostly on the 1945-46 period. There are sessions led by Red Norvo, Bill Coleman, Gene Krupa, Stuff Smith, Teddy Wilson and the duo of Don Byas and Slam Stewart (all of those are from a legendary 1945 Town Hall concert) plus dates headed by George Zack, Jonah Jones, Wild Bill Davison, Eddie Edwards, George Brunies and Mel Powell; in addition there are later sets by Bob Wilber, Ralph Sutton, Sidney Bechet, Johnny Wiggs, Willie the Lion Smith, Frank Wess and Peck Kelley. One exhausts superlatives when discussing this remarkable project. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide