Sold Date: August 10, 2015
Start Date: August 5, 2015
Final Price: $349.00 (USD)
Bid Count: 1
Seller Feedback: 0
Buyer Feedback: 92

This is a box set of the Complete Commodore Jazz Recordings on LP.  Left to me by my uncle who was an audiophile.  These were always properly stored and cared for.  All boxes, sleeves, and records are in fantastic condition.  Products will be shipped with great care and protective packaging. Below I will attach information on the box set.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions.  

Boxed Set of 23 12" Vinyl 33RPM Records. The Complete Commodore Jazz Recordings, Vol.1, by Mosaic Records. 345 tracks, over 17 hours of excellent Jazz from 1920's through 1940's. Includes 11" x 11" Booklet with biographical and historical information plus discography on 64 pages. Originally released as limited set in 1988.

The punchline for 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 's Commodore label, one of the most important jazz record companies of all time. There is an incredible amount of included on this first set (the most essential of the three). After five early titles that Commodore acquired from other labels (featuring , , and ), one hears the birth of Commodorewith the exciting January 17, 1938, outing by . In addition to a lot more of Condon's freewheeling sessions (much of his best work was for Commodore), there are dates led by , the Kansas City Five and Six (with ), , , , Willie the Lion Smith, , , , , , , , , , , , (with ), , George Brunies, and . 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). 

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 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, , , , Sid Catlett, , the Kansas City Six with , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . 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 Trio date) that were never out before. This set (if it can be found) will be expensive but worth it. 

The third and final Mosaic box set that reissues all of the valuable recordings from '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 apiece) 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 , , and from 1938-44 before concentrating mostly on the 1945-46 period. There are sessions led by , , , , and the duo of and (all of those are from a legendary 1945 Town Hall concert) plus dates headed by , , , Eddie Edwards, George Brunies and ; in addition there are later sets by , , , , Willie the Lion Smith, and . One exhausts superlatives when discussing this remarkable project.