Mosaic Records In Trouble

[Ron Thorne]

http://www.mosaicrecords.com


Dear Mosaic Friend,

In this time and place, the Mosaic business model is becoming harder and harder to sustain in this rapidly changing world. We aren't sure what the future will hold for us, but we want to let all of you know how much we appreciate that your support has allowed us to constantly make our dreams come true with set after set and that we intend to persevere. The way we operate may change but our mandate remains steadfast.

Charlie Lourie and I started Mosaic Records in 1982 and our first releases were in 1983. The company was almost an afterthought. The idea of definitive boxed sets of complete recordings by jazz masters at a crucial time in their careers was a small part of a proposal that we made to Capitol Records in 1982 to relaunch the Blue Note label. Even before Capitol turned us down, it occurred to me one night that the release of these boxed sets could be a business unto itself if we made them deluxe, hand-numbered limited editions sold directly to the public.

Our first release was The Complete Blue Note Recordings of Thelonious Monk, which came about because I'd found about 25 minutes of excellent unissued Monk on Blue Note. It was too short for an album and I was obsessed with how to get this music released. . It then dawned on me that all of this important material needed to be retransferred and assembled in chronological order as a significant historic document. I solved my problem of releasing those 25 minutes of Monk music and Mosaic Records was born. We had a wonderful run of projects. The Tina Brooks, Herbie Nichols, Serge Chaloff, Count Basie and Nat Cole sets were among those that were especially near and dear to our hearts.

Charlie was my best friend and working together was a joy. Mosaic was slow getting started and it took a few years before we could even draw a meager salary. I remember during those lean years worrying if we could afford to put out a Tina Brooks set. Charlie looked at me in amazement. "Isn't that why we started this thing - to do what's important without anyone telling us no?!" He only had to say it once.

In 1989, we moved out of Charlie's basement and into our own facility. Scott Wenzel joined us in 1987. We added employees as the business grew. We started issuing sets on CD as well as LP and eventually had our own website.

We lost Charlie to scleroderma on December 31, 2000. We managed to keep the tone and spirit of the company up to the level that Charlie created and continued to put out thoroughly researched vital sets of importance in jazz history. But in the early 2000s, the record business began to shrink and morph for a variety of reasons and we were forced to downsize our staff, move to smaller quarters and reduce the flow of sets.

We've always tried to be diligent about warning you when sets were running low so you wouldn't miss out on titles that you wanted. But at this point, some sets which are temporarily out of stock may not be pressed again. We are not certain how Mosaic Records will continue going forward or how many more sets we will be able to create and release. We've got a lot of great plans but few resources.

Scott and I want to thank every single person who has supported us, made suggestions, given advice and shown us such love and affection. If you are thinking about acquiring a certain set, now's the time.

- Michael Cuscuna

__________________


Very sad to learn that Mosaic Records is in jeopardy. I have a wonderful Mosaic Records memory. In the early 90s, I got a call from my friend, the late Bob Belden. He knew that I grew up listening to Maynard Ferguson, especially his Roulette Recordings. And he knew that Mosaic was planning on releasing the 10 CD set, Maynard Ferguson, The Complete Roulette Recordings. "Give Michael Cuscuna a call. I told him about you."

I first met Michael in the late 60s, when he was a DJ at WABC-FM in New York, playing the Mothers of Invention alongside John Coltrane. He then became a producer for Muse Records, and eventually was the prime force behind Blue Note Records reissue renaissance in addition to starting Mosaic Records with his friend Charlie Lourie.

So I called Michael and a few days later drove up to Stamford to hang with Michael and Charlie. A dream assignment for me, certainly, writing about something I loved, at length, and being paid a princely sum.

As soon as I walked in the door at the Mosaic offices, I was home. Charlie, who departed much much too soon, was a warm and welcoming presence. The three of us bonded around our shared enthusiasm for the music.

I spent the next month interviewing the surviving members of Maynard's early to mid 60s big band, becoming friends with Mike Abene and Ronnie Cuber. I heard the band live in 1965 at Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut and Mike and Ronnie were on that gig!

Maynard wouldn't talk. Bad memories. Morris Levy, who served as the bridge between organized crime and the record business, owned the label and the club, Birdland, the band's New York home. Their relationship ended acrimoniously and Maynard never collected the sizeable royalties he deserved.

Nevertheless, I wrote the booklet for the boxed set, some of the best music writing I've done, including a re-creation, "One Night at Birdland," when they did the live recording that was the first LP I ever purchased.

Sadly, that boxed set is now out of print. It's being sold on Amazon and Ebay for $700!

Several years later, I interviewed Maynard for JazzTimes, during his 70th birthday celebration. I didn't mention the Roulette days. The interview is posted on YouTube.



And then a decade later, I produced some short promo videos for Mosaic, and did more hanging with Michael in Stamford, joined by Richard Corsello, who worked as Sonny Rollins' recording engineer. Michael and Richie grew up together.

Michael has done some seriously great work over the years, on record, and also producing the Blue Note Town Hall Celebration in the mid-80s. His dedication to Jazz and his extensive discography are his legacy. But he's not done yet!

- Bret Primack

[Jazzooo]

Thanks, Ron.