Comments on: Rare Records; The Loss of Michael Cuscuna

By: ALBERT BALDERAS

ALBERT BALDERAS — Thu, 02 May 2024 20:27:49 +0000

He truly did so much for the music. The Mosaic collections are priceless. I hope the work will continue. May he rest in peace.

By: Clifford Allen

Clifford Allen — Wed, 01 May 2024 16:15:15 +0000

Richard Davis at one point said he didn’t actually smoke and just had to hold the damn cigarette for the shoot. That may be the case, though I feel like I’ve seen a couple of other Richard Davis smoking images. Regardless, it’s a neat cover and the record is good (though I cannot imagine paying collector prices for it).

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 01 May 2024 15:59:03 +0000

Somethin’ about “smoky jazz”. It’s a mood, a club-scene now nostalgic. I quit smoking in 1986. Love the mid-century Covers.

By: jimrjim

jimrjim — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:55:07 +0000

“Heavy Sounds” has one of my favorite record jackets of all time. That, along with Blakey’s “Buhaina’s Delight”, Miles’ “Steamin’ “, Monk’s “Monk” on Columbia, Hartman’s “I Just Dropped By…”, “Coltrane Time” and several others made a nice display after I quit smoking 30 years ago. (Yes, I know it’s naughty to smoke).

By: Andrew K

Andrew K — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 11:08:49 +0000

I have several Mosaic sets and, just before lockdown, bought a Francis Wolff print of Grant Green from Mosaic (from the Feelin’ the Spirit session). When it was ready to be sent, a kind email came from Michael Cuscuna, which made my day (several days, actually). What an amazing man.

By: kyle

kyle — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 05:56:03 +0000

Aloha Anders, Arigatou Gozaimasu thank you very much for that explanation. I was trying to understand his connection to the music, I know he was in the industry for years. The Mosaic sets were pricy at the time I came out of college in the 1990’s. I remember folks talking about them, very nice sets. I was trying to get my hands on originals or early pressings. As I mentioned, not being able to own the original Tina Brooks BN album, I was happy to get his unissued material on the Japanese Blue Notes and later getting the Mosaic set to fill in any “holes” I had for him. I’m sure I’ll get a few more sets! Take care now. Mahalo!

By: Anders Wallinder

Anders Wallinder — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 08:01:53 +0000

Kyle, what Cuscuna did was to get access to the Blue Note vault and create some order of the mess down there. To categorize and listen to unissued material and to get that material released in Mosaic Sets. So “rescued” means that he put a lot of detective work to identify recorded music. “Who’s playing on this tape” etc. and produce all those wonderful Mosaic sets gettin the linear notes and session notes done and distribute. He did not do it by himself of course but without him we would not be where we are today. We owe him a great deal.

By: kyle

kyle — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 23:44:57 +0000

Aloha Al, thank you for these articles and tidbits of information. Forgive for being a little green on this topic of Cuscuna. When it’s said he rescued all the unpublished, not released material from Blue Note, was some of that sold, ended up in Japan and thus many Sonny Clark, Grant Green Tina Brooks Japan BN only releases? Meaning exclusive out of Japan. How about the BN LT series from the late 70’s early 80’s, was Cuscuna also responsible for those? I have some Mosaic sets now but right out of college in the 90’s and learning about this great music, I admit trying to get originals as I wanted to “hear” how the music sounded playback wise, even if there was a little snap/crackle/pop! I am happy to have the Brooks mosaic set as I’d have to win the lottery to get the BN original! Mahalo!

By: Kris Grier

Kris Grier — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 20:41:08 +0000

I only had peripheral contact with Michael but he was an amazing person and discographer.