GREAT BOX SETS

Grant Green/Retrospective When jazz guitarist Grant Green died in 1979 at the age of 47, he was prized by jazz afficianados but relatively unkonw and under apreciated by much of the jazz world. Over two decades later, Gree was re-introduced to the jazz world thanks in large part to the young generation of jazz enthusiasts shooled in hip-hop, as his work was liberally sampled by Us3 and Tribe Called Quest, and even Madonna. This 4-disc set documents the highlights of Green's early years on Blue Note, resoundingly demonstrating his seix-string rhythmic and melodic prowess and affirming his reputation as one of the best and most influential guitarists in modern jazz.

Herbie Hancock/ The Herbie Hancock Box A 3-CD collection that hightlights all aspects of the keyboardist's career with Columbia Records. Includes his acoustic VSOP work with Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Freddie Hubbard, and Wayne Shorter, his groundbreaking funk work with Headhunters, the Bill Laswell-produced techno material, and lots of piano--solo, duo, and in as many configurations as Hancock's music allows.

Billie Holiday/The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945-1959 Ten CDs with everything Billie Holiday recorded on Verve Records between 1945 and her death in 1959--not only the songs, but concert introductions, some of the rehearsals, and between-take studio chatter, too. Some will claim it's not her best work as her voice was showing signs of the wear and tear of her life, but then, jazz singing isn't always about who has the best voice. A treasure trove.

Thelonious Monk/Complete Riverside Recordings This 15-CD set is the best Thelonious Monk collection available. That's because it is almost universally agreed that the years Monk spent with the then-new Riverside label were his best and most productive. The sessions from many of Monk's best-known albums are here--Brilliant Corners, Monk's Music, At Town Hall, and Thelonious Himself.

Jelly Roll Morton/1926-1930 All of Morton's Victor Recordings from 1926-1930, with better sound than any domestic release and at a great price. The first volume largely features the legendary Chicago sessions of Morton's Red Hot Peppers, which created a recorded legacy of the nearly lost music of early New Orleans jazz. Volumes 2 & 3 follow Morton to New York, where he continued to record ground breaking, if not always as inspired, music that set the tone for where jazz would be going. The last two volumes consist primarily of alternate takes of these sessions. Overall, the set is a must for fans of Morton and early jazz alike.

Charlie Parker/Complete Savoy & Dial Master Takes The Savoy imprint, after being acquired by an assortment of companies over the years, has been reinvigorated to celebrate its 60th anniversary. This three-disc set includes all of Parker's work for the Dial and Savoy labels (excluding alternate takes--hence the title). It starts off with his appearance as a sideman with the Tiny Grimes Quintette, at which time the 24-year-old's alto saxophone playing bears his unmistakable stamp of fluidity and daring aplomb. The stellar lights of bebop are heard throughout this set, as Parker plays with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Max Roach, creating the enduring shape of contemporary jazz.

Django Reinhardt/ The Classic Early Recordings in Chronological Order From Britain's great JSP label comes this set of pre-bop recordings that are as essential as Louis Armstrong and Benny Goodman. As if usually the case on JSP releases, you get fantastic remastered sound quality. These classic performances feature the likes of Stephane Grapelli and Coleman Hawkins.

Sonny Rollins/Complete Prestige Recordings This set starts out with Rollins the inexperienced but energetic musician with a full sound, but by the third disc he is coming into his own on sessions with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. Shortly thereafter he is working with Max Roach and Clifford Brown and is every bit the master. By the end of this set you can hear his brilliant rhythmic conception and sly sense of humor on tracks like the classic "St. Thomas". A must-have.

Lester Young/The Lester Young Story This fantastic 4-CD import set chronicles Lester's career during his heyday, from 1936 to 1949. There's incredible work here, from his amazing solos recorded with the Count Basie band to several numbers recorded with a young Billie Holiday, to later tracks that feature Young in the company of Dicky Wells and Charlie Parker

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