One of the early Mosaic sets, our ninth release in fact, of which I still hold as a prized part of my collection is the 4CD/6LP collection of Edmond Hall, James P. Johnson, Sidney DeParis and Vic Dickenson Blue Note sessions. It's a fulfilling grab bag of trad and swing that was recorded by Alfred Lion during those beginning years of Blue Note. Highlights of that set for me are the solo and band sides of the man who had brought jazz piano from ragtime to a swinging new concept - James P. Johnson. In addition to these later, but still inventive JPJ recordings, I had known and loved his earlier Columbia solo efforts, the Frank Newton and Mezz Mezzrow Bluebird sessions and even the Decca sides with Eddie Condon (read on dear Mosaic friend as those cuts are now also a part of the Mosaic catalog).

So it comes to no surprise that it is a pleasure to announce a set of James P. Johnson recordings (from mostly Columbia and Victor masters) on Mosaic that encompass more than two decades of trend setting musical activity from this true giant of the genre. We look upon rightful jazz innovators such as Louis, Benny, Bird, Miles, Monk and Trane as re-inventing the jazz wheel. Well, one such individual who without question needs to be in that same world is James P.

Take, for example, something I find to be one of the more notable moments of these sessions. It's JPJ's remarkable ability to turn an accompanists' role for a blues or vaudeville singer into a work of art. If you could remove the vocal (and you really wouldn't want to anyway as these singers include Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters and Ida Cox) you will find that the way he accompanies these singers is a breath of genius and could even be enjoyed as separate piano solos.

And he is as engaging an accompanist as he is as a sideman for small group and, obviously, as a soloist. All pianists, whether they realize it or not, owe a debt to JPJ and here are some of his seminal recordings from the very start of his recording career to 1943. I can't urge you enough to absorb these cornerstone masterpieces that will undoubtedly prove that these recordings are musically brilliant sounds to be heard, enjoyed and savored by new generations.
- Scott Wenzel