Month: November 2008

Jazz Collector Listener’s Guide, Nov. 28, 2008

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It’s Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and, for some reason, this seems a day to sit around and do nothing except listen to music. So I have been in my music room poring through records and putting on some favorites that I don’t listen to all of the time, or haven’t listened to on vinyl in a while. I started with an old Riverside, Bags Meets Wes, Riverside 407. This was recorded in December 1961 and features a great rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones and Philly Joe Jones, in addition, of course, to Milt Jackson and West Montgomery.  Side one starts with a blues, “S.K.J”  and then Stablemates, Stairway to the Stars and another blues, Blue Roz. I got involved listening to Philly Joe on brushes, which is always a miracle, and that led me to Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047, not Side One with Coltrane, but Side Two featuring Paul’s Pal, with some great Philly Joe brushwork, then My Reverie and The Most Beautiful Girl in the world. Read more

Today on EBAY, Nov. 26, 2008

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As you might expect on the day before Thanksgiving in the U.S., things are fairly light on eBay today. However, we are ever vigilant at Jazz Collector, so we’ve found a few items worth watching. And here they are: Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Music, Riverside 242. This is an original pressing with the white label. You may recall there was quite a stir on Jazz Collector several years ago, when an original copy of this record sold for more than $3,000. You can find the original article by doing a search on the site or just by clicking here.  This one will not sell for $3,000, of that we can be sure. It is in VG+ condition and is currently priced at $177. From the same seller is this: Miles Davis, Workin’, Prestige 7166. This is an original New Jersey pressing. The record is M- and the cover is VG++. The current price is $152.50, which is somewhat higher than usual for this LP. Although it’s a great record and we wouldn’t begrudge anyone paying any amount for a near mint version.  Finally, from the same seller is this: Thad Jones, Mad Thad, Period 1208. This is an original pressing. The record is M- and the cover is VG+. The current price is $300. 

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Another $1,000 Record, in Waiting

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Yesterday we referenced a bunch of records that recently broke the $1,000 price barrier. Here’s one that WILL break the barrier in a few days: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This is an original pressing that is in M-/M- condition. It’s listed as a featured item on eBay, which means that everyone searching for jazz LPs will see it, not just those of you who are, ahem, wise enough to read Jazz Collector. We’ll keep an eye on this record for you, as well as a few others, although our posting might be limited the next few days with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up in the U.S. The highest price we’ve recorded in the Jazz Collector Price Guide for Candy in the past was $1,302, but that was a few years ago and we’re betting that this one will surpass it. What do you think?

Some $1,000 Records

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As we were writing the latest post, we noticed that Jazz Collector has been keeping an eye on some records from the past few weeks that sold for more than $1,000. This is always an interesting barrier, so here are some of the records that crossed it:

Sonny Clark, Dial S For Sonny, Blue Note 1570. This was an original pressing, of course. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. Price: $1,401

Hank Mobley, Hank, Blue Note 1560. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The vinyl was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+. Price: $1,275

Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill, Transition 17. This was an original pressing with the booklet. The record was M-, the cover was VG+ and the booklet was M-. The price was $1,913. 

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Catching Up, Nov. 24, 2008

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Here are updates on some of the records on eBay we’ve been watching at Jazz Collector recently. Most of these will be added to the Jazz Collector Price Guide by the end of the week. Take a look, please. 

Sahib Shihab, Conversations, Polydor 623257. This was an original pressing in M- condition. Price: $256

Billy Bauer, Let’s Have A Session, Ad Lib 5501. This was an original pressing with the red label. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG++. It sold for $160. I have two personal Billy Bauer stories. Back in the early 1970s, I had a gig as a rhythm guitarist accompanying my friend Dan Axelrod. My musical talents are, to be generous, modest at best, but Dan taught me enough chords to support him while he soloed. At the time Dan was taking lessons from Billy Bauer and one night Bauer came down to see us with a group of his other students.

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Today on eBay, Nov. 21, 2008

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. . . . . Shall we bid?

. . . . . Shall we bid?

In addition to the items mentioned in previous posts, here are some records we at Jazz Collector are watching today:

Dexter Gordon, A Swinging Affair, Blue Note 4133. This is an original New York USA mono pressing. The record is VG+ and the cover is M-, still in its original shrink wrap. The current price is $152.50.

Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Pal, Prestige 7068. This is an original New York pressing. The record is in VG condition and the cover is VG+. The current price is $86. Daresay, we might actually bid on this one. We know we have talked often about reducing our collection, but we have a soft spot for this because we had it, loved it and sold it in a fit of temporary insanity. And now we could get it back, albeit in worse condition, but for a fraction of the price for which we sold it. Hmmmmmm . . . ..

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A Rare Roland Kirk LP, And Some Fond Memories

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The other day I was sitting in my room listening to Roland Kirk, Volunteered Slavery, Atlantic 1534 — Side Two, the one that was recorded at the 1968 Newport Jazz Festival. And I was thinking it was a shame that none of his records, other than this one side, ever really captured both his prodigious talents as well as the incredible excitement and amazement he generated with his live performances. I used to see Kirk whenever he would play at the Village Vanguard, and he was a true phenomenon: Three horns strung around his neck to be played in unison; a couple of flutes hanging off his body, including a flute he would play through his nose; various gongs and sirens and alarms and whistles and other noisemakers all aimed at adding various tones and textures to his playing. And his playing — on tenor, on flute, on whatever — was vastly underrated. He could wail and he could swing and he could play ballads and he was just a gifted musician and performer. 

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Collectible Catch-Up

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Here are updates on some of the items mentioned here in Jazz Collector the past few days. We’re not including links, since there are links to each of these in previous posts. We will be entering all of these into the Jazz Collector Price Guide this weekend, so please take a look. 

Mary Paich Quartet Featuring Art Pepper, Tampa 28. This was an original mono pressing, red vinyl, in M-/M- condition. Price: $700

Elmo Hope, Informal Jazz, Prestige 7043. This was an original New York pressing. The record was VG++ ad the vinyl was only in G condition. Price: $261.90

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A Few More For Today

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. . . Bird, 10-inch Savoy

. . . Bird, 10-inch Savoy

We promised a few more items to watch on eBay today, so here goes: Elmo Hope, Informal Jazz, Prestige 7043. You’d certainly want this one if you have a copy with a great cover and poor record, because this is just the opposite: An original New York pressing in VG++ condition, with a cover in just G condition. The current price is $91. This LP features Mssrs. Coltrane and Mobley. And here’s a beauty: The Marty Paich Quartet Featuring Art Pepper, Tampa 28. This is an original pressing with the red vinyl. Both the record and cover are listed as M-. Current price is $700.  Finally, here’s a peak at a record Jazz Collector is watching for tomorrow: Charlie Parker Volume 4, Savoy 9011. This is a 10-inch LP and I think this is a second cover (if there are any Savoy experts to help, please feel free to post a comment). Nevertheless, it’s a great cover and a very cool looking LP.

Today on eBay, Nov. 20, 2008

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Here are some interesting items closing today on eBay: Most of you have probably noticed this one, since it’s a featured listing: Curtis Fuller Volume 3, Blue Note 1583. This is an original pressing. It seems to be in VG+ condition, both record and cover. This one has Sonny Clark on piano and is a pretty nice collectible. The current price is $340. 

If you’re desperate for a copy of Eddie Costa, House of Blue Lights, Dot 3206, there’s one closing soon on eBay for a Buy-It-Now price of $420. The record is M- and the cover is VG+. 

Euclid Records is back again with some nice items, including this one: Sonny Rollins with the Modern Jazz Quartet, Prestige 7020. This is an original New York pressing with the original orange cover. Careful readers will note that Jazz Collector recently posed the question to our audience on the orange cover versus the yellow cover and one of our readers reminded us that if it’s orange it must be original. This one is in near mint condition and is currently priced at $629. 

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