More Jazz Vinyl: Byrd, Trane, Book, Jackie
Sep 30, 2010 Blue Note, Prestige
I spent some time yesterday putting some new items in the Jazz Collector Price Guide and came across a few odds and ends worth sharing.
This is yet another Blue Note that has hit a new high price in the past few weeks, at least as far as we can tell: Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand, Blue Note 4019. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing and it was listed in M- condition for the vinyl and probably VG++ for the cover. It had a nice picture, as you can see. The price was $637, which was not only a high for this record, but a high for any Donald Byrd Blue Note for the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This follows recent high prices for Wayne Shorter and Ike Quebec on Blue Note as well.
This one was getting a little bidding action and I’m not sure why, although it is certainly an excellent record: John Coltrane, Ole, Atlantic 1373. This seemed to be a routine pressing with the purple and orange label. With Atlantics of this vintage, I’m not sure how to tell if it’s an original, other than the heaviness of the vinyl and cover. Perhaps someone out there has some more information. Anyway this was in M- condition for the record and cover and it sold for $53.01.
Tags: Booker Ervin, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Jazz Records, John Coltrane, New Jazz Records
Jazz Vinyl This Week: A New High For Shorter
Sep 29, 2010 Blue Note, Prestige, Verve
Here is some of the jazz vinyl we’ve been watching this week on eBay:
Wayne Shorter, JuJu, Blue Note 4182. This was an original New York USA mono pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $537. This is the highest price we’ve ever recorded for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide and is, in fact, the highest price we’ve ever recorded for any Wayne Shorter album.
This one was from the same seller: Kenny Burrell, Blue Lights Volume 2, Blue Note 1597. This is one of the ones with the Andy Warhol cover. This was not an original pressing — at least not a first pressing — because it had the New York USA labels as opposed to the West 63rd Street labels. We’ve been watching a lot of second and third presses lately, particularly the Blue Notes, because we’ve seen a pretty strong uptick in prices. This one sold for $179.50 in M- condition for both the record and the cover.
We flagged this one when the bidding topped $60 because we’ve never considered it that much of a collectible:
Tags: Andy Warhol, Andy Warhol Jazz Cover, Cecil Taylor, Donald Byrd, Gigi Gryce, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Kenny Burrell, Mal Waldron, Wayne Shorter
Guest Column: More Adderley/Evans
Sep 28, 2010 Guest Columns, Riverside
Here’s a guest column from Ceedee, a regular commenter here at Jazz Collector, based on the item I wrote yesterday about the Cannonball Adderley/Bill Evans LP Know What I Mean? on Riverside.
“Greetings! The Cannonball/Evans LP is a favorite of mine, just beautiful. Thought you would like this review I wrote some time back for a Martin Logan owner Website under my other alter ego, Miles Ahead. – ceedee
The month of February, 1961 was a busy one for Bill Evans. It saw him finish a recording session with his critically acclaimed trio – that with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian – which was issued as Explorations (Feb. 2)), bolster a date rightfully called a classic by any measure, Oliver Nelson’s Blues And The Abstract Truth (Feb. 23) and also find the time to accompany his old bandmate from the Miles Davis Sextet, Cannonball Adderley. Cut on Feb.21, this was one of three sessions that would eventually yield Know What I Mean? for Riverside. It does not match up to the other dates mentioned (how many records could?), but proves itself worthy of a listen and not just for the Bill Evans fan (not that there’s anything wrong with that!)
Cannonball and Bill were ‘simpatico’ while with Miles — the seminal Kind Of Blue was not yet two years behind them – and their musical bond continues here. Evans’ Waltz For Debby leads off the date, an interesting choice. Nearly six months before
Tags: Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley
Bill Evans, 30 Years Later
Sep 27, 2010 Features
I was driving up to my home in The Berkshires for one of the last times this season on Friday and I had some music on the CD player and on came Waltz for Debby, the version with Cannonball Adderley and Bill Evans on Riverside. And I turned to the lovely Mrs. JC and told her to listen to the rapport and warmth shared between these two giants and it was remarkable listening to this track, which I must have heard thousands of times — no exaggeration — with fresh ears once again. And it is, indeed, a thing of beauty. Then I looked through my email this morning, clearing things out, and I noticed that someone had sent me an article from The Wall Street Journal paying tribute to Bill Evans on the occasion of the
Tags: Bill Evans
Finding Some Surprising Dexter and Wardell
Sep 23, 2010 10-Inch LPs, RCA
One of the things I love about collecting jazz records is that there always seems to be something new to discover. Case in point: Last week I purchased that collection of mostly traditional jazz records, with a bunch of 10-inch LPs as well as some nice 78 boxed sets. I was going through some of the records this evening and came upon this 10-incher: Gene Norman Presents Just Jazz Featuring Les Thompson and His Harmonica, RCAVictor 3102. Frankly, I had never heard of Les Thompson and I’m not a huge fan of jazz harmonica, although I can appreciate some of Toots Thielemans. When I looked closer at the record, however, I noticed some quite interesting sidemen, most particularly Dexter Gordon and Wardell Gray. I had thought
Tags: Dexter Gordon, Les Thompson, Wardell Gray
Blue Note Jazz Vinyl, A New High For Ike
Sep 23, 2010 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note
Let’s catch up on some Blue Note jazz vinyl that did not make the $1,000 bin.
Paul Chambers, Bass on Top, Blue Note 1569. This looked to be an original pressing with the West 63rd Street label and deep grooves. The vinyl looked to be VG++ and the cover VG++ as well. The price was $765.52.
Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $750.
Ike Quebec, Blue and Sentimental, Blue Note 4098. This was an original New York USA pressing that was listed in M- condition for both the cover and the record. The price was $667, which is
Tags: Horace Silver, Ike Quebec, Paul Chambers, Sonny Clark
Why We Buy Records
Sep 22, 2010 Features
My friend sent me this earlier. It’s pretty apt: Although I don’t necessarily feel low, I was working on records at 3 o’clock this morning, trying to get the smell of mildew out of some of the beautiful boxed-set 78s I purchased last week and lugged home and am now trying to wedge into my collection somehow by shifting records from one shelf to another and getting records off shelves that I may not be listening to. Anyway, thought you all might appreciate this from Peanuts.
Tags: Peanuts
Jazz Vinyl on eBay: Blue Notes, Bird, Transition
Sep 21, 2010 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note
Here’s some nice jazz vinyl we missed:
Lee Morgan, Lee-Way, Blue Note 4034. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $847, which is by far the highest we’ve seen for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Kenny Dorham, Afro-Cuban, Blue Note 5065. This was an original 10-inch pressing that looked to be in very nice condition: The record was VG++ and the cover was M-, with a crisp, clear picture. The price was $811.91.
Doug Watkins, Watkins at Large, Transition 10. This was an original pressing that was listed in
Tags: Charlie Parker, Doug Watkins, Hank Mobley, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan, Transition Records
An Old-Fashioned Jazz Vinyl Auction
Sep 20, 2010 Features
Remember I had written about my late friend Red Carraro a couple of months ago and how he would compile these long lists of records and send them out for auction all over the world in the days before eBay. Red was among a number of practitioners of this art, which also included Leon Leavitt and Fred Cohen among many others (at least that’s how I recall it). I had thought that eBay had obviated the need for these mailed lists, but apparently I was wrong: The other day I received an email addressed from the intriguing name of Mr. Blue Note with an auction list of 1,460 records that apparently are up for auction but not for auction on eBay. I’m sure Mr. Blue Note will not object to me posting the list here, so
Tracking Blue Note Jazz on 78-RPM
Sep 20, 2010 78-RPM Records, Blue Note
I bought that collection and I found that it had a bunch of 12-inch Blue Note 78s so I did a search this morning on eBay for Blue Note 78s, since it is not something I have tried to collect in the past. It turns out the records I acquired — the Sidney Bechets and Albert Ammons and Art Hodes — don’t seem to have much cachet as collectibles. If you look at closed items, they generally sell in the range of $10 and less. However, in doing the search I found a few interesting bop 78s that sold for higher prices, including:
Bud Powell’s Modernists with Sonny Rollins, Blue Note 1568. This 78 includes Dance of the Infidels and 52nd Street Theme and it was described as being in better than VG+ condition, but not quite M-. This sold for $89.88.
Max Roach Quintet, Blue Note 1569. This contains Prince Albert Part 1 and 2, with Kenny Dorham and James Moody. Let’s see how well my memory is working: Prince Albert is a head based on All the Things You Are, if I recall properly, and this version, in addition to being issued on 78, was issued
Tags: Bud Powell, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk
Another Day, Another Jazz Vinyl Collection
Sep 19, 2010 78-RPM Records, Features, Jazz Memoirs
I brought home another collection yesterday. It is an interesting one. It is mostly traditional jazz, but of more recent vintage. There was the full three-volume Mosaic Commodore set in near mint condition. That alone will cover my costs and the time and energy I expended. There were also a lot of 78s, mostly albums in beautiful condition – Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Lee Wiley, and others of that ilk, no bebop at all. There were also some nice 10-inch LPs in near mint condition, including a beautiful Lester Young on Clef and several of the Chet Baker’s on Pacific Jazz.
As I was laboriously going through the records on my porch in The Berkshires yesterday, much to the consternation of the lovely Mrs. JC, I discovered that there were about a dozen 12-inch Blue Note 78s – Sidney Bechet, Albert Ammons, etc. These are in
Jazz Vinyl Today: Jackie, Newk, JJ, Booker Little
Sep 17, 2010 Blue Note
Let’s catch up on some jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay, shall we?
I expected this to fetch a higher price but, as I said earlier, I think the picture of the back cover was out of synch with the description: Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing, Blue Note 4038. This was listed in M- condition and sold for $331.
This is a real nice record that doesn’t have the cachet of a Blue Note or a Prestige, but has excellent personnel, a nice cover, deep groove, etc.: Booker Little Four, United Artists 4034. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. The price was $118.25.
This is one of those that can stir up more debate about what, exactly, is an original pressing:
Tags: Booker Little, Jackie McLean, JJ Johnson, Sonny Rollins, United Artists Records
A Mobley Day at Jazz Collector
Sep 16, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note
Here are some updates on some of the items we’ve been watching on eBay.
Those Mobley’s from the seller bullsite2000 did all right, particularly if you were bullsite2000. There was Hank Mobley With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan, Blue Note 1540. This was an original Lexington Avenue flat edge pressing and it looked to be in beautiful condition. In fact, if you have a second you should click on the link and look at the pictures posted with the listing: They are absolutely pristine, looking as if they could have come out of the Blue Note catalogue in 1957. Anyway, it sold for $2,382, which is quite a bit more than it would have sold for in 1957 and quite a bit more than what Mobley got paid to actually record the session, right? This one also made it into the $1,000 bin: Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031. This was also
Tags: Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan
Back on eBay, Backing Buying Jazz Vinyl
Sep 15, 2010 10-Inch LPs, 78-RPM Records, Blue Note
A quick note before moving on to some eBay items. I am in the throes, once again, of buying a collection, and this time I’m even questioning my own sanity. As for the lovely Mrs. JC, well, she just looked at me and shrugged. Most of the records are swing and traditional, and they are of more recent vintage, and, I fear, they are inflicted with some mold and mildew. However . . . there are some beautiful 10-inch LPs in the batch, and some quite interesting 78 boxes in gorgeous condition, and I feel that I am rescuing these records from neglect. I will keep you posted as I take possession of the records, perhaps this weekend.
This one has already been called out and commented upon at Jazz Collector, but let’s keep an eye on it just the same: Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House Volume 1, Blue Note 1515. This is an original pressing with the Lexington Avenue address, flat edge, etc. It is in VG++ condition for both the vinyl and the cover and it has been bid to $1,800 already.
Tags: Jackie McLean, Jutta Hipp
Jazz Vinyl On eBay: Mobley, JJ, Trane
Sep 14, 2010 Blue Note, Prestige
What, pray tell, is on the Jazz Collector watch list this week? Glad you asked.
The seller Bullsite2000 from Italy has another fine batch of records on eBay, including: Hank Mobley, Soul Station, Blue Note 4031. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing and it looks to be n beautiful M- condition. The seller is quite reputable, so we see no reason why this one won’t join its many brothers in the $1,000 bin when it closes tomorrow. The current price is a bit more than $600. Here’s another from the same seller: Hank Mobley With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan, Blue Note 1540. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the flat edge, deep grooves, etc. It’s in beautiful condition with equally beautiful pictures. The current price is more than $800 and it has not yet reached the seller’s reserve. Would anyone be surprised if this one
Tags: Hank Mobley, JJ Johnson, John Coltrane
On Ebay: Lou, Lou & Some Wailers
Sep 13, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige
Here is some of the jazz vinyl we’ve been watching this weekend:
Lou Donaldson, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Blue Note 1537. This was an original Lexington Avenue flat-edge pressing. It was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $1,008.80. Rudolph asks if perhaps there is a slowdown. We have seen this sell for more than $1,800 recently, so who knows. I find so much of what happens on eBay arbitrary: Depends who’s looking that week, how competitive the bidding gets, how the record is listed, who does the listing, etc. Here’s another Donaldson: Lou Takes Off, Blue Note 1591. This was a bit of a strange
Tags: Art Taylor, Lou Donaldson
Kennedy Center Honors: Still No Sonny!
Sep 10, 2010 News
I just did that post on Sonny Rollins a few moments ago and, in looking through the archives I found this piece bemoaning the fact that the Kennedy Center Honors last year once again failed to honor Sonny: Kennedy Center Honors: Where’s Sonny? So just for the hell of it, I went over to the site for the Kennedy Center Honors and it turns out they just announced this year’s recipients. And guess what? Still no Sonny. I, for one, believe this is an outrage. Sonny has not only been a leader and innovator in jazz for more than 60 years, he is a link to Bird and Dizzy and the bop era and he is still playing as well as ever. His influence is really unparalleled and he deserves the kind of broad recognition and acknowledgement that goes with this honor. The honorees this year are Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Merle Haggard, Jerry Herman and Bill T. Jones. Let’s see if we can somehow use the power of the Jazz Collector community to see if we can push for Sonny to be honored next year. I think this would be a worthy effort, don’t you?
A Few For the $1,000 Bin, Happy B-Day Newk
Sep 10, 2010 $1000 Records, 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Prestige
Ahhh, it’s nice to be back posting regularly again. We haven’t updated the $1,000 bin in a while, so let’s do that this morning, starting with: Lee Morgan, Indeed, Blue Note 1538. This looks to be an original pressing with the deep grooves and Lexington Avenue address. Although there is no mention of a flat edge in the listing, the seller confirmed that it is, Indeed (pun intended), a flat-edge pressing. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was described as “very good” but it sounded more liked VG+ or even VG++ based on the description. This beauty sold for $1,925. Since we’re doing the $1,000 bin this morning, it must be a Blue Note day here at Jazz Collector. Here’s another:
Tags: Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins
What Happened To The Jazz Vinyl Countdown?
Sep 9, 2010 Features, The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown
In an earlier post, Rudolf poses the following statement and question: “Al announced the slimming down of his collection a while ago. But I don’t see anything else but buying records by the lot, ‘improving’ on quality, etc., etc. Al: I just would like an honest reply to my straightforward question (the lovely Mrs. JC is not tuned in, so your reply can be honest). The question: With how many albums has your collection grown since your slimming down action?”
Ahem.
I will answer the question directly and then go into some level of explanation. Since the launch of what I affectionately called The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown almost exactly a year ago – September 29, 2009, if anyone would like to go back to the archives – I would say that my “collection” has increased by about 50 records, while the number of records in my house has grown by several hundred, at least.
Tags: Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray
Catching Up: A Little Trane, A Little JJ
Sep 8, 2010 Autographs, Blue Note
Sorry for taking such a long and totally unexpected hiatus. I got caught up in things and just never put aside time to post. I won’t do that again. Anyway, I have not forgotten Rudolf’s question about the status of my Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown and I will address that soon, but first let me catch up on other stuff. I had noted the small John Coltrane autograph from the Jazz Record Center when I last posted and I had expectations it would go for a fairly high price, which it did: $491.85. And no, I was not the bidder, although that is certainly something I wouldn’t mind having. I was also watching this one: Jay Jay Johnson Volume 2, Blue Note 1506. This looked to be an original Lexington Avenue flat edge pressing. It was only in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG- for the cover. Many of the flat-edge Lexington Avenue Blue Notes have been
Tags: Atlantic Records, Giant Steps, JJ Johnson, John Coltrane
JRC Auction: John Coltrane Autograph
Sep 2, 2010 Autographs
We’ve written off and on here at Jazz Collector about autographs. Our favorite was the letter from Bill Evans to John Coltrane that was auctioned for $38,000 five years ago. If you want to check that out, click here. We were reminded of this when we received an email announcing the latest auction from the Jazz Record Center and we saw that they are selling a John Coltrane autograph. This one is not so enticing as the Evans letter, but it is a Coltrane autograph and there can’t be too many of those, can there? Anyway, it has a start price of $100 and there is already one bidder. This is one that I think will entice jazz collectors everywhere: A nice, small Coltrane autograph, easy to frame, easy to hang up on a wall, a very nice item to show your friends and family. Hmmmm, perhaps I’m talking myself into something here.
Tags: Jazz Record Center, John Coltrane
Odds and Ends and Blue Notes
Sep 1, 2010 Blue Note, Riverside
Here are some jazz vinyl odds and ends we’ve been watching for various reasons. We’re not expecting that all of these will end up in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but they all have something of interest.
We were watching this one because it was listed as an original pressing even though it wasn’t: Kenny Drew Trio, Riverside 224. This was a blue-label pressing when the original was really a white label. The seller was very clear in stating that this was a “first mono pressing.” Ah well. The record was only in VG- condition and the cover was VG. Not an original and not in great condition and it sold for $87. That seems to be the going rate these days perhaps and, perhaps, maybe someone needed a new cover. Not for me in that condition at that price.
We were watching this to get a sense of what the solid blue label Blue Notes are selling for these days: Dexter Gordon, Dexter Calling, Blue Note 84083. This in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $29. This probably means that a Liberty pressing of this record would be in the $50 or $60 range, don’t you think?
Tags: Dexter Gordon, Kenny Drew
