Jazz For A Sunday Morning: KD, Byrd, Blue Notes
Here’s some of the jazz vinyl we’ve missed while we were away:
The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 5007. This was an original pressing that was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It was a bit of a strange auction — there were only two bids and the winning bid was an even $800. Anyway. There was a lot more interest in this one, with more than 20 bids: Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This was an original deep groove pressing in VG+ condition, which I’d say was questionable based on the description. It sold for $740.
This one nearly made the $3,000 bin: Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill, Transition 17. This was an original pressing with the booklet. The record looked to be in M- condition, minus the labels, of course, and the cover looked to be about VG++. The price was $2,926.54, which is still staggering to me.
And what would a day in Jazz Collector world be without a few Blue Notes to admire:
Art Taylor, AT’s Delight, Blue Note 4047. This was listed as an original pressing, although it would have been nice to see pictures of the labels, and it was described as being in at least M- condition. It sold for $887. Hank Mobley and His All Stars, Blue Note 1544. This was also an original pressing that was described as being in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. VG+ is often a catchall label that has a wide range. For instance, based on this descriptions I’d definitely take this VG+ over the Quiet Kenny VG+. This one sold for $686.76. Johnny Griffin Volume 2, Blue Note 1559. This looked to be an original deep groove pressing in just VG condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $611.
Al, did you notice the seller of Transition referred to this site for evaluation?
I did not.Thank you for pointing out.
I’m writing to express my appreciation for your website. I feel compelled to do so as I’ve been learning so much from you.
(Context)
Working class background, closer to 50 than not, with a lifetime of following popular genres, jazz music had never been much of an interest for me. I remember trying to enjoy it when I was younger, but I couldn’t understand how all of the players seemed to be playing their own song. Preferring my rock, punk, funk, and every other variation of emotional three chord predictability, my only forays into the jazz moniker came with that bad ’80’s experiment of “new age” jazz music, a background soundtrack when you were doing something else.
Things changed over time. Leaving the factories and beginning college in my later 20’s, I would go on to receive a Ph.D. The world increased in its complexity. Though I didn’t realize it over the decades of change, it’s possible that I was prepared for a shift in music as well.
It was last summer. A neighbor gave me a turntable, something I hadn’t owned in 15 years. Call it mid-life crisis if you will, it sparked a return to my interest in vinyl. Soon, I was scouring sales, thrift stores, and more. An elderly neighbor heard of my hobby. He began dropping off records from his college years. It was dozens of 1950’s jazz records wrapped in plastic: Miles, Brubeck, Giuffre, Kai, Satchmo, Adderlys, MJQ, and more. An estate sale scoring dozens of late 60’s jazz lp’s would give me a decade’s overview: Kirk, Lewis, Getz,Surman, Coletrane, Gordon, Mann, McGriff, and more. Other sales would add to my 70′-90’s
For the past five months, jazz music and records have consumed me. After I put the kids to bed at night, I put on one album, research the group on the web, and listen to the beautiful, organized chaos. I read books to better understand the history. And, here it comes: I discovered your website.
There aren’t many folks in my world with whom I can share my discoveries at this time. With your words and those of your fellow posters, however, I learn about Blue Note, the rarities, the relationships between the records, the values, the players, and the sellers. In a small way, vicariously, I feel a bit of community.
I’m writing to say thanks for taking the time to display your hobby and knowledge to the rest of the world, including Minnesota. While I won’t be hearing any of those discs from the $1,000 bin any time soon, you do open my eyes and ears to a history in vinyl that I’m eager to explore.
Daryl — a great post and a great story. It reminds me — and probably all of us — that the internet age has been wonderful for jazz (and for many other musics too), putting a world of history and information at our fingertips in a way unprecedented in human history so far.
Keep scouring, looking, listening, reading…