Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This was an original West 63rd pressing that looked to be in at least VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,525. We’ve seen Sonny’s Crib and Cool Struttin’ consistently break the $2,000 and even the $3,000 barrier, but this is the highest price we’ve recorded for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.   

Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looked to be in beautiful M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The price was $2,678.

Lester Young Collates Number Two, Clef 124. This was an original 10-inch pressing with the nice cover by David Stone Martin. It looked to be in M- condition for the record

and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $227.50. I had a side interest in this one: Last year around this time, much to the chagrin of the lovely Mrs. JC, I bought a collection of mostly traditional records for $500. There were also some nice 78 boxed sets, as well as the three Mosaic Commodore sets, as well as a lovely 10-inch copy of The Tal Farlow album, original Norgran, which I gave to my friend Dan as a birthday gift. This Lester Young record was also in the collection, so it is pleasing to me to see it go for so high a price and, in retrospect, further helps to justify the temporary discord it helped to create. Although, blaming the Lester Young record as opposed to my own impulsiveness for the discord is a bit of a stretch, wouldn’t you say?

First one of the heavyweights: Lee Morgan, Indeed, Blue Note 1538. As noted this was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. This one looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover and was described by the seller as “museum quality,” which is an interesting term we don’t see very often. We predicted that this one would make the $2,000 bin and speculated that it would perhaps even hit the $3,000 bin. It sold for $2,450.

Another really nice one that fetched top dollar: Lou Donaldson, Lou Takes Off, Blue Note 1591. This was also an original pressing, also in M- condition for the record and the cover, also described as a “museum copy.” It sold for $766.99, which is the top price we’ve seen for this one in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

I’ve never seen this cover on this record:

After Hours With the Prestige Jazz All Stars, Prestige 7118. This is clearly a second press, with the New Jersey address on the label rather than New York. It was described as an original pressing in VG+ condition. It sold for $78.70.

If I were buying these days, I would have bid on this: Bob Brookmeyer Plays Bob Brookmeyer, Clef 644. Not that I am a huge Brookmeyer fan, although I do like him, but it’s an original Clef with a great cover by David Stone Martin, and I do value those. This one was in VG+ condition and sold for just $46, so I might have even won it.

Blue Mitchell, Blue Soul, Riverside 309. This was one of the ones from the recent bobdjukic auction. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the vinyl and the cover and it looked to be an original deep groove, blue label pressing. It sold for $275. One of the reasons I was watching this is that I just bought another small collection and a nice original mint copy of this record was in the batch. There were also a few original Blue Notes so, if I ever get back to selling records on eBay, I’ll have some nice items to start with . . . . or if I have Jazz Collector readers come to the house, as previously proposed.

Harry Carney With Strings, Clef 640. This looked to be an original pressing, although there was no picture of the label, with a beautiful cover illustration by David Stone Martin. It was listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover and sold for $110.50. You have to wonder how much longer there will be a market for Harry Carney LPs. Case in point: The Astaire Story. This was the original Mercury boxed set in beautiful condition, signed by Astaire, with the Stone Martin illustrations and the exclusive photos. In M- condition, this would have sold for somewhere in the range of $2,000 just a few years ago. Now, the seller had a start price of $800 and there were no bidders.

Bill Perkins, Just Friends, Pacific Jazz 401. This was an original pressing, featuring Art Pepper and Richie Kamuca. The record looked to be M- and the cover was VG+. The price was $113.50.

Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer, Whooeeee, Storyville 914. This was an original pressing that was listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $170.27.

There’s a bunch of other interesting jazz vinyl on eBay now as well, including: Rocky Boyd, Ease It, Jazztime JT001. This is a among a nice collection listed by Round Again Records up in Providence, which I have mentioned here before as

a store definitely worth visiting. I guess the owner, Steve, must have bought a jazz collection, so congratulations. This one is M- for the record and VG+ or the cover and is already at more than $660. Like the Rollins 10-incher, it also features Kenny Dorham on trumpet. When you look at this one, you should probably look at other listings from the seller because there are a few nice collectibles.

I’ll file this one under a category of “records I’m tempted to purchase because it looks so nice even though I already have a copy in nice condition:” Stan Getz Plays, Clef 137. This is the 10-inch version with the David Stone Martin cover and it is in VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover and the picture of the cover accompanying the record looks absolutely pristine. When I first saw this last night, it was at about $30 and I was thinking I should bid because when will I see this record in this condition again. But I looked at my copy and it’s certainly good enough. This one is still only $41 and there’s less than two hours to go and if it goes for less than $100 it will be quite a steal. Not only a great cover, but great music as well.

Kenny Dorham, Afro-Cuban, Blue Note 1535. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the deep grooves and flat edge. It was in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,727.

Here’s one we’ve never seen before: Freddie Redd, Session in Stockholm, Nixja Records NJL 14. This one looked to be in VG+ condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $531. I always find it thrilling that I’ve been collecting jazz records for more than 40 years and I still come across records I’ve never seen nor heard of. I bet this is a great one, too.

We don’t usually track records that sell for $22, but we were watching this one because it’s symbolic of something: A great record, great cover, great label, great condition, but no real interest from a collectible standpoint, at least not anymore:

The Lionel Hampton, Art Tatum, Buddy Rich Trio, Clef 727. This was in M- condition for the record and the cover and it sold for $21.99. For some reason it seems a shame that a record like this doesn’t draw more interest, but I guess these artists just don’t grab anyone’s interest anymore. Perhaps if the record were on Blue Note instead?

This one has a very pretty, simple cover design by David Stone Martin: A Recital By Tal Farlow, Norgran 1030. This was an original pressing with the yellow label and the trumpeter logo. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $122.16.

This one also has a nice Stone Martin Cover: Anita O’Day, Collates, Clef 130. This was a 10-inch LP and it was listed in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was a very reasonable $82.

Here’s another nice 10-inch LP:

Billie Holiday, Clef 118. This one also has a Stone Martin cover. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+. The price was $225.

I’ve never thought of this record as a collectible: The Standard Sonny Rollins, RCA 3355. This was an original pressing and it was in M- condition. It sold for $122.50. It was a stereo pressing and I’m wondering, perhaps, if it is as much an audiophile collectible as much as a jazz collectible. I’m a big Rollins fan, but this is not among my favorite Sonny LPs.

How about this one: Presenting Red Mitchell, Contemporary 3538. This is an original deep groove mono pressing with the yellow label. The vinyl was listed in M- condition and the

cover was VG++. The price was $139.50.

The market for this record, and others of its era, seems to be slipping: Flip Phillips, Flip Wails, Clef 691. This was an original pressing. The vinyl was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $52.50. This price was probably aided by the fact that it has a nice cover illustration by David Stone Martin.

This one sold for quite a tidy sum a few weeks back, particularly for a Verve: Ben Webster Soulville, Verve 8274. This was an original pressing in M- condition. This one has a David Stone Martin cover. I’d normally expect this to sell for maybe $100 in this condition. This one sold for $463.99. Here’s a nice Norgran: Lester Young, Jazz Giants ’56, Norgran 1056. This was a original yellow label pressing with the heavy vinyl. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $105.15. And another nice Norgran:

Johnny Hodges, Creamy, Norgran 1045. We presume this was an original yellow label pressing, although the seller did not show a picture of the label and did not include the label color in his description. Perhaps we are being generous. The vinyl was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $161.50, so we’ll also presume that the winning bidder thought this was an original yellow label pressing as well.

We’ll finish this batch off with: Flip Phillips, Flip Wails, Clef 691. This was an original pressing from Euclid Records and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $152.50.

Benny Carter, Cosmopolite, Norgran 1070. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $111.50.

Bud Powell, Jazz Giant, Norgran 1063. This was an original pressing that was

also in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It sold for $400.50.

Count Basie, Basie, Clef 666. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $89. You don’t often see Count Basie in Jazz Collector, but we have a feeling this one sold for a decent price specifically for the great David Stone Martin cover.

Lester Young, The President, Norgran 1005. This was an original yellow label pressing with the cover illustration by David Stone Martin. It was sold by The Jazz Record Center, so it was bound to get top dollar. This one looked to be in VG++ condition for the vinyl and M- condition for the cover. The price was $320.55.

This is a great record with a great cover: Lester Young and Teddy Wilson, Pres and Teddy, Verve 8205. This one was in VG++ condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It was sold by the seller Herschel78, who had a bunch of nice Verves/Norgrans/Clefs a few weeks ago. This one sold for $316.11. Also from the same seller was this:

Harry Carney With Strings, Clef 640. This was an original pressing. The vinyl was listed as M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $109.81. Look at that great cover from David Stone Martin.

And this nice one: Illinois Jacquet, Jazz Moods, Clef 700. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $148.05.