Adventures in Jazz Collecting: Red Carraro, Part 1
Jul 12, 2010 Features, Jazz Memoirs, Verve
There was a time, before the Internet and eBay, when jazz record dealers would amass hundreds of collectible records and compile them in lists and send those lists all over the world so that collectors could bid on them, blindly, hoping they would make the top bid and receive a shipment of rare jazz vinyl several weeks later. One of the leading and last practitioners of this fading art was a gentleman, and I use that word purposefully, by the name of William Carraro, known to all as “Red.” I am sad to report that Red passed away in his sleep yesterday morning.
I will tell you more about Red in a subsequent post, but first let me tell you the story of the first time I met Red. It was back in the early 1970s and I had just started collecting jazz records. I was 19 years old. My good friend from childhood Dan Axelrod had also begun collecting jazz records at the same time and Dan was far more obsessive about it than I was, so he was always finding scores before me. He’d call from Philadelphia or Miami, out of breath, describing beautiful Blue Notes
Jazz Vinyl on Ebay: Prestige, Vanguard, Verve
May 25, 2010 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Verve
Here are some odds and ends we’ve been watching on eBay:
Billy Taylor Trio Volume 2, Prestige 7016. This one was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $74.99, which is about what you’d expect for a Billy Taylor Prestige these days. I do have a question on this: I’ve had this record with two different covers — the one shown here and another one that I recall as having a black and white and gray design with a picture of Billy. Not sure which is original, but both had the New York address on the label and the cover. I’m sure the original had the kakubushi cover, but I am not home now to check it out. Anyone? Rudolf?
Dave Burns, Vanguard 9111. This one was in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ or M- for the cover. The price was $182.50. I own this record and it’s quite good, featuring Herbie Morgan on tenor sax, and I have rarely seen it on eBay, or anywhere else for that matter.
This one didn’t get a single bid, much to my surprise:
Tags: Billy Taylor, Dave Burns, Jazz Vinyl, Tal Farlow, Vanguard Records
Adventures in Jazz Collecting: The Auction, Part 5
Apr 12, 2010 Features, RCA, Verve
All right, let’s do some more of this Jazz Auction stuff. So, by this point in the auction I have purchased eight lots and I am clearly on a roll and forgetting about the 17 percent surcharge and figuring, “What the heck, I’m already paying for shipping, let’s buy some more records.” And so I did.
Gerry Mulligan, Seven LPs. Price: $46.80. Why? There is no good answer to this question. I certainly have all of these LPs, and probably don’t even want to keep all of these LPs, and there is probably not that much of a market for these LPs on eBay. The best of the records, from a collectible standpoint, is The Gerry Mulligan Songbook on World Pacific. There’s also a nice Mulligan on Emarcy with Zoot Sims. There’s a copy of Mulligan and Stan Getz on Verve, but it’s an MGM pressing. Really, there was no rhyme or reason to bidding on these — and actually winning — other than the adrenaline rush of buying more records.
Sonny Rollins, Three RCA Victor LPs and Lester Young For LPs. Price: $93.60. This fits into
Tags: Gerry Mulligan, Lester Young, Sonny Rollins
Adventures in Jazz Collecting, The Auction Part 4
Apr 11, 2010 Features, Prestige, Verve
OK. The auction records are here, in a newly created bin on the floor of my music room/office. It’s fun looking through the records, of course, encountering pleasant surprises, but what I am most looking forward to is listening to them. That’s the best thing about getting new records, or even getting new copies of old records: Exploring and discovering (or rediscovering) the music. As I type this I’m listening to Wes Montgomery Full House and it’s probably the first time I’ve listened to this LP in 10 years or more. With 10,000 records a lot of great LPs wind up sitting on the shelf. I remember the first time I heard this record. I was in a car with my friend Dan and we had the radio on and we heard a Wes solo and we knew immediately it was Wes and then the tenor player starting playing and we were both blown away because he was really cooking and we couldn’t figure out who it was. It was, of course, Johnny Griffin. And now I am listening to this beautiful near mint copy of this record again and, ah, what a nice way to start a gorgeous Sunday morning. Anyway, back to the auction items:
The next one I purchased was listed as: Stan Getz, Three Verve LPS with Trumpeter labels. Price $40.95. These turned out to be For Musicians Only with Dizzy Gillespie and Sonny Stitt;
Tags: Jazzland, John Coltrane, New Jazz, Oliver Nelson, Red Garland, Stan Getz
On eBay: Getz, Anita O’Day, Sonny Clark(e)
Apr 2, 2010 Blue Note, Norgran, Verve
Speak of the devil, here’s a copy of Stan Getz Plays, Norgran, 1042, on eBay now courtesy of our friends at Euclid Records. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG++ and the words “beautiful” and “gorgeous” are thrown in as well. The price is around $140 and there are still more than two days to go.
Don’t usually expect to see this one at $100 or more, but this copy is there already: Anita O’Day Sings the Most, Verve 8259. This is an original pressing with the trumpeter logo and it is in M- condition.
If someone is doing a search of Sonny Clark, will this record come up:
Tags: Anita O'Day, Euclid Records, Jazz Vinyl, Sonny Clark, Stan Getz
Catching Up: Norgran, Clef, Verve
Mar 2, 2010 Clef, Norgran, Verve
Playing some more catchup on the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
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:
Tags: Ben Webster, Flip Phillips, Johnny Hodges, Lester Young
Catching Up on Some Odds and Ends
Here are a few odds and ends we’ve been watching:
So when did this become a collectible: Don Patterson, The Hip Cake Walk, Prestige 7349? This was stereo pressing with the blue label. It was in M- condition for the vinyl and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $71. I realize that is not a Blue Note price, but I kind of viewed this as a $20 record. Is it the presence of Booker Ervin? I’ve seen certain Booker Ervin records, The Song Book on Prestige and The Book on Bethlehem, sell for nice collectible prices, but not any previous Don Pattersons on Prestige.
Here’s a nice Verve: Lester Young and Teddy Wilson, Pres and Teddy, Verve 8205. This was an original pressing with the trumpeter logo. It is also
Tags: Booker Ervin, Dave Burns, Don Patterson, Lester Young, Teddy Wilson, Vanguard Records
Now on eBay: Webster on Verve, Evans Promo
I’m a big fan and collector of the Verve label — as well as Norgran and Clef, of course — so it was with great pleasure that I saw this record on eBay selling for a relatively high price: Ben Webster, Soulville, Verve 8274. This looks to be in M- condition and, with several hours still to go, is already more than $200. It does not have a David Stone Martin cover, and it’s Ben Webster not Lester Young, so I’m kind of wondering what cachet the record holds that would cause it to fetch such a high price. Perhaps it’s just because it’s a nice record in excellent condition.
Also on eBay now is a rare white-label promotional copy of this record:
Tags: Ben Webster, Bill Evans
Free Jazz Vinyl, TAL: And The Winner Is . . .
Nov 17, 2009 Free Collectibles, Verve
OK, time to announce the winner of our latest give-away. This one is: Tal Farlow, Tal, Verve 8021. This is a nice Japanese pressing that is in beautiful condition and is being given away, frankly, because we found ourselves with an abundance of copies through a variety of mostly pleasant circumstances. Anyway, this record features Tal in a guitar-bass-piano trio with Eddie Costa and Vinnie Burke. It’s a superb record and of the era during which Tal was setting new standards for inventiveness on the jazz guitar. As usual, the record will go to someone who has commented on the Jazz Collector site these past two weeks. We may have a new record number of eligible contestants — 21 in all. Usually I mention everyone, which I shall do again, but I’m not sure if I should continue doing. If any of you has a feeling about this, and about having your name mentioned, please let me know. Anyway, the eligible names for the Tal record are:
Tags: Tal Farlow
Jazz Vinyl Giveaway: Tal Farlow on Verve
Nov 4, 2009 Free Collectibles, Verve
Okay, now we’re cooking. This is a great, great, great jazz guitar LP featuring Farlow in his prime in a fantastic trio setting with Eddie Costa and Vinnie Burke: Tal Farlow, Tal, Verve 8021. Costa was a great accompanist as well as an inventive soloist and it’s clear he had a great rapport with Farlow. So, why give away this wonderful record? Because I am loyal to my friends at Jazz Collector, of course. Well, it also happens to be that this is a Japanese pressing and, as I was working on my collection this weekend, I discovered that I actually owned three copies of the Japanese pressing in addition to my own original Verve with the trumpeter logo. How did that happen? Inertia, I think. Or something like that. Anyway, I have at least one copy too many, so I am happy to share it with one lucky reader here at Jazz Collector. In order to be eligible to win this record
Tags: Eddie Costa, Tal Farlow
Jazz Vinyl Updates: Clef, Verve, Norgran
Oct 27, 2009 Clef, Norgran, Verve
Last week we recorded a bunch of high-end Blue Notes for the Jazz Collector Price Guide, and a batch of nice Prestiges, and even some nice 10-Inch jazz vinyl. So, today, let’s turn our attention to another of our favorite labels — or, in this case, a series of labels. How about some nice Norgran, Clef and Verve LPs? Here are some of items we’ve been watching and will be entering into the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
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:
Tags: David Stone Martin, Harry Carney, Illinois Jacquet, Jazz Record Center, Lester Young, Teddy Wilson
Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Ella Sings Cole
Oct 20, 2009 The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown, Verve
I realized the other day I may have a problem with this Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown. And that problem has to do with Ella Fitzgerald. I realized this when I had a bit of free time with the lovely Mrs. JC and she asked me to put on some music. “How about something nice?” she said. Something nice, in her eyes, is usually a nice jazz vocal, or perhaps a Stan Getz on Verve, or Bill Evans Waltz For Debby. Anyway, I put on this LP, Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Song Book, Verve 4001-02, and Mrs. JC was quite pleased, as was I. This is Ella’s first songbook effort and you will not find too many records better than this and there is no doubt about it garnering a place in the top 1,000. What I realized when I put the vinyl on the turntable, however, is this:
Tags: Cole Porter, Ella Fitzgerald
Billie Holiday At Carnegie Hall: The Winner Is . . . .
Oct 14, 2009 Free Collectibles, Jazz Vinyl, Verve
Time to give away the Billie Holiday record: The Essential Billie Holiday Carnegie Hall Concert, Verve 8410. This is an original pressing with the MGM label and the gatefold cover. It’s an interesting piece in that it intersects Billie’s singing with a narrative from her autobiography Lady Sings The Blues. The goal with this give-away, as with all of our give-aways, has been to encourage people to comment on the Jazz Collector site. The good news is that the tactic seems to be working: Since we began this particular contest we’ve had 22 separate people posting comments on the site, which is our high mark for a two-week period. So thank you to everyone for contributing. OK, rather than list everyone’s name — you know who you are — we will just delve into
Tags: Billie Holiday, Carnegie Hall, Jazz Vinyl
Win A Free Record: Billie Holiday at Carnegie Hall
Sep 29, 2009 Free Collectibles, Verve
Okay, it is time for our next Jazz Collector free collectible give-away contest. We always try to find interesting items for you, and this time we are offering up this: The Essential Billie Holiday Carnegie Hall Concert, Verve 8410. This is an original pressing with the MGM label and the gatefold cover. The record is in nice condition, although there are some marks at the end of side two. It’s an interesting record in that it was recorded in 1956 and issued here in 1961 as part of Verve’s Essentials series, which were tributes to jazz greats on the Verve labels, several of whom, unfortunately, had died. These included Lester Young and Charlie Parker. This LP was recorded live at Carnegie Hall as part of a concert in which Holiday sang and in which she also had several sections of her autobiography, Lady Sings The Blues, read aloud to highlight various aspects of her life and to
Tags: Al Cohn, Billie Holiday, Buck Clayton, Carl Drinkard, Carnegie Hall, Carson Smith, Chico Hamilton, Coleman Hawkins, Kenny Burrell, Nat Hentoff, Roy Eldridge, The New York Times, Tony Scott
For the Price Guide: Ray Brown, Zoot, Chet
Here are a few more records that seem to be bucking the two-tier trend, which may not be a trend at all, come to think of it:
This is Ray Brown, Verve 8290. This was in M- condition for both the record and cover and it was sold by Euclid Records. It was an original mono pressing with the trumpeter label and it sold for $280.55. Curious about this record, since the price is so high and usually the Verves don’t reach these numbers. Anyone have a sense of why this record would fetch such a high price?
Zoot Sims, Zoot, Argo 608. This was an original pressing with the black label. It was in VG++ condition, both the record and the cover. The price was $351.99.
Lester Young, The President, Norgran 1005. This was an original yellow label pressing. The seller listed the condition as “good” for both the record and the cover. He said there were no scuffs or scratches, but “good” is a dangerous label: He could not know what he’s doing, or he could know exactly what he’s doing. In this case, he received a high bid of $261, so the bidding certainly reflected a belief that the record was in at least VG+ condition, if not better.
Chet Baker Sings It Could Happen To You, Riverside 278. This was an original
Tags: Argo Records, Chet Baker, Ray Brown, Zoot Sims
Price Guide Update: Wallington, Drew, DeFranco, Tal
We’ve missed a couple of days posting. Sorry. Up in the country. The weather is beautiful and the Internet connection is inconsistent. We will attempt to be more regular. To get back into posting shape, this morning we will list some of the new items we’ll be entering into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Nothing in the $1,000 bin — we’ll save those for later — but some nice, interesting collectibles. Here are several:
George Wallington Quintet at the Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This is an original pressing and the seller listed it as near-mint condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $810.
Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This was an original pressing, also in near-mint condition and was one of the items sold by the seller herschel78. This one also sold for $810.
Here’s a record I actually bid on (and lost, by $1):
Tags: Buddy DeFranco, George Wallington, Kenny Drew, Progressive Records, Tal Farlow
Who Are Those Verve Cover Models?
Jun 24, 2009 Album Covers, Verve
Here’s an oddball question from my good friend dan Axelrod. Dan was perusing some Verve covers and was curious about some of them that used female models. Here are a couple of examples:
Question: Does anyone, anywhere, have any clue who these models were and how they may have been chosen?
Price Updates: Kenny Drew, Hawk, Hank, Pres
Mar 3, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside, Savoy, Verve
We’ve been adding records to the Jazz Collector Price Guide and came upon another beautiful 10-inch LP that sold recently: The Ideation of Kenny Drew, Norgran 29. Look at this beautiful cover illustration by David Stone Martin. This record was in M- condition, both record and cover. It sold for $393.
Also for the Price Guide are:
Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This was a New York pressing with the second cover. The record and cover were in VG+ condition. The price was $165.20.
Sonny Clark, Leapin’ and Lopin’, Blue Note 84091. This was a stereo pressing with the New York USA label. The record and cover were M-. The price was $179.02.
Tags: Ben Webster, Benny Golson, Coleman Hawkins, Hank Mobley, Ike Quebec, Jaki Byard, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Lester Young, Lou Donaldson, Miles Davis, New Jazz Records, Sonny Clark, Sonny Rollins, United Artists Records, Zoot Sims
For the Price Guide: Blakey, Jackie, Jug & More
Feb 23, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Prestige, Price Guide, Verve
Here are a few recent items we’ll be adding to the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers at the Cafe Bohemia, Volume 1, Blue Note 1507. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing in VG++ condition, both record and cover. The price was $202.50. Also, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers at the Cafe Bohemia, Volume 2, Blue Note 1508. This was also an original Lexington Avenue pressing. This one was in M- condition, both record and cover. It sold for $416.
John Coltrane and Hank Mobley, Two Tenors, Prestige 7043. This is a second pressing
Tags: Argo Records, Art Blakey, Gene Ammons, Hank Mobley, Jackie McLean, Jazz Collector Price Guide, John Coltrane, Johnny Hodges, Yusef Lateef
Getz & An Autographed Stitt for the Price Guide
Feb 15, 2009 Autographs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Verve
Here are some records we’ve been watching at Jazz Collector and which will be entered soon into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. We’re big fans of the Verve label and we believe there are still bargains to be had among Verve, Norgran and Clef LPs. This one, however, usually fetches a pretty collectible price, as it did recently with two separate copies: Stan Getz in Stockholm, Verve 8213. One of these was sold by Euclid Records and went for $210.50 in M- condition, both record and cover. The other copy was sold by a relatively new seller and was in VG++ condition, both record and cover, and it sold for $205.50.
We often like to watch autographed copies of records signed by our favorite artists. Here’s one: Sonny Stitt, Prestige 7024. This was an original New York pressing signed by Stitt. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. The price was $133.61.
Some of the items we watch fail to get any bids. Here’s one: Donald Byrd, Byrd’s Eye View, Transition 4. This was in VG condition, both record and cover, and did not have a booklet. The starting price was $349 and there were no bids. We used to keep track of these in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but not anymore. Now we track records that actually sell.
Tags: Donald Byrd, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Transition Records
Today on Ebay, February 6, 2009
Feb 6, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Verve
Here are some of the interesting items we are watching today at Jazz Collector:
Here’s one from a seller who has a zero rating on eBay: Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Bag, Blue Note 4051. This is an original pressing in VG+ condition, both record and cover. The current price is $285, which is pretty high considering the lack of information about the seller.
Here’s a personal favorite, with the original cover that Blue Note changed after the first issue: Art Blakey, A Night At Birdland Volume 2, Blue Note 1522. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record is listed as VG++ and the cover is VG. The current price is about $110.
Also, Yusef Lateef, Before Dawn, Verve 8217. This is an original pressing with the trumpeter logo. The record is listed in VG++ condition and the cover is VG. The current price is $68.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, there’s this:
Tags: Art Blakey, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Yusef Lateef
For the Price Guide: Monica Zetterlund, Sonny Criss & More
Feb 1, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Price Guide, Riverside, Verve
Here are some of the items we’re entering into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. We’re not including links with these, since many of them have already appeared elsewhere on the site.
Monica Zetterlund, Waltz For Debby, Phillips 98222. This was an original Swedish pressing, with Bill Evans on piano. The record was VG++ and the cover was M-. Price: $381
Sonny Criss at the Crossroads, Peacock 91. This was an original pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. Price: $350.
Here’s one that really surprised us: Stan Getz Plays, Verve 8133. This was an original Verve wit the trumpeter logo, but the record was originally issued as Norgran 1042. So this was not really an original, and it was not in great shape: The record was VG+ and the
Tags: Art Blakey, Duke Pearson, Herbie Hancock, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Monica Zetterlund, Peacock, Phillips, Sonny Criss, Stan Getz
Selling Soon on eBay
Oct 28, 2008 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Verve
In addition to the Mobley record we just mentioned, there are some other nice items closing in the next few hours on eBay. The seller jazzsoulandfunk from Italy has a nice batch of items closing soon, including: Miles Davis, Miles, Prestige 7014. This is an original New York pressing in VG++/VG++ condition. The current price is about $300. Also from this dealer is Lester Young and His Tenor Sax Volume 1, Aladdin 801. This is an original pressing in VG+/VG+ condition. It is now at $325. The best thing to do is to go to one of these records and then click Veiw Seller’s Other Items to see what else this dealer has for sale. There’s a lot of good stuff. At Jazz Collector, we have a few items closing soon, nothing major, but the price seems right.
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Aladdin, Ben Webster, Gerry Mulligan, Lester Young, Miles Davis
Something to Complain About?
Oct 24, 2008 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Verve
Here’s a pet peeve of ours at Jazz Collector. Look at this eBay listing: Johnny Hodges, Duke’s In Bed, Verve 8203. Now anyone can see that this is not an original pressing — which would have the trumpeter logo — but is a later MGM pressing. Yet the dealer states with dogmatic certainty: “This is the absolute 1957 original pressing.” And, for emphasis, he states it in all capital letters. What bothers us is that the dealer either doesn’t know what he’s talking about, so he shouldn’t put it out there, or he’s deliberately misleading potential customers, who, really, should know better before bidding. This record is now at $31, which is not ridiculous, but is generally more than an MGM pressing would sell for. Anyway, we’ll put it out there and see if we can get some responses: What are some of the things that bother you these days? And we’ll make one other point: If you have any questions about whether something is an original pressing, come to Jazzcollector.com. If we don’t know the answer, we’ll try to find someone who does.
Tags: Johnny Hodges
Latest Additions to Price Guide
Oct 15, 2008 Autographs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Prestige, Verve
Here are updates on some of the records we’ve mentioned here in the past few days. We’re not using links with these, since there are links on these elsewhere on the site. You can just do a search if you want to look at the original. Nothing too crazy here as far as prices, but nothing at all that would lead you to believe there’s any kind of slowdown. These will also be added to the Price Guide, as soon as I finish this post. Here goes:
Ben Webster, The Consummate Artistry, Norgran 1001. When we first spotted this, it was at about $30 with just a few hours to go. It sold for $203.51. It was an original pressing in M-/VG++ condition.
Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz to Come, Atlantic 1317. This was with the bulls-eye label in VG++/VG++ condition. It sold for $72.60
Tags: Art Blakey, Atlantic, Ben Webster, Bennie Green, Columbia, Dizzy Gillespie, Donald Byrd, Horace Silver, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, Red Garland, Sabu, Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Steve Lacy, Tadd Dameron, The Three Sounds