A Blue Note Favorite: Is It The One?

Here’s an interesting item I was watching on eBay. Art Blakey, Buhaina’s Delight, Blue Note 4104. This was an original pressing with the NY USA label. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $172.01, which is relatively high for this record. Ever since I got into that Blue Note head a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been thinking about doing a post on my favorite Blue Note album, which Downbeat did about a year ago with a bunch of jazz artists. I will try to dig out my copy and do a subsequent post. My problem with choosing my favorite Blue Note is this: Every time I think I come up with the one album, I think about another and, to be honest,  I’m having a hard time settling on one. I will say, however, that this album is a top contender, is definitely a finalist and may even emerge as the winner. We’ll see. Hopefully I will get around to doing the post. I can tell you how much I love this album: Even though

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Catching Up: Blakey on Elektra, Capuchin Swing

Let’s catch up on a few recent eBay sales.

This one was sold by the Jazz Record Center: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, A Midnight Session, Elektra 120. This was an original mono pressing. Frankly, this is not a record I’ve seen very often and I had no idea what kind of value it had as a collectible. I own a copy, although mine is a stereo pressing. I’ve been going through a lot of my records to catalog them for insurance purposes and because it’s kind of fun in an obsessive compulsive psychotic neurotic kind of way. My copy is in VG+ condition, and I estimated its value at $35. This one was in M- condition and sold for $228. Perhaps I’ll have to adjust my spreadsheet.

I should have been on this one: Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing, Blue Note 4038. This one was listed a West 63rd but it did not mention

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On EBay Now: Griffin, Red, Blakey, Bird

EBay is loaded with nice jazz vinyl this weekend. Some of the top sellers are back in action, it seems. Here are some of the items we’re watching:

Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1559. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing that is listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. When we looked at this item last night the top bid was only $99. We thought we might be able to steal it for a decent price and we put in a Bidnip bid of about $230. Alas, no such luck for Jazz Collector today. The record is closing in a couple of hours and it is currently at about $425.

This seller has been selling some very nice records that seem to be in absolutely beautiful condition, including this: Red Garland, High Pressure, Prestige 7209. This is an original pressing in near mint condition and, from the picture with the listing it looks absolutely pristine, the cover as well. The current

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In the Mood for Some Vintage Jazz? Check this Out

Are you guys familiar with the Web site Wolfgang’s Vault? Among other things, they purchase the rights to older concerts and make them available for downloads (for a price) or just for a listen while you’re online. I mention them because they have acquired rights to a bunch of concerts from the Newport Jazz Festival and have posted a couple of dozen on the site already. As I type this I am listening to the Horace Silver Quintet playing Sister Sadie from July 3, 1959. The clarity of the recording is fantastic.  They also have Dizzy, Monk, The MJQ, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Oscar Peterson and others from the same concert. I’ve listened to some of the Monk and some of the Blakey (“Moanin'”) and the sound quality was equally good. This is definitely worth your time to check out.

On Ebay: Evaluating and Re-Evaluating

Had an interesting eBay experience today. I’m selling a bunch of records now on eBay. Here’s one, for example: Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 2, Blue Note 1522. This is a Lexington Avenue pressing if anyone is interested. Anyway, a potential buyer asked about another record I had listed. He wanted to know if there was any surface noise. I had listed the item in VG+ condition. When I listed it last week, I listened to one side and it was clean. When I got the question this morning, I listened to the other side, which did, indeed, have some surface noise. I felt like my original listing was a bit misleading, so I ended the auction early and

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Tracking Some Nice 10-Inch Jazz Vinyl

Here are a few nice 10-inch LPs we’ve been watching.

Gigi Gryce and Clifford Brown Sextet, Blue Note 5048. This was a beautiful copy in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $579.

The Amazing Bud Powell Volume 2, Blue Note 5041. This was listed as VG for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price was $90.97. As someone said in one of the comments recently, the Bud Powells seem to be in less demand than some of the other Blue Notes.

Elmo Hope Quintet, Blue Note 5044. This was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and cover, which is a classic. The price was $305.

Art Blakey, A Night At Birdland Volume 2, Blue Note 5038. This one was also in nice condition — VG++ for the vinyl and M- for the cover. The price was $305. 03.

And yet another Blue Note:

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Watching Some Blue Notes

Time to catch up on some recent Blue Note listings. There seemed to be a mania there for a few weeks that may be subsiding. Something to keep an eye on.

The Magnificent Thad Jones Volume 3, Blue Note 1546. This was an original pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. The price was $510. This is not one that would be an indicator of the subsiding mania. It’s actually more visible in some of the records I’m watching today and tomorrow.

Charlie Rouse, Bossa Nova Bacchanal, Blue Note 4119. This was probably an original pressing, although the seller did not mention anything about deep grooves. It was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $202.50.

Miles Davis Volume One, Blue Note 1501. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The

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Another For the $1,000 Bin

We haven’t been watching eBay as closely since we bought the collection in Trenton recently. We’ve been spending a lot of time washing and cleaning records. Fortunately, the results of our efforts are starting to bear fruit and a couple of the items from the collection finally made their way to eBay yesterday, including Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1534,  and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers a the Cafe Bohemia, Volume 1, Blue Note 1507.  We did, however, take note of another item that recently surpassed the $1,000 price barrier, and that is: Bent Axen, Poll Winner 59. This was an original Danish pressing, Fona Klubben 416. The seller said that this label was kind of notorious for bad pressings and bubbles in the pressings, but this was listed as a perfect copy of the record as well as the cover. The price was $1,540.

Catching Up on Some More Blue Note LPs

Here’s an update on some Blue Notes we were watching last week. All of these have already been entered into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. 

Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand, Blue Note 4019. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address in M- condition, both record and cover. It sold for $364.99.

At Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 2, Blue Note 1522. This was an original pressing with the original cover and the Lexington Avenue address. It was in VG+ condition, both record and cover, and sold for $332.

The Amazing Bud Powell, Blue Note 5003. This was an original 10-inch pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was M-. The price was $199.

George Wallington Showcase, Blue Note 5045. This was also a 10-inch LP.

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Price Updates: Thad, Clifford, Bird, Evans

Here are a few more for the Price Guide:

Chet Baker and Art Pepper, Playboys, World Pacific 1234. This was an original pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $318.

The Magnificent Thad Jones, Blue Note 1527. This was a Lexington Avenue pressing in VG++ condition, record and cover. Price: $565.

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers at the Bohemia Volume 2, Blue Note 1508. This was also a Lexington Avenue pressing in VG++ condition. Price: $162.50

Tommy Flanagan, The Cats, New Jazz 8217. This was an original purple label pressing

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