Adventures in Jazz Collecting: The Auction, Part 6
Apr 12, 2010 10-Inch LPs, Features, Jazz Memoirs
Now we get to the batch of records that turned out to be the most pleasant surprise of all. There was at one point a group listed as such: Bill Evans, Seven Riverside LPs. There was a picture on the Web site and there was a copy of Waltz for Debby in there and perhaps an original pressing of New Jazz Conceptions as well. Anyway, I was hoping to steal this one, but once the bidding surpassed $400 I realized there was no steal to be had and I had better keep my mouth shut. The package eventually went for $650. Ah, well. However, about 15 minutes later there was another group of LPs, described as such: Bill Evans, Eleven LPs, Eight Verve and Three Riverside. There was no picture or other description. I won this lot at $80, so my total for these 11 records was $93.60. This is a great batch of music, and each record is in
Tags: Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, Tal Farlow
A Pair To Watch on eBay
Feb 21, 2010 Prestige
Here are a couple we’re watching on eBay today:
Monica Zetterlund with Bill Evans, Waltz For Debby, Phillips 08222PL. This is an original Swedish pressing. The vinyl is rated as VG++ and the cover is rated M-. The current price is a bit over $300.
Booker Ervin, The Blues Book, Prestige 7340. This is an original blue label mono pressing, The record is listed as M- and the cover looks like VG++. The current price is about $55. Curious to see how this one sells, after seeing the Don Patterson sell for more than $70 the other day.
Tags: Bill Evans, Booker Ervin, Monica Zetterlund, Phillips
Catching Up: What’s a Promo Worth?
Jan 3, 2010 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Promo Copies, Riverside
Here’s an update on some odds and ends we’ve been watching on eBay:
Zoot Sims, Stretching Out, United Artists 4023. This was an original deep groove mono pressing. It was a promo copy, with a promo stamp and the white label and it was in M- condition, for both the record and the cover. The price was $124. What do you think: Does the promo stamp enhance the value of a record for you, or detract, or neither. I recall in the world of rock albums, the promo stamp was always considered a good thing, but I’ve never heard that one way or another in the jazz world. Which leads me to this LP: Bill Evans, Waltz For Debby, Riverside 399. This was an original pressing with the white promo label. The record was
Tags: Bill Evans, Period Records, Thad Jones, United Artists Records, Zoot Sims
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
On eBay Now: Some Nice 10-Inchers, Trane, Evans
Dec 15, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside
Some of the heavy-duty jazz vinyl sellers have auctions closing in the next couple of days, so let’s see what’s coming up. We had mentioned Jazz Record Center and some of the 10-inch LPs. So far, the American 10-inch Blue Note is beating out the original French Vogue: The Gigi Gryce and Clifford Brown Sextet, Blue Note 5048, is currently at $107 with two bidders (it should sell for a lot more), while the original French Vogue, Gigi Gryce and his Orchestra Featuring Clifford Brown, Vogue 173 is at $100 with one bidder (it too should sell for a lot more). Jazz Record Center also has a few nice 12-inch LPs we are watching, including this one: Wheelin’ and Dealin’, Prestige 7131. This is an original New York pressing in near mint condition. It features an all-star sax lineup of John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette and Frank Wess. It is currently in the $300 price range.
Our friends at Euclid Records also have some nice items this week, including:
Tags: Atomic Records, Bill Evans, Clifford Brown, Euclid Records, Frank Wess, Gigi Gryce, J. R. Monterose, Jackie McLean, Jazz Record Center, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Vogue
Rollins in Concert; Memories of the Village Gate
Nov 10, 2009 Jazz Memoirs, News
I don’t get out to see live jazz nearly as much as I would like. It’s tough when most of your favorite musicians are dead. Someone did send me a link, however, to let me know that Sonny Rollins is giving a concert in Tarrytown, NY, on Dec. 6. This is one I will make every effort to attend: Don’t know how many more chances there will be to see Sonny and, the truth is, his playing is still amazing. I saw him at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival a couple of years ago and he was creative, inventive and full of energy and musicianship. This is a benefit concert for an environmental group and for a premium ticket of $500 you get to meet Sonny. There was a time when you could see Sonny in a club and just chat
Tags: Art D'Lugoff, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Village Gate
An Avalanche of Thousand-Dollar-Plus Jazz Vinyl
Oct 10, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl Fraud, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Riverside
We’ve been off line for a couple of days, just got back, went to My Ebay and noticed that the auctions of the seller Nautiluso are now in the midst of closing. Wow! Wait till you see these prices. Here’s a start:
Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. Like most of the others in this group, this was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $3,342.99.
J.R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. Condition: M- for record and cover. Price: $2,247.22
Lou Donaldson, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Blue Note 1537. Condition: M-. Price: $1,175
Hank Mobley With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan, Blue Note 1540. Condition: M-. Price: $1,705.
Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. Condition: M-. Price: $2,247.
Bill Evans, Waltz For Debby, Riverside 399. Condition: M-
Price: $1,500.
As noted, this is just a small sampling. There will be more to come. It would be great if some of the winners of this vinyl will report back to us on the condition and whether these records are, indeed, as pristine as they seem.
Tags: Bill Evans, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, JR Monterose, Jutta Hipp, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson, Rare Jazz Vinyl, Tommy Flanagan, Zoot Sims
A Pair for the $2,000 Bin & A Pair of Surprises
Sep 16, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Riverside
As we mentioned the other day, there has been an overflow of $1,000 records. Here are a few more, including a couple for the $2,000 bin:
Lee Morgan, City Lights, Blue Note 1575. This one was pointed out earlier by one of our readers. It was in M- condition by a credible seller and it was an original pressing. It sold for $2,655.
Barney Wilen, Tilt, Swing Vogue LDM 30.058. This was an original French pressing. The record ws what we would call VG++ and the cover was M-. This one sold for $2,250. This one is not new to the $2,000 club: It has previously sold for $2,700 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Sonny Criss, Jazz-USA, Imperial 9006. This was a surprise to see in this category, simply because
Tags: Barney Wilen, Bill Evans, Imperial Records, Lee Morgan, Sonny Criss, Vogue
The Incredible Rise of the $1,000 Jazz Record
Sep 14, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
The $1,000 bin truly doth runneth over days. It’s quite an interesting phenomenon.
Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1534. This was an original pressing in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. A few years ago, I bought a copy of this on eBay in similar condition for about $300. At the time, I thought I was overpaying. A few weeks ago I sold a separate copy on eBay for about $325. It was in nice condition, with a VG+ cover. This was not a record I ever expected to see in the $1,000 bin. This copy sold for $1,313.
Here’s another one I never expected to see sell for more than $1,000: Cannonball Adderley, Somethin’s Else, Blue Note 1595. This is a nice record, but has never been among the higher-priced Blue Notes. The highest price we had previously recorded for this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was around $400. This copy was in mice M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,475.
This one almost entered the $2,000 bin:
Tags: Art Pepper, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Chet Baker, Hank Mobley, Johnny Griffin, JR Monterose, Kenny Dorham, Paul Chambers, Sonny Rollins
Waltz For Debby Hits The $2,000 Bin
Jul 1, 2009 $1000 Records, Riverside
Here’s one I somehow missed: Euclid Records had a sealed copy of Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 9399, which sold recently for $2,034, which is definitely a new high for this particular record. The question I have is this: What does a collector do with a sealed record? If you want to listen to it (presumably) you have to break the seal, and thereby it is no longer a sealed record. So do you just hang on to it and admire it and realize it’s still sealed and find another copy for listening? These are the things we think about here at Jazz Collector.
Tags: Bill Evans, Euclid Records
A $1,000 Bill Evans & a Few More For The Price Guide
May 29, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Riverside
We’ve been quite busy selling some nice records on eBay and posting a few more, but we’ve still made time to keep an eye on some of the interesting collectibles that other people are selling. Here’s an update, all of which will be entered into the Jazz Collector Price Guide sometime over the weekend:
Bill Evans, New Jazz Conceptions, Riverside 223. This was an original white label pressing with the original cover. The cover is one of the things that makes this so collectible, since subsequent versions were released with another cover. For this copy, the record was in M- condition and the cover was listed as VG/VG+. The price was $1,136.
Phil Woods, Warm Woods, Epic 3436. This was an original pressing with the yellow label. The record and the cover were both in M- condition. The price was $555.
Helen Merrill, Emarcy 36006. This was the original pressing of this LP, which features
Tags: Bill Evans, Clifford Brown, Emarcy Records, Epic Records, Helen Merrill, Jazztime Records, Phil Woods, Rocky Boyd
For the Price Guide: Benny Green, Gil Melle, Bill Evans
May 11, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
Here are a few more items for the Jazz Collector Price Guide. By the time you read this we may have surpassed more than 4,000 records listed in the guide. Not bad. Please take a look.
Bennie Green with Art Farmer, Prestige 7041. This was an original New York pressing. The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was VG+. The price was $131.50. I have a small affinity for this record: I was browsing the $25 cent bin at one of the local record stores on Long Island, and an original copy of this was sitting in there. Clearly the guy who priced jazz records was out ill the day this one arrived in the store.
Bill Evans, Waltz For Debby, Riverside 399. This was an original blue label mono pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG++. The price was $365.
Lou Donaldson, Lou Takes Off, Blue Note 1591. This was an original West 63rd Street
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Tags: Art Farmer, Bennie Green, Bill Evans, Blue Mitchell, Gil Melle, Lou Donaldson
For the Price Guide: Tina Brooks, Shades of Redd
May 1, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
Here are still a few more for the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This have already been logged into the database, so you can see them if you click on the price guide.
Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note 5056. This was an original 10-inch LP in VG+ conditon, both record and cover. The price was $330.
Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing, Blue Note 4038. This was a second pressing in M- condition. The price was $191.30.
Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time, Blue Note 4001. This was an original West 63rd street pressing in VG+ condition, both record and cover. It sold for $598.
Here’s a real heavyweight we’ve talked about previously:
Tags: Beverly Kenney, Bill Evans, Decca Records, Freddie Redd, Jackie McLean, John Coltrane, Jutta Hipp, Sonny Rollins, Tina Brooks
For the Price Guide: Newk, Evans, Tina Brooks
Apr 16, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
Here are some items we’ve been watching. I know we’ve been talking about a lull on eBay, but when you look at these prices they seem to be holding pretty steady. All of these will be entered into the Jazz Collector Price Guide as soon as I have time, probably this weekend. By the way, there are no links with these items: Most of the links have appeared somewhere on the site already.
Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time, Blue Note 4001. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG+. The price was $598.
Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note 5056. This was an original 10-inch LP in VG+ condition, both record and cover. The price was $330.
Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing, Blue Note 4038. This seemed to be an original pressing, although the seller didn’t say anything about deep grooves. It was in M- condition, both record and cover, and
Tags: Beverly Kenny, Bill Evans, Decca Records, Freddie Redd, Jackie McLean, Jazz Collector Price Guide, John Coltrane, Jutta Hipp, Sonny Rollins, Tina Brooks
Price Updates: Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Duke Pearson
Mar 5, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
Some more for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This was an original pressing in M- condition, both record and cover. The price was $610.
Phil Woods, Pairing Off, Prestige 7046. This was an original pressing with the New York label. The record and cover were M-. The price was $338.
Bill Evans, Moonbeams, Riverside 428. This was an original pressing with the blue label.
Tags: Anita O'Day, Bill Evans, Cecil Taylor, David Stone Martin, Duke Pearson, Lester Young, Miles Davis, Period Records, Phil Woods, Sonny Rollins, Transition Records
Price Updates: Thad, Clifford, Bird, Evans
Mar 1, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Clef, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Price Guide, Riverside
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
Tags: Art Blakey, Art Pepper, Barney Wilen, Bill Evans, Charlie Parker, Chet Baker, Clef Records, Clifford Brown, Emarcy Records, Guide Du Jazz, Hank Mobley, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Johnny Hodges, Lou Donaldson, New Jazz Records, Thad Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Toshiko Akiyoshi, World Pacific Records
Today on EBay, Feburary 13, 2009
Feb 13, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Riverside
We mentioned yesterday that both Euclid Records and The Jazz Record Center would have some nice items up for auction today. Here are a few of them, starting with Eucid: The Ideation of Kenny Drew, Norgran 29. This is an original 10-inch LP in M- condition, both record and cover. The current price is a little more than $200. Also, The Elmo Hope Trio, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5029. This is an original 10-inch LP in M- condition. The current price is about $240. From The Jazz Record Center: The Bill Evans Trio, Portrait in Jazz, Riverside 315. This is an original pressing. The vinyl is M- and the cover looks to be VG++. The current price is $255. If you want to see what else these two leading sellers are auctioning today, go to these links and then view their other items.
Tags: Bill Evans, Elmo Hope, Euclid Records, Jazz Record Center, Kenny Drew
Today on eBay, January 29, 2009
Jan 29, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Savoy
Some nice items today on eBay. We’re selling a few that are closing today. The ones that have received the most attention (bids) are: Wynton Kelly, VeeJay 3011. This is an original pressing in pretty nice shape. It has seven bids and is at $54; and Yusef Lateef, Prayer to the East, Savoy 12117. This is in near mint condition, but it is the maroon label. The current price is $87. If you missed it yesterday, we’ll also selling our first record right off the Jazz Collector site, The Resurgence of Dexter Gordon, Jazzland 929. For details you can look at the post below. Other items we’re watching today:
Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 3, Blue Note 5039. This is an original 10-inch LP in M- condition. The current price is $235.50. Another Blue Note is Horace Parlan, Up and Down, Blue Note 4082. This is a New York USA pressing
Tags: Art Blakey, Atomic Records, Bill Evans, Birdland, Dexter Gordon, Herbie Hancock, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Jazzland Records, Kenny Dorham, Monica Zetterlund, Phillips, Sheila Jordan, Wynton Kelly, Yusef Lateer
From the Archives: A $38,000 Bill Evans Letter: A $129,000 Trane Manuscript
Oct 10, 2008 Autographs, Features, Prestige
Here at Jazz Collector, we usually focus on jazz records, mostly what’s bought and sold on eBay. There are lots of reasons for that but, fundamentally, the reason is that we believe eBay sets the market’s prices. What’s more it’s a public market, so everyone can see it and monitor it and decide if he or she wants to participate. And finally, it’s a true worldwide market. Check out The Great eBay Debate for other opinions. But there are, we recognize, other places for jazz collectibles, and other objects d’jazz than vinyl. We were reminded of this as we were going through our archives and came across this article from 2005 referencing a huge sale of jazz collectibles by the auction house Guernsey’s. I’ll repost the whole item below, but note just a couple of items: The Bill Evans letter to John Coltrane that sold for more than $38,000 and the original manuscript and text for Trane’s A Love Supreme, which sold for more than $129,000.
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Tags: Bill Evans, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Gerry Mulligan, Guernsey's, John Coltrane
Some New Items For the Price Guide
Oct 6, 2008 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Riverside
Sorry I haven’t posted since yesterday morning. I’ll do a couple tonight to catch up. Meanwhile, I’ve been updating the Price Guide with some new entries. Here are some of the items I’m putting in, no links, just the items and their prices. Keep an eye on the site for a view of upcoming eBay items as well as a review of what happened over the weekend.
Dave Bailey, Reaching Out, Jazztime 003. This was an original pressing in VG+/VG+ condition. Price: $348
Bill Evans, Sunday at the Village Vanguard, Riverside 9376. This was an original stereo pressing with the black label in M-/VG++ condition. Price: $296
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Tags: Benny Green, Bill Evans, Bud Powell, Dave Bailey, Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, Jazztime, Sonny Rollins, Village Vanguard
Song For My Father
Sep 9, 2008 Jazz Memoirs
A Jazz Memoir By Al Perlman
Jazz was always in my life. It was my father’s great love. I grew up in a tiny first-floor garden apartment in Bayside, Queens, five of us with one bathroom, a small kitchen, two bedrooms, two closets, a living room and another family living in equally cramped quarters directly above us. There wasn’t much space and my mother made it even smaller by banning us from the living room. This was our “show” room to be kept in pristine condition and used only when we had guests: We weren’t permitted to sit in it or talk in it or eat in it or do anything in it. My mother kept plastic on the furniture and took it off only when there was company. The one exception was when my father was home and wanted to listen to jazz. That’s where he had his great big Fisher console with the hi-fi and radio.
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Tags: Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Billy Eckstine, Cannonball Adderley, Dave Brubeck, Horace Silver, Jimmy Smith, Lee Morgan, Sonny Rollins
Interesting Stuff on eBay
Jan 21, 2008 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Verve
Just as an update: I’m not posting regularly for the site yet. I’m a couple of weeks away from resuming selling on eBay and then doing regular posts. For those of you who have found — or re-found — the site, please continue to be patient. Once I’m fully up and running, I’ll be posting every day about interesting jazz collectibles, and I’ll also be selling records here off the site. I’m also hoping to resume my price guides, and get the old ones posted from 2004 and 2005.In the meantime, here are a few interesting items I’ve been watching: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This one has a $5,500 Buy-It-Now price, which is the highest we’ve ever seen.
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Tags: Bill Evans, Hank Mobley, Jutta Hipp, Louis Smith, Zoot Sims
The Gift Of Hindsight
Jun 16, 2004 Impulse, Jazz Vinyl, Prestige, Riverside
One of the pleasures of having an extensive jazz collection is that it gives you the opportunity to go back and review the history of jazz in real time, as it was happening. This is particularly the case when you look at old issues of Downbeat or Metronome, or review old liner notes, an art form that began approaching extinction with the advent of the compact disc format. In any case, allow me to share some interesting stuff from my archives.
Downbeat, January 18, 1962
Review: John Coltrane, Africa/Brass, Impulse 6
This record was a departure for Coltrane: The first time he ever played with a brass section. It is now regarded as a classic, rightfully so, particularly the title cut, which makes up the entire first side of the album. At the time, however, the Downbeat reviewer, Martin Williams, didn’t see it that way. He gave it only two stars, out of a possible five. Here’s a sample from the review:
Tags: Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Downbeat, Impulse, Ira Gitler, John Coltrane, Metronome, Philly Joe Jones
Is That Bill Evans With Tony Scott?
May 12, 2004 10-Inch LPs, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
Today we answer a couple of questions from readers and keep our ongoing eye on eBay.
Q. It always drives me crazy when records don’t list all the musicians. I was recently listening to a copy of The Touch of Tony Scott on the RCA label. The pianist sounded like Bill Evans, but I wasn’t sure. Can you please tell me who is on this album?
A. Good ears. The pianist is Bill Evans, very early in his career. You can hear him very effectively on “Round Midnight.” The album was recorded by three different bands on three dates in 1956.
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Tags: Bill Evans, Charlie Mariano, Clifford Brown, Emarcy, Fantasy, Georgie Auld, Jazz Collector Questions, Miles Davis, Pacific Jazz, RCA, Russ Freeman, Tony Scott