The Van Gelder Stamp
Interesting article in The Wall Street Journal on Rudy Van Gelder, New Jersey Jazz Revolution. Here’s an interesting quote about Alfred Lion that kind of summarizes why Blue Note tends to be the more collectible label versus Prestige: ”Alfred was rigid about how he wanted Blue Note records to sound. But Bob Weinstock of Prestige was more easygoing, so I’d experiment on his dates and use what I learned on the Blue Note sessions.”
A Visit to the Jazz Record Center
Feb 5, 2011 Blue Note
Thanks to everyone for the kind birthday wishes. For all of you hoping to experience the pursuit of a rare jazz record vicariously through my adventure yesterday . . . I have to disappoint, unfortunately. After a lovely lunch with with the young JCs — who treated, by the way — the lovely Mrs. JC and I headed to the Jazz Record Center with great hope and enthusiasm. We got there, I said a quick hello to Fred and then started perusing the bins. In the background I could hear Fred and Mrs. JC engaged in lively conversation. I worried briefly that she might be making a deal to sell my entire collection, but it was only a fleeting concern. I started with the new arrivals and was a bit disappointed when there was nothing there of interest to me. There was a nice original Bud Powell on Norgran, but I already own a copy. An Art Farmer on New Jazz, but it was a reissue. There were a couple of other decent records, but nothing that would really add to my collection. I then went around the store, bin after bin, in search of that one record that would commemorate the day. I went through the Mobleys, Morgans, McLeans . . . and Getz . . . Dexter . . . Blakey . . . Bird . . . Fats . . . maybe a nice 10-incher on Savoy, or even a Bird 78 on Dial? Alas, I didn’t find anything. But I had one last hope.
Tags: Blue Note, Hutta Hipp, Jazz Record Center
Updates: $1,000 Bin, Dizzy, Sonny, Trane
Jan 28, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Impulse, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran
Still updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide. It can be a bit tedious, but it’s important, isn’t it? Let’s hope so. Anyway, here are a few items on the extremes: A couple more for the $1,000 bin and a few that normally don’t make the Price Guide but, for one reason or another, have broken through.
First the big ones: Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This was an original pressing and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,300. Also, Paul Chambers Quintet, Blue Note 1564. This was an original pressing. The record and cover looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition. The price was $1,032.
Here are a couple that don’t often get collectible prices: Dizzy Gillespie, Afro, Norgran 1003. This was an original yellow label pressing with a cover design by David Stone Martin. It was only in VG condition and sold for $72. That may not be a Blue Note price, but it is still somewhat surprising. Few of the Dizzy record
Tags: Blue Note, David Stone Martin, Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz Vinyl, John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman, Paul Chambers, Sonny Rollins, Walter Davis
Price Update: 10-Inch LPs by Miles, Prez . . .
Jan 27, 2010 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Norgran
We’ve been updating Prestige and Blue Note. Here are some 10-inch LPs for the Jazz Collector Price Guide:
Miles Davis Sextet, Prestige 182. This was in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. We were thinking about bidding on this because the price was right, but in the end we’re getting rid of records, not adding records. We do have to remind ourselves of this, constantly, each time we see a nice item on eBay, which is several times a day. Anyway, this one sold for $102.50. That’s a pretty attractive price and was in my range. This was in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was $233.50.
Howard McGhee Volume 2, Blue Note 5024. This was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and sold for $234.
Here are a couple of nice 10-inch LPs by Lester Young:
Tags: Blue Note, Herbie Nichols, Howard McGhee, Jazz Vinyl, Jutta Hipp, Lester Young, Miles Davis, Prestige, Roost Records, Stan Getz
For the Price Guide: A Blue Note Bonanza
Jan 26, 2010 Blue Note, Price Guide
We’ve been quite busy updating the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so we will do a few posts over the next few days highlighting some of the new entries, starting with some Blue Notes, of course. There are no links to these, FYI.
Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address and just one side deep groove. The record was listed in VG+ condition for both the vinyl and the cover and it sold for $285.
Baby Face Willette, Stop and Listen, Blue Note 4084. This was an original pressing with the NY USA label. the record looked to be in VG++ condition for both the vinyl and the cover. It sold for $200.
This one sold for a big price, but it didn’t seem to be an original pressing:
Tags: Andy Warhol, Baby Face Willette, Blue Note, Dizzy Reece, Donald Byrd, Eric Dolphy, Hank Mobley, Jazz Vinyl, John Jenkins, Kenny Burrell, Kenny Drew
On EBay Now: Griffin, Red, Blakey, Bird
Jan 15, 2010 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Prestige
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
Tags: Art Blakey, Blue Note, Charlie Parker, Dial Records, Jazz Vinyl, Johnny Griffin, Red Garland
Quickie Quiz
Mar 11, 2009 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Questions
How many 10-inch LPs did Blue Note issue in its 5000 Series? Bonus: What was the first LP issued in this series?
Tags: Blue Note
Leo Parker LP — And The Winner Is . . .
Feb 27, 2009 Blue Note, Free Collectibles
Read the rest of this entry »
It’s time to announce the winner of the free record, Leo Parker, Rollin’ With Leo, Blue Note BST 84095. This is the 1986 release of this LP, which was the first time it was released with the cover art and catalog number that was originally intended by Blue Note in 1962. What’s more, this is a promo copy, with a promo stamp on the cover. The record is in VG+ condition and the cover is M-. The rules of the contest are simple: All you have to do is post a comment on the Jazz Collector site, anywhere on the site. Over the past two weeks, since we’ve been running the contest, we’ve had quite a bit of commenting on the site, but as I looked back, it’s not that many people. There are only six eligible to win the record. They are: Jason, Rudolf, Michel, Bethellodge, Mike M and Erich Schultz. And the winner is . . . .
Tags: Blue Note, Leo Parker
Sonny Plus 4, The Real Deal
Feb 19, 2009 Free Collectibles, Prestige
Yesterday we posed the question about the original cover to Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. Michel provided us with the correct answer and here, from our own collection, is a picture of the original cover. By commenting on the site, Michel became eligible to win the Leo Parker record on Blue Note that we are giving away. There’s only a little bit more than a week left in the contest, so please comment on the site if you would like to be eligible to win it. By the way, the copy of Sonny Rollins Plus Four that was on eBay yesterday, wound up selling for $165.
Tags: Blue Note, Leo Parker, Sonny Rollins
And The Winner Is (Part 2) . . .
Nov 5, 2008 Features, Free Collectibles
Yes, Barack Obama. YAY!!!!!! Not quite as important, we do have a winner of our latest record give-away. Early this morning we asked our lovely bride, Mrs. Jazz Collector, to pick from the seven names who entered our contest to give away the record, Wayne Shorter, Adam’s Apple, Blue Note 84232. And the name she picked — Michael Haensch. So Michael if you’re out there, you can send an email to me at al(at)jazzcollector.com with your mailing address and contact information, and we’ll send you the Wayne Shorter LP. We’ll be posting another item in the next day or two giving away yet another record. Why? Why not? Stay tuned.
Tags: Blue Note, Wayne Shorter
Win A Free Record, Part 2
Oct 21, 2008 Blue Note, Free Collectibles
A few weeks ago at Jazz Collector we tried to give away a free record and no one seemed to want it. We posted a Bob Brookmeyer record on the site and simply asked people to leave a comment. No one did. But we gave the record away anyway, and we’re happy to say it has arrived safe and sound in its new home. I will post the note of thanks separately. Anyway, we are not ones to give up too easily, so we are back to try and give away another record. This time it’s Wayne Shorter, Adam’s Apple, Blue Note 84232. This is a great record with Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Reggie Workman and Joe Chambers. This is not an original — we’re generous, but not that generous — but a 1985 reissue from the original historical master tape. The record and cover are both in M- condition. We have one copy to give away, so this is a contest, but you don’t have to do anything to enter the contest except leave a comment on this post.
Tags: Blue Note, Bob Brookmeyer, Prestige, Wayne Shorter
A $2,000 Record
Jan 3, 2008 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
After I posted yesterday’s item about the $1,000 Gil Melle record, I did a quick search of jazz records recently sold on eBay with a price tag of $2,000 or more. The result? This copy of Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims on Blue Note 1530 sold for $2,534, with 15 bidders. I also spent some time looking ahead on eBay for the remainder of the day. There’s a nice copy of John Coltrane’s Blue Train coming up later, and one seller has a bunch of nice 10-inch LPs, but the price tags are way high in comparison with their value. We’ll keep you posted as we find interesting items.
Tags: Blue Note, John Coltrane, Jutta Hipp, Zoot Sims
A $1,000 Record
Jan 2, 2008 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Riverside
You don’t see too many jazz records selling for more than $1,000. Here’s a recent Gil Melle, Patterns in Jazz, Blue Note 1517, that sold for $1,225. It helped that the record was in mint condition, was an original and was being sold by a highly reputable dealer. Back when I was doing the site regularly, there was huge discussion when a copy of Monk’s Music, Riverside 342, sold eBay for $3,061.50. Here’s what I wrote at the time:
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Blue Note, Gil Melle, John Coltrane, Riverside, Thelonious Monk

