Dizzy Gillespie and Stan Getz, Diz and Getz, Verve 8141. This was an original pressing with the trumpeter logo. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG+, although it seemed to have original shrink wrap. The start price was $29.95. There were no bidders. Really? When I started collecting this would have been a nice commodity, hard to find, great artists, great collectible label. And it’s got quite a nice cover to boot. Now it’s not worth thirty bucks? Wow. How about Stan Getz and Chet Baker, Stan Meets Chet, Verve 8263. This one says “trumpet logo” in the headline, but there’s no picture of the label so I actually have to wonder if it is original. The record was listed in VG++ condition, close to M-, and the cover was VG+. The price was $57.

Sal Salvador, Frivolous Sal, Bethlehem 59. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $75 and, frankly, I didn’t think it would get that much. Is there really still interest in Sal Salvador? Probably not. But there is interest, deservedly so, for Eddie Costa, and he’s a sideman on this LP. I would think Costa’s presence is the bigger interest here.

Oliver Nelson, The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Impulse A-5. Interesting that the seller listed it as a Bill Evans album. I guess there’s some logic, if you don’t really know the album. Evans is listed first on the cover. It’s not alphabetical — it looks like a graphic decision: The names are listed in ascending order in size, smallest to largest, so they stack like a pyramid. Anyway, this was VG+ for the record and cover and it sold for $140.50.

I didn’t realize this was a $200 record: Dorothy Ashby, Afro-Harping, Cadet 809. This was still sealed, had 12 bids and sold for $200 on the nose. Can’t recall that I’ve ever seen a Cadet record get that kind of price. Do collectors really want/value this record so much more than Diz and Getz? Guess so. Never been that big a fan of the jazz harp myself.

Miles Davis All Stars Volume 2, Prestige 200. This looks to be an original pressing with the yellow label, probably one of the first Prestiges to have the famous yellow label. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+. The price was $204.50.

I think this was the first LP issued by Blue Note: Mellow The Mood, Blue Note 5001. It features Ike Quebec, Benny Morton, Buck Clayton and others. The record was VG and the cover was VG++. You’d think it would fetch a high price just for the historic value. But, alas, this copy did not: It sold for $28.

I’ve never seen this one and it has quite a cool cover: Bill Jennings/Leo Parker Quintet, Billy in the Lion’s Den, King 527. This was listed in VG condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $81.

Hard to find this one in M- condition, but here was a copy: Gerry Mulligan Quartet, With Chet Baker, Pacific Jazz 5. It sold for $115.52.

And now for some 10-inch Blue Notes:

Hank Mobley Quartet, Blue Note 5066. We’ve seen this one fetch some high prices lately, but this seems a little ridiculous: The record was in VG- condition, which means barely playable, and the cover was VG+. It sold for $510. Tal Farlow Quartet, Blue Note 5042. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $140.26.  Gigi Gryce/Clifford Brown Sextet, Blue Note 5048. This was in VG condition for the record and the cover and sold for $249.50. Lou Donaldson, New Faces, New Sounds, Blue Note 5021. This was in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $151.50. Jay Jay Johnson, Blue Note 5028. This one was in VG+ condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $170. Finally there was Clifford Brown, New Star on the Horizon, Blue Note 5032. The vinyl was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was listed in in VG++ condition as well, although there seemed to be clear damage to the cover in the picture, if you check out the link. I would have been wary looking at the picture, but the winning bidder was not: This one sold for $468.

Hank Mobley, No Room For Squares, Blue Note 4149. This looks to be an original pressing, with the New York USA label and the ear, and it is listed in M- condition for the record and what looks to be VG++ for the cover. You may recall that a recent copy of this record sold for $1,009. I’m sure the seller here, Atomic Records, noticed as well. This one is currently in the $130 range but has yet to meet the seller’s reserve price.

Sonny Clark, Dial S For Sonny, Blue Note 1570. This is an original pressing with the West 63rd label, deep groove, etc., and it is listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The current price is around $425 and there is still one day left on the auction.

This one doesn’t usually go for a big price, but it is in nice condition and it is a promo copy (it’s also a fantastic record, musically): John Coltrane, Live at Birdland, Impulse 50. This has the white promo label and is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It has one bid, but the price is $198.

This one is a beauty and it still has a few days to go: Lester Young, The President Plays with the Oscar Peterson Trio, Norgran 1054. This has a great cover by David Stone Martin and it is an original yellow-label pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It is currently in the $75 range, with lots of time to go.

Chet Baker Sings, Pacific Jazz 1222. This is an original pressing, also with a terrific cover, and it looks to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It has a couple of days to go and is in the price range of $90.

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:

J.R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This was an original pressing with the Lexington Avenue address. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG++, with tape on the seams. It was signed by Ira Sullivan. It sold for $1,913.

Lest you assume this phenomenon is limited strictly to Blue Notes, how about this record selling for more than $1,000: Chet Baker, Chet, Riverside 299? The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $1,137. I know this record is aided by the presence of Bill Evans, but we’ve never seen it sell for a price nearly this steep. There are others to add to this list. I will give more details in a later post, but some of the other $1,000 records to add to the Price Guide include: Sonny Rollins at the Village Vanguard; Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus; Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1550; The Return of Art Pepper; Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, and Kenny Dorham Afro-Cuban.

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

blue label pressing. The cover was in VG condition and the vinyl was listed as VG++ or better. It sold for $103.99.

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

in VG+ condition, record and cover. Price: $171.30

Hank Mobley, Hank, Blue Note 1560. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition. Price: $436

The Magnificent Charlie Parker, Clef 646. This was an original pressing with the David Stone Martin cover in M- condition. Price: $317

Bill Evans, Portraits in Jazz, Riverside 315. This was an original blue label pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $540.

Barney Wilen Quintet, Guide Du Jazz 1239. This was an original French pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $766.60.

Toshiko Akiyoshi, Toshika, Norgran 22. This was an original 10-inch pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $325.

Johnny Hodges, In a Tender Mood, Norgran 1059. This was an original yellow label pressing. The record was M- and the cover was M-. The price was $201.50.

Clifford Brown, Study in Brown, Emarcy 36037. This was an original blue label pressing with the drummer logo. It was in immaculate M- condition, record and cover. The price was $424. 

Finally, Lou Donaldson, Swing and Soul, Blue Note 1566. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was just VG and the cover was VG+. The price was $180.27.

Gigi Gryce, Rat Race Blues, New Jazz 8262. This was an original pressing, deep groove, purple label. Both the record and cover were in M- condition. Price: $205.50

Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House, Blue Note 1515. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was VG- and the cover was VG. Price: $201.50

Art Farmer Quintet with Gigi Gryce, Prestige 209. This is a 10-inch LP. Record was M- and the cover was VG+. Price: $190

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. Price: $435

Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand, Blue Note 4019. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. Price: $232.82

Dexter Gordon, Daddy Plays the Horn, Bethlehem 36. This was an original deep groove mono pressing with the red label. Record was VG++, cover was VG+. Price: $400

Blue Mitchell, Out of the Blue, Riverside 293. This was an original pressing with the blue label. Record was M- and the cover was VG++. Price: $296.60

Chet Baker and Art Pepper, Playboys, World Pacific 11234. This was an original pressing. Record was M- and cover was VG+. Price: $371

Max Roach, We Insist, Candid 8002. This was an original mono pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. Price: $75

Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was an original pressing in VG condition. Price: $415

Dave Burns, Warming Up, Vanguard 9143. This was an original pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG+. Price: $90

Donald Byrd, Fuego, Blue Note 4026. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address. Record and cover were M-. Price: $317

Please check out the Jazz Collector Price Guide whenever you get a chance. We try to update it every week, but are not always fully successful.

I opened up my New York Times this morning to the news that the great jazz photographer William Claxton had died at age 80. Claxton was one of the great jazz photographers, mainly on the West Coast, and he was most noted for his great, almost obsessive, work in shooting the young Chet Baker. His first jazz photography was in album covers, and he was something of a house photographer for Pacific Jazz Records. In some cases, the value of some of the top collectible records are, in part, a tribute to his innovative and interesting covers. One that comes to mind, in addition to the Baker LPs on Pacific Jazz, is Sonny Rollins’ Way Out West on Contemporary, with Sonny notably dressed in a 10-gallon hat and holster with his tenor slung at his side like a weapon, which it was in Sonny’s hands. In addition to his notable work on jazz covers, we highly recommend a book of Claxton’s photography, called Claxography, which was published in 1995. We took a look on Amazon and there were several used copies available, ranging in price from $45 to $100. In Claxton’s own words, here is an excerpt from Claxography that describes his approach to photographing jazz musicians:

“Why photograph jazz musicians? I’ve been asked that a few times. First, and most important, I love their music. But I am also fascinated by the diverse qualities they possess. They have an ingenuousness, a sort of open, innocent attitude. Yet at the same time they display a strong discipline in their dedication to their craft. And I also admire their individualism: Their differences in character and their musical expression.

“I am just as intrigued by the movements and body language of musicians while they play. I study them carefully before photographing them, much like I would watch a dancer, an actor, or even an ordinary person performing an ordinary task. I note how their faces and bodies reflect or catch the light; when and at what angles they look their best. I do all of this, of course, while listening to their playing. In a sense, I listen with my eyes.”

Another day, another thousand or so records on eBay. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to go through them all and it may as well be me. Here are some of the items we’re watching over the next couple of days: Don Sleet, All Members, Jazzland 45

After you click this item do yourself a favor and click “View Seller’s Other Items.” You will see some great records in great condition that will sell for high prices.

This is another dealer with some good items this week. Art Taylor, Taylor’s Wailers, Prestige 7117

One of these days we will get this record, but not this week. The price tag of $450 is already a little too steep. This is the dealer JBLD44000 again. He has many, many, many rare collectibles at high prices the next two days. After you look at Taylor’s Wailers take a look at his other items.

Wow, look at this next item: A copy of Charlie Parker, The Bird Blows The Blues, Dial 901. According to the seller, there were only 300 of these pressed and they were distributed directly by Dial’s owner Ross Russell through an ad in Downbeat. The price on this was around $150 when we posted this. We’ll be curious to see how high it goes and whether it cracks the reserve price. Kenny Dorham, Jazz Contrasts, Riverside 239

This one has us a bit baffled. The price is already over $220 and it’s not an original pressing: The original pressing of this LP has a white label. The high price must be related to condition, right?

That’s what we’re watching. Now here are some of the items we were watching the past few days. Paul Chambers, Bass on Top, Blue Note 1569. This was an original pressing in approximately VG+/VG+ condition. Price: $202.5. Chet Baker, Chet, Riverside 299. Condition of this looked very nice and was graded M-/M-. Price: $212.49

Tubby Hayes, Down in the Village, Fontana 680 998. This also was in very nice condition, graded M-/M-. Price: $795

Then there were the two gorgeous looking Bird on Dial 10-inch LPs. You rarely see records this rare in this condition. I expected them to go for high prices and they did, each one fetching the same $705.50. Here they are: Charlie Parker, Dial 203; Charlie Parker, Dial 201

And here’s a rare New York pressing of Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079.  The dealer graded this VG++/VG++, but the picture didn’t seem to reflect that grading. The price was $609, which is actually kind of low for a clean New York pressing of this LP. Here it is:

Finally, there were several auctions we were watching from the dealer Dirtcup. He had an amazing group of Thelonious Monk LPs, plus a few others, that seemed to be in pristine condition. We bid on several items and fell short on every single one.  Below are some of the items we were watching. Keep an eye on this dealer’s auctions over the next few days as well: He has some great records in great condition.

Oliver Nelson, Sreamin’ The Blues, New Jazz 8243. Price: $135

Thelonious in Action, Riverside 262. Price $51.01

That’s it for today. Tomorrow we’ll be back at Jazzcollector.com with reader comments and Friday is our next newsletter. See you soon. — Al