A Few for the $1,000 Bin
Jun 10, 2013 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Promo Copies, Riverside
I must update the $1,000 bin this morning because it swelled up somewhat unexpectedly over the weekend.
Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 399. This was an original promo pressing with the white label. The record was probably VG++ or maybe M- and the cover looked to be about VG+. It sold for $1,151. Wow.
Donald Byrd, Byrd’s Eye View, Transition 4. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. What’s more, it not only had the original booklet, the labels were actually still attached, which is almost unheard-of for an original Transition. This one sold for $1,044. This seller had a couple of others in the $1,000 bin, including: Kenny Dorham, Round ‘Bout Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looked to be in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,335. And . . .
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Tags: Bill Evans, Dizzy Reece, Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham, Transition Records
Blue Notes, Deep Grooves and Vinyl Spirits
Jun 5, 2013 $1000 Records, Blue Note
I was casually perusing eBay this morning and came upon this listing, which is closing soon and surprised me somewhat: Bobby Hutcherson, Happenings, Blue Note 4231. What do we make of this listing? It is listed as having deep grooves and, from the picture, that seems to be the case. I would hate to think that someone would have tried to etch in deep grooves. The thing that really caught my eye, however, was the price. This one is in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It is currently at more than $400 with several hours to go. I must have not been looking when this became a $400 — or more — record. From the same seller is Bobby Hutcherson, Dialogue, Blue Note 4198. This one is also listed as a deep groove pressing. It is in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. The price is around $150.
May as well stick with Blue Notes this morning. Here’s one that will be found in the $1,000 bin: Dizzy Reece, Blues in Trinity, Blue Note 4006. This is an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The current price is $1,195. Also, Sonny Red, Out of the Blue, Blue Note 4032. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It is in the $200 range. I list the Reece and Red records together because
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Tags: Bobby Hutcherson, Dizzy Reece, Sonny Red
Live From LA: Blue Notes
Apr 26, 2013 Blue Note
We continue our Western swing and we are now in Los Angeles where we may have time to peruse a record store or two today. Any recommendations? In the meantime, we are back on eBay and watching some jazz vinyl with great interest, seeing as how we won a few bucks in Vegas, starting with a few Blue Notes: Cliff Jordan, Blue Note 1565. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing with the New York 23 labels. The record is listed in VG++ condition and the cover is VG+. The bidding closings later today and is currently in the $400 range. Hmmm. This is a gap in my collection.
Lee Morgan, The Cooker, Blue Note 1578. This is also an original pressing and it is listed as Ex+ for the record and Ex for the cover. This one closes tomorrow and the bidding is in the $500 range. This is also a gap in my collection, but I have a feeling this one is going to go for $700-plus, too rich for my blood.
Dizzy Reece, Star Bright, Blue Note 4023. This is another original pressing. The record is in M- condition and the cover is in M- condition. The start price is about $400 and so far there are no bidders with three days to go.
Tags: Cliff Jordan, Dizzy Reece, Lee Morgan
In Search of a Score
Sep 19, 2012 Blue Note
Here are a couple of 
jazz vinyl auctions we’re watching now on eBay.
One of these days, we’re going to spring for an original pressing of Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045. This is an original pressing that looks to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. A nice looking copy overall. The bidding closes in four days and the price is nearly $300. Will this be the one for me? Doubt it. I’ll still be hunting for a copy that I’ll consider to be a score, i.e., at a price below market value. That’s part of the fun for me.
Case in point: Dizzy Reece, Soundin’ Off, Blue Note 4033. This is an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It is closing later today and is also in the $300 range. This is one I waited and waited for, hoping to get for a bargain. And, recently, I did. Bought this as part of a larger group of Blue Notes and paid the equivalent of about $40 for it. That’s what I consider to be a score.
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Freddie Redd
A Jazz Vinyl Potpourri From Jazz Record Center
Jul 5, 2012 Blue Note, Norgran, Riverside
We always like to watch the auctions from the Jazz Record Center because they are a nice gauge of the overall market. Here are a few items from their latest auction, starting with: Sonny Rollins, The Sound of Sonny, Riverside 241. This is an original pressing with the white labels. It is listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $200 and so far there are no bidders, but we’d expect that to change. We’ve seen copies of this record sell for more than $500 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Bud Powell’s Moods, Norgran 1064. This is an original yellow label pressing. The record and the cover both look to be in M- condition. It has a cover design by David Stone Martin and has a start price of $100. We’d also expect this one to sell, right?
The bidding has already started on this one: Dizzy Reece, Star Bright, Blue Note 4023. This is an original pressing that also looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The auction closes in about five days and the bidding is now in the $260 range.
Tags: Bud Powell, Dizzy Reece, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Jazz Record Center, Kenny Dorham, Pacific Jazz Records, Sonny Rollins, Transition Records
A Strong Week For Blue Notes
Jun 27, 2012 Blue Note
This is one of those weeks where, if you had unlimited funds, you could fill in a lot of holes in your Blue Note collection with original pressings in very nice condition, perhaps starting with the rarest of the rare: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This looks to be an original pressing with the New York 23 on the B side. It is in M- condition for the vinyl and probably VG+ or better for the cover. The price has already exceeded $3,000 — yet it has not yet reached the seller’s reserve.
The same seller is loaded with other Blue Notes, among a variety of jazz vinyl, this week, including:
Lou Donaldson, Swing and Soul, Blue Note 1566. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The price has surpassed $250 and the auction closes today, still short of the reserve price. Dizzy Reece, Soundin’ Off, Blue Note 4033. This is also an original pressing, in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price is more than $700 and the auction closes tomorrow.
As noted, this is not the only seller with some nice Blue Notes this week. Here are a few more:
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Hank Mobley, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan, Lou Donaldson
Listening is Part of Collecting Too, Isn’t It?
Jun 4, 2012 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Riverside
Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay:
Gigi Gryce and the Jazz Lab Quintet, Riverside 229. This is an original white pressing that is in what looks like M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. I’ve had this record for about 25 years and it’s always had a prominent place in my collection, but I can’t recall listening to it more than once, probably 25 years ago. I know one of our readers had commented earlier that it wasn’t all that great. Perhaps today is the day to finally put it on the turntable and judge for myself. It’s not just me, right? We all have nice collectible records that we’ve either never listened to or listened to just once? This one closes in a few hours and is in the $350 price range.
Dizzy Reece, Star Bright, Blue Note 4023. This looks to be an original deep groove pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The seller has created his own grading schema. If I were to judge the descriptions based on the grading system used by most of us, and certainly used by us here at Jazz Collector, I would guess that this one is in VG+ condition. It closes in a couple of days and is already at around $400.
Here’s a seller offering some nice 10-inch LPs, including:
Tags: Clifford Brown, Dizzy Reece, Gigi Gryce, Horace Silver, Jazz Vinyl
Watching Jazz Vinyl Prices on The Rise
Apr 30, 2012 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Riverside
Here’s some jazz vinyl we were watching on eBay:
Clifford Brown Quartet, Blue Note 5047. This was an original 10-inch Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was in M- condition and the cover looked like it was probably VG++. The price was $900.12. That’s the highest price we’ve ever recorded for this album in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Speaking of new highs, this was one from the recent Jazz Record Center auction: Grachan Moncur III, Some Other Stuff, Blue Note 4177. This was in M- condition and sold for $775.43. As we’re seeing pretty consistently, these later original Blue Notes are really increasing in value. I had sold a copy of this record for around $500 a couple of years ago and that was, by far, the highest price we’d seen up to that point.
Sonny Clark Trio, Time 70010. This was an original pressing rated VG++ for the record and VG+ for the cover, even though the headline stated it was M-. Pretty interesting/deceptive move by the seller. It sold for $699.99.
Look at the price on this original Riverside:
Tags: Clifford Brown, Dizzy Reece, Grachan Moncur III, Jazz Record Center, Kenny Drew, Sonny Clark, Time Records
Jazz Vinyl Countdown? HAH!
Jan 12, 2012 Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown
I just logged onto eBay and as I was signing in this record was closing: Meet Oliver Nelson, New Jazz 8224. It was an original pressing with the purple label and deep grooves, featuring Kenny Dorham on trumpet. It looked to be in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The price was $157.50. I have an interest in this record because I was just looking at a copy in my apartment, where it is among a batch of original records I have just scored. There was a time, many of you will remember, when I was talking of scaling back my collecting and doing a Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown, but I still can’t seem to give up the habit — addiction? — of buying more records. This batch in front of me is quite cool. On the top is an original pressing of Cool Struttin’ by Sonny Clark and just below that is an original pressing of Soundin’ Off by Dizzy Reece. Someday soon I will share the story of this particular score but, in the meantime, I have some records to clean, including Meet Oliver Nelson on New Jazz, worth as much as $157.50.
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Oliver Nelson, Sonny Clark
Updating the $1,000 Bin (And Then Some)
Sep 21, 2011 $1000 Records, Blue Note
Some of you have beaten me to the punch on this, but let’s all catch up on some of those heavy-duty auctions that closed yesterday, starting with Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was the one from the Leon Leavitt collection, in unplayed condition for the vinyl and pristine condition for the cover. It was sort of a first press, with the deep grooves, West 63rd address but not the NY 23 on side two. Read the comments on the earlier post for details and opinions. Anyway, at one point this one had a buy-it-now price of $5,000 and I suggested someone should just jump in and take it, but then the buy-it-now option disappeared from the listing. Good decision by the seller. This one sold for $5,600. There were 20 bids but, incredibly, nearly 1,900 page views, which to my recollection is the most I’ve ever seen for any jazz record. This is also the highest price for a jazz record we’ve ever recorded at the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
This seller did quite well last week with stuff from Leon Leavitt’s collection don’t you think? Here are a few more:
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Hank Mobley, Jutta Hipp, Leon Leavitt, Zoot Sims
Bidding Up – Up – Up
Sep 15, 2011 $1000 Records, Blue Note
While the Jazz Collector community is deciding whether the Hank Mobley Blue Note 1568 is an original pressing or not, the jazz bidding community is pushing the price way up the stratosphere. As of this writing there have been twelve bids and the price is already up to $3,000. I would say that one of those bidders should just end it already and go for the $5,000 buy-it-now price — but I don’t see that option anymore. Is it possible the seller removed it? For the record, my opinion on this is that I would consider this an original pressing, based on all of the comments. It was pressed at the same time in the same press run. I never thought this was the case, but perhaps even my obsession has limits.
The same seller is going to make a small fortune this week. Check out some of these other items he has: Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This is also an original pressing and it is also described as M- unplayed condition for the record and pristine for the cover. The price is already more than $1,000 and this one still has a buy-it-now price of $5,000. Here’s another one that’s ready for the $1,000 bin already:
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Hank Mobley, Jutta Hipp, Zoot Sims
Price Updates: Trane, Friedman, Blue Notes
May 3, 2010 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside
Here’s a new one for the $1,000 bin: John Coltrane, Coltrane, Prestige 7105. This was an original pressing with the New York address. It is Coltrane’s first date as a leader, but it’s still surprising to see this one pass the $1,000 mark. This one was in M- condition for the vinyl and near-M- (?) condition for the cover. The price was $1,077.65.
This one almost made the $1,000 bin: Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. The record and the cover both looked to be in VG++ condition. The price was $912.
I didn’t realize this one had such cachet as a collectible: Don Friedman, Circle Waltz, Riverside 431. The vinyl was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $255.
This one falls into the same category: When did it become a $200-range record?
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Don Friedman, Horace Parlan, Jazz Vinyl, Jazzland Records, Joe Harriott, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers
On EBay: Norgans, Riverside, Transition, More
Feb 18, 2010 Blue Note, Norgran
Here are some interesting items on eBay now:
My friend Steve at Roundagain Records in Providence has a few nice records closing pretty soon, including: Bud Powell, Jazz Original, Norgran 1017. This is an original yellow label, deep groove pressing. The record is VG++ and the cover is VG+. The price is already close to $150. Here’s another Norgran: An Evening With Anita O’Day, Norgran 1057. This is also an original yellow label pressing. The record and cover are in M- condition and the price is about $115. Here’s one more: Lucky Thompson, Lucky Strikes, Transition 21. This one is in VG+ to VG++ condition for the cover and record and it includes the booklet, which is not always so easy to find with the record anymore. This one is close to $200.
This one is more than $80 but hasn’t yet met the seller’s reserve price:
Tags: Anita O'Day, Bud Powell, Dizzy Reece, Johnny Griffin, Looney Tunes, Lucky Thompson, Round Again Records, Transition Records
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
Some More Blue Notes, Some More $1,000 LPs
Aug 15, 2009 $1000 Records, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay
We casually mentioned the Lexington Avenue version of Sonny Rollins Volume One, Blue Note 1542 and there, lo and behold, is a beautiful M- copy that is ready for the $1,000 bin. This one sold for $1,225.
Also entering the $1,000 bin is Dizzy Reece, Blues in Trinity, Blue Note 4006. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that was in M- condition, both record and cover. It sold for $1,595.
John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This was an original pressing n VG+ condition with a light scratch. The cover was listed as excellent-minus, which is, what, VG+ at best? It too is in the $1,000 bin, fetching
Tags: Cafe Bohemia, Dizzy Reece, John Jenkins, Kenny Burrell, Kenny Dorham, Sonny Rollins
Is The Market Slowing? Not Based on These Prices
Jun 30, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Price Guide
Sometimes, as summer approaches, eBay slows down. Not so far this summer. We’ve seen a lot of rare jazz records setting new highs for prices over the past few weeks, as we’ve been upgrading the Jazz Collector Price Guide. If you look at the prices of some of these records, you’ll get an idea:
Kenny Drew, The Kenny Drew Trio, Riverside 224. This was an original white label pressing. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was listed as VG++. The price was $898.88.
Kenny Dorham, Whistle Stop, Blue Note 4063. This was an original West 63rd Street mono pressing that was listed in M- condition, both record and cover, and it was posted by a reputable seller. It sold for $898.89.
Jackie McLean, 4, 5 & 6, Prestige 7048. This was an original Yellow label pressing with
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Jackie McLean, Kenny Dorham, Kenny Drew, Thad Jones
For the Price Guide: Sonny Clark, Dizzy Reece, Monk
Feb 28, 2009 Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Norgran, Prestige, Price Guide, Riverside
Since we work during the week, we often use the weekend to update the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Here are a few of the items will be adding after we complete this post:
Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This as an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was VG++ and so was the cover. The price was $747.
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, Contemporary 3532. This was an original yellow label mono pressing. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. Price: $240.50
Hank Mobley, Workout, Blue Note 4080. This was a mono pressing with the New York USA label. The record and cover were M- and the price was $335.
Tags: Art Pepper, Billie Holiday, Clef Records, Contemporary Records, Dizzy Reece, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Lester Young, Sonny Clark, Thelonious Monk, Yusef Lateef
Today on eBay, Some Jug and Dizzy Reece
Feb 9, 2009 Boxed Sets, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige, Price Guide
A few nice items on eBay today, including a nice bunch closing soon from our friends at Euclid Records. There may even be another one for the $1,000 club, this one: Dizzy Reece, Soundin’ Off, Blue Note 4033. This is an original pressing in M- condition, both record and cover. The current price is more than $600 and there have already been 17 bids, so it’s certainly within the realm of possibility that this could hit four figures. Also from Euclid and Dizzy: Dizzy Reece, Star Bright, Blue Note 4023. This is also an original pressing. The record is listed as M- and the cover is listed as VG+. The current price is in the $250 range. One more from this batch: Jammin’ in Hi-Fi With Gene Ammons, Prestige 7110. This is an original pressing with the New York label. The record and cover are in M- condition. The current price is just more than $200.
Another one we’re watching at Jazz Collector is Zoot Sims, Cookin’ Fontana 123. This is an original British pressing. The record looks to be VG and the cover is VG+. It’s currently around $50. We’ve seen this sell for more than $200 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, but those earlier copies were in better condition.
Tags: Dizzy Reece, Euclid Records, Fontana Records, Gene Ammons, Jazz Collector Price Guide, Zoot Sims
Kind of Blue, The Collectible
Jul 15, 2004 10-Inch LPs, Blue Note, Jazz Vinyl, Jazz Vinyl on eBay, Prestige
It’s been a few days, so we’ll spend today catching you up on some of the interesting action we’ve been watching on eBay. Here goes:
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 1355, represents one of the defining jazz albums and now it is taking its place as a collectible of value as well. We’ve seen copies in nice condition begin selling in the $100 range earlier this year and now we have this copy breaking the $200 price barrier. It sold for $203.37.
Tags: Abbey Lincoln, Candid, Columbia, Dale, Dizzy Reece, Epic, Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard, Jackie McLean, Jerome Richardson, Jutta Hipp, Kind of Blue, Miles Davis, Moondog, Tina Brooks, Zoot Sims
