Nice Records, Quite High Price Tags

Let’s catch up on some rare jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching, starting with: Gene Ammons, HiFi Jam Sessions, Prestige 7060. This was an original New York yellow label pressing. The record and cover were in M- condition. You may recall I posted on this last week when there were no bids and a start price of $200. I was speculating about whether it would sell at all for that start price, and my prognostication was that it would sell. Indeed, it did: for $607. Quite a nice price for a Gene Ammons Prestige, which don’t often sell for such quite a lofty figure. The seller SweeDeeDee had quite a week, with several of his records selling for quite high prices. Here are a couple more: Horace Silver and Spotlight on Drums with Art Blakey and Sabu, Blue Note 1520. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing in VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover. It sold for $681. Thelonious Monk with Sonny Rollins, Work, Prestige 7169. This is a New Jersey yellow label pressing, but the record is a reissue, an early reissue, but a reissue nonetheless. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and sold for $293. Wow.

 

 

Jazz Vinyl: Trane, Zoot and 10-inch LPs

Let’s catch up on some more interesting jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay, starting with John Coltrane, Africa/Brass, Impulse 6. This was an original mono pressing with the orange labels. The record and cover were both in M- condition. It’s not a record we’ve typically covered in the Jazz Collector Price Guide because it rarely gets collectible prices. I guess we’ll start covering it now: This one sold for $493.88. Wow. I’ve had an original copy of this record for a long time, since the 70s in fact, but I also remember a version of a Coltrane Greatest Hits double-record on Impulse where they had Africa but eliminated the Elvin Jones drum solo so they could get more songs onto the package. There was something that always seemed unseemly about that, a violation of some kind of moral code, particularly since Coltrane was no longer alive to object.

I always liked this record, but haven’t listened to in in a while: Zoot Sims in Paris, United Artists 14013. This was an original pressing with the grey labels and was probably in VG+ condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $202.51.

Here’s an update on some 10-inch jazz vinyl:

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Waxing Rhapsodic on Kenny Dorham Vinyl

Here’s an update on some jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay, starting with The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 5007. This looks to be an original deep groove pressing. The record was in what looked to be VG++ condition and the cover was listed as M-. The final price was $580. This one is closing in a couple of days: Kenny Dorham ‘Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing listed as Ex condition for the cover, which I consider a catch-all rating similar to VG+, and VG for the cover. The bidding is in the $350. Curious about favorite Kenny Dorham records out there among the Jazz Collector community. I like him on pretty much everything. This Blue Note is fantastic for example, and, of course, there is Quiet Kenny on New Jazz. Someone was asking me about KD the other day and of of the best things I had on my iPhone to play for her was Kenny Dorham on the Benny Golson Riverside album The Modern Touch on which his playing really stands out among a great group of musicians in a great setting. The other one I had in my pocket on the iPhone was  KD on Rollins Plays for Bird, another standout performance.

Here’s another nice Blue Note up for sale now on eBay:

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Aberration is in the Eye of the Beholder

Since everyone is getting so worked up over the prices of some of the latest auctions, I decided to take a look at all of the recent completed listings from the bobdjukic sales to get an overall sense of things. There are definitely some aberrations between what we expect to see in the market, and some that fit in just fine with market expectation. Just for fun, I’ll pull out a few more of the aberrations.

Sonny Rollins, What’s New, RCA 2572. I love this record, but I’ve never really looked at it as a collectible. I have several copies, in fact. This was a promo copy in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $161.50.

Horace Silver, Song For My Father, Blue Note 84185. This is a stereo pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover, although you can clearly see ring wear on the photo. It sold for $385.

Chet Baker, Baker’s Holiday, Limelight 86019. This is an original stereo pressing. The record was in VG++ condition, the cover around VG+. It sold for $136.50.

Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Dream, Columbia 8765. This is a stereo pressing, with 2-eye label. The seller claims it is much rarer than the mono??????? It sold for $152.50.

 

 

 

 

 

A Strong Week For Blue Notes

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:

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Listening is Part of Collecting Too, Isn’t It?

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:

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Watching Some Stereo Jazz Vinyl Sell (and Not Sell)

I was just going through some old listings as I attempt to clean up my files so I can (finally) update the Jazz Collector Price Guide and noticed that eBay took the liberty of erasing all of my files that were more than six weeks old. This is a new thing they have done and I’d rather they didn’t, but I wasn’t given a choice. Anyway. Before they disappear into oblivion here are some items I had saved with the idea of either writing about them or adding them to the Price Guide:

Johnny Griffin, Studio Jazz Party, Riverside 9338. This was an original stereo pressing with the deep grooves and black label. The seller had a start price of $150 for this record, which was in VG++ condition and probably VG+ for the vinyl. I was watching it to see if it would sell and at what price. The mono pressings tend to be much more desired and desirable, right? This one did not sell. A mono pressing in that condition, at that start price likely would have sold. I always liked this record — it has the real feel of a party. Along the same lines and from the same seller was a stereo pressing of Johnny Griffin, The Little Giant, Riverside 1149. This one was in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover and it too had a start price of $150. Alas, there were also no bidders for this one.

This was a stereo pressing that did sell, and for a decent price:

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Watching Blue Notes, 12-Inch and 10-Inch

As always, we have our eyes on some rare jazz vinyl on eBay, such as:

Horace Silver, The Tokyo Blues, Blue Note 84110. This looks to be an original stereo pressing with the New York USA labels and the Van Gelder stamp in the deadwax. The record and cover are rated as M- condition and the price is up around $120 with another day to go. Seems like some of the Blue Note stereos are starting to command higher prices than they did even a couple of years ago, no?

Here’s another Blue Note from the same time frame: Ike Quebec, It Might As Well Be Spring, Blue Note 4105. This is an original mono pressing and it is also in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This one is in the $135 range now but still has four days to go.

If you’re looking to fill in some 10-inch Blue Notes, check out the listings from this seller, including:

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A Piece of Silver, A Tuba and Two Guitars

Here’s some of the jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay, starting with: Horace Silver Quintet, Blue Note 5058. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. We’ve seen this one sell for as much as $537 in worse condition in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This one has a start price of $99 and it also has a reserve. So far there are no bidders and there are only two days to go. I imagine someone will take a chance on this great record, but who knows.

Never figured out why there wasn’t more of a market for this one: Ray Draper Quintet Featuring John Coltrane, New Jazz 8228. This is a nice record, with Coltrane doing Sonny Rollins’ Paul’s Pal, which appears on Tenor Madness, which also features Coltrane. Perhaps it’s the idea of a tuba player as the lead artist. This one is an original pressing and it is listed in M- condition for the record and the cover. The current price is $111 and there’s only one bidder.

Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney, Two Guitars, Prestige 7119. This is an original New York yellow label and it looks to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the vinyl. Wouldn’t mind having a copy of this one, but the price is already out of my range at $292.

 

Going Up . . . Up . . . Up . . .

Here’s some interesting jazz vinyl auctions that closed this week.

We need a new explanation for this one: Horace Silver, Song For My Father, Blue Note 4185. Admittedly this is a great, classic record and this was an original mono pressing in near mint condition for both the record and the cover. Why is there a new explanation needed? Conventional wisdom has said that because of the initial popularity of this record, there has always been a relatively abundant supply of original pressings in decent condition. Conventional wisdom may be changing. This particular copy sold for $405. Our previous high for this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was $334 and, at the time, we considered that to be an aberration. What’s this?

And this? Gene Ammons, Blue Gene, Prestige 7146. This was from the same seller and it was also in near mint condition for the record and the cover. You’d normally expect this in the $40-$50 range, maybe a drop higher because of the condition. This copy sold for $164.50.

This next one got quite a high price, but not a surprising one:

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Tracking Some Rare Beauties on eBay

Couple of interesting jazz vinyl auctions taking place now from sellers who would be quite familiar to the Jazz Collector audience. First up is collossus3: He’s the one who had access to the Leon Leavitt vault and was, he says, able to pick and choose the best copy of each of the rare records. Among those rare records now available on eBay are: Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This is an original pressing and it is described as being in pristine condition, M- all the way fro the record and the cover.  There is a reserve price, which of course is undisclosed, as well as a buy-it-now price of $2,500. So far the bidding has not yet hit the reserve price and is in the $250 range. We’ve seen this record sell for as much as $1,500 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so we’d certainly expect the bidding to top $1,000 at some point. Whether that will be enough to hit the reserve price, we’ll see, assuming no one gobbles it up at $2,500. From the same seller comes Horace Silver, Six Pieces of Silver, Blue Note 1539. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the flat edge. It is not only described as being in extraordinary immaculate condition, the vinyl even has  a”jewel-like” finish. Gotta love it. In any case, this one is still under $200 with a couple of days left on the bidding and it hasn’t reached the reserve price either.

The other interesting auction we’re watching is from the seller Sweedeedee from Stockholm, who often has nice pieces for sale on eBay. This week some of his listings include:

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Jazz Vinyl: Jackie-ing, Hope and McGhee

Here’s some jazz vinyl we’re watching now on eBay. Jackie is back: Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This one is from a reputable seller and is listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. VG+ is always a risk, but this one is play-graded and sounds like it is in pretty good shape. The bidding has already topped $1,000 on its way to . . . . we’ll see. Also on eBay now is one of my favorites, Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This looks to be an original pressing with the West 63rd address, deep grooves, RVG, ear. It is listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. Start price is $650 and, with a day to go, there are no takers so far. For a high start price like that, I think most buyers would appreciate pictures of the labels, for what it’s worth, although I’d be OK bidding on this record if I was inclined to pay that high a price for it in any condition, which I’m not.

This one is tempting:

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eBaying: Warhol, Cliff, Horace

I had never even seen the Cool Gabriels album until a few weeks ago, and now it keeps popping up on eBay and selling for quite high prices. I was tracking two copies this week. This copy, Cool Gabriels, Groove 1003, was listed in VG+/VG++ condition for the vinyl and, more importantly, M- for the cover. The reason the cover is more important is because it is the Andy Warhol illustration that is presumably driving the high prices, rather than the music by Conte Candoli, Nick Travis, et al. Don’t want to break Rudolf’s heart, but this one sold for $2,310. The other copy, Cool Gabriels, Groove 1003, was listed in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. This one sold for $1,807. If you want to see a picture of the cover, you can scroll down a few posts on Jazz Collecctor.

Here’s a beauty for the $1,000 bin: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1582. This was an original West 63rd pressing with the deep grooves and was listed in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,330.

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Ebaying: Horace and a Bit of Miles

Let’s take a look at some interesting jazz vinyl we’ve been watching here at Jazz Collector:

This is a new high point in the Jazz Collector Price Guide for this one: Miles Davis, Cookin’ Prestige 7094. This was an original New York pressing that was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. In fact, if you look at the seller’s description, it’s almost as if the record were new. It sold for $789.67. It’s funny, when I first started really collecting collectible jazz vinyl, maybe in the early 1980s, these Miles Prestiges were not so hard to come by, and not nearly as pricey as some of the earlier yellow label Prestiges. But times seem to have changed, and the music on the Miles Prestiges is outstanding, no?

This one was from the bobjdukic batch: Horace Silver, Blowin’ the Blues Away, Blue Note 4017. This looked to be an original pressing in VG++ condition, depending upon how much you trust the seller, and it sold for $125.50. This seems to be around market value these days for this great record. I had a friend over the other day who likes jazz but is not really knowledgeable. I had him sit in my listening seat at home and I put on Sister Sadie and we listened together closely. The music was just perfect and the sound on the Blue Notes, on a nice turntable with a nice system, is just so incredible compared to anything else. It was like listening to it for the first time. Tres sweet.

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eBaying With Horace, Lou, Newk & Leo Parker

Some interesting items on eBay now. Shall we see?

Horace Silver, The Cape Verdean Blues, Blue Note 4220. This looks to be an original mono pressing with the ear and the Van Gelder in the deadwax, although there is no close-up picture of the label to tell. This one is closing soon and is at more than $150 in VG+ or VG++ condition. Anyone out there have an explanation? Not that it’s not an excellent record, but it’s never been one of those that has garnered high prices. Perhaps because it’s a mono pressing?

We’d mentioned this one a couple of weeks ago when it sold for $81 in VG condition: Leo Parker and Bill Jennings, Billy in the Lion’s Den, King 395-527. The record here is VG+ and the cover is VG, but the pictures with the listing are very nice. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and, in this case, they seem to be worth several hundred at least: This one is already more than $325.

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Jazz Vinyl From The Jazz Record Center

The folks at Jazz Record Center have a new eBay auction up now. It’s always interesting to watch their stuff because their strong brand name ensures top market value. Here are a few of the records we’ll be watching from this auction:

Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This is an original deep groove pressing that is in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It has a start price of $750 and already has a bidder, so you can expect that this one may be headed for the $1,000 bin.

Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers, Blue Note 1518. This is a West 63rd Street pressing, whereas the original first pressing would have been Lexington Avenue. I’m curious about this second press Blue Notes, which many of our readers think of as originals, because their prices have gone up quite a bit recently. I just bought a West 63rd copy of the first Miles Davis Blue Note, which I’ll be selling at some point, either on eBay or from my basement. This one is in “near-new” condition and already has a bidder at $100.

I’ve always liked this record and I do, fortunately, have an original pressing: Lou Donaldson, Swing and Soul, Blue Note 1566. This one is also in very nice M- condition and has a bidder at a $350 start price.

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Ringing in the New Year With Blue Note (Of Course)

Here are a few more recent Blue Note auctions of interest:

Horace Silver, Blowing the Blues Away, Blue Note 4017. This was an original pressing with the ear, deep grooves, et al. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $165.50. This is a more common pressing than some of the other Blue Notes and has traditionally, not gotten a top price. Earlier this week we saw another copy sell for more than $200. I think what we’re seeing is that the overall market for Blue Notes is just rising, so even though this one is now $100 or $200 or more, it is still not as costly to purchase as other Blue Notes of the same period and ilk. It’s also a fantastic record, isn’t it? This was a record I heard all the time growing up: My father was a huge Horace Silver fan and Sister Sadie was a particular favorite.

Ike Quebec, It Might as Well be Spring, Blue Note 4105. This was an original New York USA pressing with the ear, Van Gelder stamp, etc. It was in M- condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $305.

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‘Tis the Season To Be Blue Note

After mentioning some of the 4100 series Blue Notes yesterday, I perused the day’s listings on eBay and saw a number of other records from this generation that seemed to be getting quite a bit of action. Here are some of the results and I’ll also post the one that CeeDee pointed to in the earlier post that will certainly raise some eyebrows. Here goes:

Joe Henderson, Page One,  Blue Note 4140. This was an original New York USA pressing with the ear and the  Van Gelder stamp in the dead wax. The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $325.

Sam Rivers, Fuschia Swing Song, Blue Note 4184. This was listed as an original pressing with the New York USA label. The condition seemed to be somewhere around VG+, perhaps a little better, based on the seller’s description. The price was $278.

This is of a bit earlier era, but a surprising price (well, as much as any price can be surprising these days): Horace Silver, Blowing the Blues Away, Blue Note 4017. This was an original pressing with the West 63rd label. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and sold for $202 with just one bidder.

This one got a huge price a few weeks ago, but not this week:

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Jazz Vinyl on eBay: Ad Lib & a Few Blue Notes

I’m looking forward to the day, coming soon, when my real work slows down and I will be able to post more items and more thoughtful items on Jazz Collector. In the meantime, I will keep updating some of the records we like to watch on eBay and keep an eye out for interesting items as well. For today:

What’s a VG-minus version of this record worth: Jackie McLean, the New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601? We’ll find out later today. This one is just a little bit more than $200 and is a little tempting, to be honest, based on the seller’s description that it sounds decent. I had a VG copy of this I sold years ago for $500 and have always regretted it, and I’d love to get another copy for the collection. Probably not this one, but I’ll keep looking.

Here’s a nice original Blue Note: Horace Silver with Art Blakey and Sabu, Blue Note 1520. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing in M- condition. I don’t normally think of the Horace Silvers an the same league — value-wise — as some of the other Blue Notes, but this one is already more than $600.

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Blue Note Jazz Vinyl, A New High For Ike

Let’s catch up on some Blue Note jazz vinyl that did not make the $1,000 bin.

Paul Chambers, Bass on Top, Blue Note 1569. This looked to be an original pressing with the West 63rd Street label and deep grooves. The vinyl looked to be VG++ and the cover VG++ as well. The price was $765.52.

Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $750.

Ike Quebec, Blue and Sentimental, Blue Note 4098. This was an original New York USA pressing that was listed in M- condition for both the cover and the record. The price was $667, which is

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Tracking Some Blue Note 10-Inchers

Here are some 10-inch Blue Notes that sold for some pretty high prices recently:

Milt Jackson, Wizard of the Vibes, Blue Note 5011. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $343.50.

Miles Davis Volume 3, Blue Note 5040. This was an original pressing. The record was in VG condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $160.

Thelonious Monk, Genius of Modern Music, Blue Note 5002. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover. The price was $493.50.

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More Blue Notes, More Record Price Tags

Prices for Blue Notes — at least those in near mint condition — are continuing to rise, based on some of the latest eBay sales. Take a look at these:

A Date With Jimmy Smith, Volume 2, Blue Note 1548. This was in near mint condition and it was sold by the same seller who sold those pristine JJ Johnson records the other day. This one sold for $792. The record features Hank Mobley, Lou Donaldson and Donald Byrd, but this is still a new high price tag for it, at least for the time we’ve been watching it.

This one was from Euclid Records: The Fabulous Fats Navarro, Volume 1, Blue Note 1531. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. It was listed as M- condition for both

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More Blue Note Favorites, Courtesy of Downbeat

I did that post earlier today and mentioned that Downbeat had done a whole feature asking various artists about their favorite Blue Note records. I was able to dig up my copy of the magazine — I don’t have a subscription anymore, but I had purchased this one on the newsstand because of the cover. It was from March of 2009. The cover, as you can see, has Joe Lovano with his favorite Blue Note: Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Free For All, Blue Note 4170. It’s quite gratifying to see his picture with a vinyl pressing, and a mono vinyl pressing at that and perhaps even an original mono pressing. Inside, the magazine asked a variety of other jazz artists to name their favorite Blue Notes as well. Here are their replies:

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Well, At Least It’s Original

Here’s a guy looking to retire: Horace Silver, Blowin’ The Blues Away, Blue Note 4017. It’s an original press and it’s in VG++ condition. The start price is $7,500. Imagine if it was mint.

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.