Chet, Miles, Zoot, Sonny Clark

Back to eBay with a few more recent jazz vinyl auctions, starting with: Chet Baker, Chet, Riverside 299. This looks to be an original pressing in VG+ condition. It sold for $337, which is the highest price we’ve ever recorded for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide (although, admittedly, this is not one that have have often followed). Why such a high price tag for this one? It’s got to be the presence of Bill Evans on piano, right?

Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This is an original West 63rd pressing listed in VG+ condition with some minor scratches and EXC for the cover, which seems to be equivalent to VG++ based on the seller’s description. It sold for $760. It used to be records had to be in near mint condition, or close to near mint, to fetch those kinds of collectible prices, but no more. There is a huge demand for any of these high-end collectibles in any condition, and certainly in any condition that will give you a good listening experience.

How about another Blue Note:

Read the rest of this entry »

A Pair of Blue Notes, A Pair of Prestiges

Monday morning, so let’s catch up with some jazz vinyl auctions we were watching over the weekend, starting with a couple of Blue Notes: Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045. This was an original pressing in Ex condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $987. Long-time readers will know that this one is still near the top of my want list and also that I would never pay $987 for a copy. It’s nice to have holes in the collection so that there always remains excitement in the hunt, at least for me. Just filling in all the blanks by paying top dollar on eBay is a valid way to build a great collection, and it’s probably a great investment as well, given how prices for collectible jazz records keep rising. But it’s never been my choice in how to build a collection. This following record, in fact, is one I had in my collection and sold because one of our readers here at Jazz Collector made me an offer I couldn’t refuse: Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. This looks to be an original West 63rd Street pressing with the promo stamp. It was listed in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1,078.99.

From Blue Note to Prestige:

Read the rest of this entry »

A Picture is Worth a Few Hundred Bucks

Let’s look at a few more jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay. Here’s why it’s good to show a full range of pictures with the listing: Helen Merrill, Emarcy 36006. This one had the drummer logo, deep grooves, etc., and I am pretty sure the seller thought it was an original pressing, even using the djukikian term “megarare.” The record was probably in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. The thing is, it did not have the blue writing on the back cover, so the bidding topped out, reasonably I would say, at $335. It did not sell, however, because it failed to meet the seller’s reserve price. Without the picture, my bet is that someone takes a chance and bids several hundred dollars higher, perhaps reaching the reserve price.

There was no confusion about this one: Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This was an original pressing with the ear, deep grooves, and West, 63rd Street address. It was in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover and sold for $565.55.

I guess some of the Miles Davis Columbia records are becoming more valued by collectors:

Read the rest of this entry »

Listening Again to The “New” Miles Davis Quintet

One of the great things about having so many collectible records is that I can always dig somewhere into my collection and find a classic record I haven’t listed to in a while. I did that last night, putting The New Miles Davis Quintet, Prestige 7014, on the turntable for the first time in a number of years. It’s a classic and, of course, the first Miles record with John Coltrane. A few things struck me about this record. Miles and Trane were the same age, both 29 when the album was recorded, yet they were at much different points in their careers and in their development. Miles was fully formed and his playing was absolutely confident. Trane’s playing was much more tentative and his style was not nearly as developed as it would become in the ensuing years. You can hear elements of his budding genius, but just elements and otherwise you hear someone still working on finding himself. For the hell of it, right after listening to this LP, I put on A Love Supreme and, obviously the difference was quite stark. Another thing about this record is

Read the rest of this entry »

When an Original is Not an Original

I was watching a few jazz vinyl auctions as they closed the other day with some degree of interest because of what I considered to be the clear misuse of the word “original.” Here’s an example: Lee Morgan, Lee-Way, Blue Note 4034. This was labeled as an “original mono pressing from 1964.” What does original mean in this case? It is clearly not a first pressing, since the address on the label is New York USA. The seller is a veteran eBayer and I’ve bought from him a few times and I’ve always had good experiences. So he knows the difference between a real original and a pseudo original. Was a buyer duped in this transaction? Well, there were pictures of the label and the New York USA labels were clearly stated, so if someone thought this was an original first pressing, he was being quite careless and/or was ignorant. It’s hard to tell from the price. The record sold for $136.50, but the back was stained and in VG- condition. My bet is if the listing did not use the word “original” then a second (or third, or fourth) pressing of Lee-Way with a stained back cover would not have sold for more than $100. So the seller probably made a few more bucks and the buyer got a later pressing with a stained cover.

Here’s another one that’s hard to figure:

Read the rest of this entry »

Catching Up With Miles, Sonny’s Crib

Here are some results from the recent eBay auction by the Jazz Record Center. We were watching some of the Miles Prestige recordings with interest because you may recall last month we saw an original copy of Steamin’ sell for only $75 in very nice condition, which struck us as very low and a bit odd. Especially when an original copy of Relaxin’ sold for nearly $740. I think the results this week from the Jazz Record Center are probably more indicative of the real market. Miles Davis, Steamin’, Prestige 7200. This was an original pressing with the New Jersey address. It had a promo stamp and was listed in “near new” condition, which is certainly M- for the record and the cover. The price was $307.99. Miles Davis, Workin’, Prestige 7166. This was also an original New Jersey yellow label pressing without the promo staff. It was described as similar condition to Steamin’, M- all around, and sold for $305.01. This next one

Read the rest of this entry »

A Taste of French Cookin’

This is another one that came from a reader, CeeDee, who seems to be feeding my newfound habit for European pressings: Miles Davis, Cookin’, Barclay 84077. This is an original French pressing and, I have to admit, it does look pretty cool, particularly for the price. It has a nice cover, deep groove labels, and, in its own way, is an original pressing, or something like it. At least it was an original French pressing. It probably sounds really good too. Anyway, this one was in M- condition for the record and the cover and sold for $24.99. A bargain compared to the U.S. originals of Cookin’, which seem to be in the $300-plus range these days. Unfortunately, I opened the link after the auction closed. Otherwise, this record would have been mine. Of course, even it I didn’t want the record, it would be fun writing about it, just so I could put that headline on the post.

While we’re tasting international flavors, check this one out:

Read the rest of this entry »

The “Infamous” Junkie Cover?

Once again we will travel to France for today’s post thanks to our friend CeeDee, who seems to be inspiring a few of our reports lately. This one concerns this record: Miles Davis Group, Barclay 84.018. This was an original 10-inch French pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It consists of music from the Prestige “Dig” date, featuring Sonny Rollins and Jackie McLean. In his note to me, CeeDee described this as “the infamous junkie cover.” I had to confess my ignorance. I had never seen this cover before, nor had I ever heard of the picture and the reference to a junkie cover. I asked CeeDee what he knew. Apparently, he doesn’t know much in terms of details but said he’s always heard that’s how this particular cover was usually referenced by collectors and the image has rarely been produced in any format. He suggests that some of our European readers will have what he describes as the “grim details.” So let’s put it out there and see what comes back. The record sold for $577.89, by the way. I have a feeling after this post and subsequent comments, the value may go up even higher. I will say I, for one, am newly intrigued by this record.
Separately, CeeDee sent me these followup excerpts to set the mood of the times:

Read the rest of this entry »

Heading Down a Dangerous New Path?

Someone sent me a link to this, in light of my recent post about the Miles Davis Prestige records: Miles Davis, Relaxin’, Prestige 7129. This was an original New York yellow label pressing that looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $738.88. The one we were watching last week sold for $393. Shows that there can be real value in posting more pictures rather than fewer pictures, and of getting the proper light and angle on the pictures. At least that’s the lesson I take from the price differential.

So I’ve been writing a bit lately about how some of the European pressings have been catching my eye, such as that 10-inch French Zoot Sims record yesterday and some of the Prestiges that were released on Esquire. And our friend CeeDee sent me a link a few weeks ago to a seller who had a bunch of these pressings, and the prices were pretty low, and I actually put in a bid on a couple of records and wound up with this:

Read the rest of this entry »

Miles, Monk and a New Face

Here are some of the items I was watching from the recent auction by the Jazz Record Center, starting with: Wynton Kelly, New Faces – NewSounds, Blue Note 5025. This was an original 10-inch pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $191.38. I should have bid on it. Great music, great cover. How can these 10 inch Blue Notes not be worth more money, given what’s going on with 12-inch Blue Notes?

Miles Davis, Steamin’, Prestige 7200. This was an original New Jersey yellow label pressing that was in probably M- condition for the record and at least VG++ for the cover. It sold for only $75. Weird. Why wouldn’t this get more. It’s actually my favorite among the Miles Prestiges that were all recorded in that one session — Steamin’, Cookin’, Workin’, Relaxin’. By contrast, look at this one from the same auction: Miles Davis, Relaxin’, Prestige 7129. This was an original New York pressing in virtually identical condition to Steamin’. It sold for $393.

I thought this one might fetch a higher price as well:

Read the rest of this entry »

A Double Dose of “Wow!”

I haven’t been on eBay in a few days, but fortunately our friend CeeDee is forwarding me some interesting auction results all under the subject “Wow!” Here’s the first wow: Miles Davis, Miles Smiles, Columbia 9401. This is an original stereo pressing with the 2-eye label. We’ve never really watched it here at Jazz Collector because it’s never been considered a collectible. In fact, I’ve always seen it as pretty common. I think I have three copies. You can generally find them for $20 or so, right? This one was in M- condition for the record in and VG++ for the cover. Want to guess what it sold for? How about $290? Want to guess who sold it? How about bobdjukic?

This was another wow from CeeDee, but it was not from the same seller: Wayne Shorter, Adam’s Apple, Blue Note 4232. This is a mono LIBERTY pressing. The record was in VG+ or perhaps a little better condition and the cover was VG+. The price: $251.05.  Hmm.

 

DG Or Not DG, That Is the Question

Our friend CeeDee send me the following link in a fit of minor pique: Bill Evans, Portrait in Jazz, Riverside 315. There were two related sources of irritation. One was the overuse of pictures to show every minor detail of the listing. The other was the seeming incongruity between the many and varied pictures and the description of the record. The seller described it as an original deep groove pressing, yet in all of the pictures it is quite difficult to ascertain an actual deep groove. Take a look and see what you think. This one was listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $157.50.

Here’s a catch-up on some of the other records we were watching last week, starting with Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1559. This was an original pressing offered by the Jazz Record Center. It was in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,619. Big price. I finally landed an original copy of this record last year as part of a collection (not the Irving Kalus collection) and I’m pleased to say the entire collection cost just a bit more than $2,619. From the same auction, this one sold for a surprisingly high price:

Read the rest of this entry »

Watching Closely As an Auction Winds Down

I happened to go onto eBay just a few minutes ago and this auction was closing: Miles Davis, Dig, Prestige 7012. The record and cover were both in extremely nice condition, just a notch below M-. I decided to just watch and see how the action transpired in the closing minutes. It was actually quite fascinating. When I started watching, with a few minutes left in the auction, the price was in the $150 range. This was quite low, I thought, although I never considered bidding myself. I actually own two copies of this record, both in beautiful condition. As I was watching and as the seconds dwindled down, it shot up to about $250 and then, in rapid succession as the action was closing in the last 12 seconds to $350 then the final price of $463, which is about where I would have expected it to land.  If you look at the bid history, there seemed to be four bidders in the final stages and my guess is that each of them was using sniping software. The second highest bid was $458, so the next highest bid had to be $5 more, for the $463. We’ll never know exactly what the top bid may have been, but at $463 for this classic Prestige original, I would think that both the buyer and seller would be quite pleased. Yes?

Tracking Some Jazz Vinyl in Top Condition

The Jazz Record Center has a new auction up on eBay. I don’t usually follow particular sellers, but I like to follow their auctions because the records they sell are usually in beautiful condition and because they are such a highly respected seller. What they sell is often a current gauge of the market. Here are a few from their current auction, starting with: Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1549. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $500 and there is already a bidder.

Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain, Columbia 1480. This is an original deep groove six-eye pressing. I don’t normally think of this as a collectible record, but this one has a start price of $75. We’ll see if it generates interest. It is in beautiful, near new condition.

This is another we don’t often watch here at Jazz Collector:

Read the rest of this entry »

Homely Mobley, Fine Miles & Kelly’s Blues

This one looks like it’s been through the ringer: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. We know this is one of the rarest of the rare and has sold for as much as $5,600 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This one will not approach that price. The cover looks like it’s been stored in a sewer — and the cover is listed in better condition than the record. The cover is listed as VG and the record is listed as G+. Still, it will fill a gap in someone’s collection, and for a fairly hefty price. This one is already close to $250 and there are still three days left on the bidding. If you want to see a copy of the cover, you’ll have to click the link. We don’t want to tarnish the site in any way.

This is a cover we’re happy to show: Miles Davis Volume 1, Blue Note 1501. This looks to be an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the Lexington Avenue address on the cover. It is listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The start price is $249 and so far there are no bidders with more than three days to go. The same seller is also offering this:

Read the rest of this entry »

And Starting 2013 With Jazz Vinyl

Happy New Year, all. Hope you get all the vinyl of your dreams this year. We start the year watching eBay, as we are wont to do. It actually seems kind of slow to us, probably not unexpected at this time of year. We’re not seeing a lot of action on the auction from the Jazz Record Center and there’s not the usual frenzy over some items you would expect. But there’s still plenty to watch, starting with: Duke Pearson, Profile, Blue Note 4022. This record looks to be in M- condition for the record and the cover,  and it has already been bid up to $273 with 14 bids. Quite impressive with five days left in the auction. More impressive still when you look at the questions below and realize it has neither deep grooves nor the ear in the deadwax.

Curtis Fuller, The Opener, Blue Note 1567. This is an original pressing that looks to be in VG++ condition for the vinyl and VG or VG+ for the cover. This one has the ear, has the deep grooves, yet, unlike the Pearson LP, it doesn’t have any bids. Start price is around $300. There are five days left. It will sell.

This one is closing soon at it has a lot of bids:

Read the rest of this entry »

Back in Business Watching Collectible Jazz Vinyl

Bet you’re wondering if I’m OK. I am. Just been a busy period before the holidays. It’s been so long since I’ve posted on Jazz Collector or even been on eBay that all of the items I was watching are now closed. Which gives me a nice opportunity to give a big review, starting with:

Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. This was an original West 63rd pressing in what was described as VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It also had the original shrink wrap, if that means anything to anyone. I guess it means the cover was well protected for all of these years. The top bid on this was a very nice one, $1,136. But guess what? It didn’t meet the seller’s reserve price, so it didn’t sell. We’ve seen this one sell for as much as $1,725 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, so I guess the seller had certain expectations. I had a copy of this record in very nice condition, mentioned it on Jazz Collector and was offered $1,500 to sell it. I did. Haven’t missed it since, to be perfectly honest.

Similar situation with this one from the same seller: Sonny Clark Trio, Blue Note 1579. This was an original West 63rd pressing. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover looked to be VG. The top bid was $717 but, again, it failed to sell because it didn’t meet the seller’s reserve price.

This one did sell and I thought it might fetch a higher price: Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This one was in VG++ condition for the record and probably similar condition for the cover. It was offered by one of the top eBay sellers and sold for $1,405. A nice price, but we’ve seen this one sell for more than $3,000 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

Read the rest of this entry »

Jazz Vinyl That’s New To Jazz Collector

Just browsing eBay and came upon a few items I’ve never seen before. I’m always impressed, after more than 40 years of collecting jazz records, that there are still records that are new to me, for example:

Perhaps I’ve seen this before, but I dont’ recall it: Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess, Fontana 662.036. This is a French pressing and the seller says it is a 10-inch record, which makes sense if you look at the number of tracks per side. Why were the French issuing 10-inch LPs in the late 1950s, when those wars had already been fought and the 12-inch format had won? And look at the cover — it’s the same picture that’s on the American Milestones. I have to say, this looks like a pretty cool item to me. It has a start price of about $100 and is listed in M- unplayed condition.

Speaking of French pressings: Pierre Michelot and his Orchestra, Round About Bass, Mercury 125 500. This is an original French mono pressing and is listed in EX+ condition for the record (VG+++ in our terms?), and EX for the cover. This is from the same seller as the Miles LP and is also in the $100 range with no bids yet.

This an American record, and I assume it’s jazz because it is listed under jazz on eBay and because it is right in the midst of the Atlantic jazz series, but I’ve never seen it:

Read the rest of this entry »

Jazz For A Friday Afternoon: Miles, Cannon, Newk

Here’s a few more jazz vinyl items we’ve been watching or are watching on eBay, starting with: Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 1355. This one is listed as sealed, although it seems it is not the outside cover that is sealed but the inner plastic sleeve. If that is the case, it is pretty cool, better than the cover being sealed because you can actually see the label and the record. The cover is listed in VG++ condition and the record, of course, is listed in mint, unplayed condition. There are a couple of days left and the bidding has topped $300. Seller also took a nice, clear picture, which always helps to secure a top price.

Speaking of Miles, this one got a nice price: Cannonball Adderley, Somethin’ Else, Blue Note 1595. I say speaking of Miles, because after all of these years I still tend to think of this as more of a Miles record, than a Cannonball record. It’s got much more of the Miles vibe than the Cannon vibe. This one was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $1,475.

One more Blue Note while we’re at it:

Read the rest of this entry »

A Day For Rare Blue Notes

Here are a few rare jazz records we’re watching this week on eBay. Today’s version will focus on Blue Notes, starting with: Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This has the West 63rd address but no deep grooves. This one is always confusing and I don’t have the Fred Cohen book in front of me. It’s an original with either one side DG or no sides DG, right? Anyway, this one is in excellent minus condition, which is, what, VG+ in our terms. The price is nearly $300 and there are still four days to go.

Wayne Shorter, JuJu, Blue Note 4182. This looks like an original mono pressing with the New York USA address, as well as the ear and Van Gelder in the dead wax. The record is listed in VG+ condition and the cover is VG++. The record closes within a day and so far there are no bidders at a $189 start price.

Here’s a 10-inch Blue Note with a very cool insert:

Read the rest of this entry »

A Tale of Five Blue Notes

Another day, another batch of rare jazz vinyl to watch on eBay.

Miles Davis Volume 1, Blue Note 1501. This looks to be an original Lexington Avenue pressing, the first of the 1500 series. It is listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. The start price is around $200 and so far there are no bidders with just a couple of days to go. This seller has a bunch of nice items up for sale this week, including: Miles Davis Volume 2, Blue Note 1502. This also looks to be an original pressing in similar condition to Volume 1, M- for the record and VG++ for the cover. This one also has a start price of around $200 and has one bidder, so far. One more Blue Note: Paul Chambers Quintet, Blue Note 1564. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. The bidding is in the $250 so far for this LP.

May as well stick with Blue Notes this morning:

Read the rest of this entry »

Check It Out: Satchmo At The Waldorf

I saw a terrific new play last night called Satchmo at the Waldorf. The play is by the Wall Street Journal critic Terry Teachout, who has been cited before at Jazz Collector for an article he wrote several years ago called “Can Jazz Be Saved?”  This is Teachout’s first play and he’s done a remarkable job of piercing through the public persona of Armstrong and giving us a portrait of the man and musician. Teachout’s writing is aided considerably by the performance of John Douglas Thompson in a dynamic solo effort in which he plays Armstrong as well as his long-time manager Joe Glaser and Miles Davis. The play takes place backstage at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York just several months before Armstrong’s death in 1971. I would hope and expect that most of the readers here at Jazz Collector recognize the genius of Armstrong and his seminal contributions to jazz even though we don’t write about him very often. Indeed, he is not part of the “Jazz Collector Era” we talk about and his records are not often among the collectible Blue Notes and Prestiges that make up the bulk of our postings. But none of the music we love and cherish here happens without him coming first, right?

In Satchmo at the Waldorf Teachout takes us backstage after a performance. He uses the device of Armstrong dictating his life story into a tape recorder, but Armstrong realizes he is in the more comfortable setting of talking directly to an audience. A lot of the play covers the complex relationship between Armstrong and Glaser, which provides some of the dramatic tension that brings good theater to life. There are more than passing references to Armstrong’s relationship to the boppers, particularly Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis, and the deep pain and injustice he felt at being called an Uncle Tom.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Cats, Bird, Miles and Trane

I said I’d post a few more from the Jazz Record Center auction last week, so here ’tis:

Tommy Flanagan, The Cats, New Jazz 8217. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and cover. It was also a review copy. It sold for $535. I’ve had this record for a while. I traded it for it years ago: I had a broken leg at the time and was stuck in my friend’s basement with all of his records, Blue Notes, Prestiges, the whole works. I was very good and just looked. In my collection I have this one with my Flanagans, although the temptation is to put it with the Coltranes. I’m often reorganizing, so maybe I’ll move it around some day.

This is one of my favorite jazz collectibles, although it’s not jazz vinyl: To Bird With Love, by Francis Paudras. This is a book from 1981, about the most loving tribute to Bird you could find this side of Irving Kalus’ Ornithology. As noted by Fred in his listing, which you should take a look at, the book was printed once with no more than 1,000 copies, probably 500. I bought this when it first came out, from Fred, and I’ve treasured it ever since. It now has a prominent shelf on my new shelves in The Berkshires.  This one sold for $887.79.

The Miles Davis Columbia records with Coltrane, and even the next generation, are becoming more collectible it seems. The music is certainly uniformly great. Here are a few from the Jazz Record Center auction:

Read the rest of this entry »

Watching Rare Jazz Vinyl In Tip-Top Condition

We’re watching the latest auction of jazz vinyl from the Jazz Record Center, which closes in a few days. Here are some of the highlights:

Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This is an original New York pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. This one is in the $900 range. I am happy to say, I recently purchased a near mint New York copy of Colossus in the Irving Kalus collection, which I will be writing about as soon as I get a chance.

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This is an original pressing in beautiful M- condition for both the record and the cover. This price is already more than $1,800 and at the rate it is going you would expect that it may even top $3,000.

Kenny Burrell, Blue Notes Volume 1, Blue Note 1596. This is an original pressing and of course it has the Andy Warhol cover. This one is also in beautiful condition and is currently at $500. I’d expect this do break into the $1,000 bin, wouldn’t you?

A couple more:

Read the rest of this entry »

Tracking Some Original Prestige Jazz Vinyl

Here’s some more jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay: Miles Davis, Relaxin’, Prestige 7129. This is an original New York deep groove pressing in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. The auction closes tomorrow and the price is in the $230 range. I mentioned in passing that I recently purchased a collection and an M- original pressing of this record was included, so I’m interested in seeing the price. I am just about ready to start writing about my latest adventure in pursuing and purchasing this collection, so stay tuned.

It would have been nice if there were a copy of this record in the collection but, alas, there was not: Hank Mobley, Mobley’s Message, Prestige 7061. This is an original New York pressing in VG++ condition for the vinyl and VG+ for the cover. The price is hovering in the $170 range with three days to go, but it has not yet reached the seller’s reserve.

This one is on the verge of closing as I write this post:

Read the rest of this entry »