Month: June 2013

E-Baying With Knepper, Evans and Blue Notes

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I have quite a long watch list on eBay right now, so let’s get right to it. This is a record I’ve never seen before and, frankly, wasn’t even aware existed: A Swinging Introduction to Jimmy Knepper, Bethlehem 77. This is an original pressing with the red label and deep groove. I took a quick look at the personnel and was surprised to see the pianist listed as one “B. Evans.” I would have thought that the presence of Mr. Evans would have brought this record to my attention before. Perhaps it has and I just forgot about it. It wouldn’t be the first time. In any case, it’s got a great cover, it’s got Bill Evans on piano and it’s an original  pressing from 1957. Also, it’s in M- condition. I would think there’d be a strong collectible market for this. We’ll see. So far there are no bids at $135, but there are still three days left to go before the auction closes.

Here are a few Blue Notes on our radar:

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A Few for the $1,000 Bin

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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 . . .  Read more

A Couple of Events for Jazz Collectors

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Allow me to lay off eBay for a moment to inform you of a couple of upcoming events that may be of interest. Coming up first is the Jazz Record Collector’s Bash, June 21 and 22 in Iselin, New Jersey, at the Hilton Woodbridge. It has been many years since I attended one of these but, hey, there are jazz dealers with records for sale, so it’s always worth a shot. They also show films and have other activities. I do have a fondly remembered record score at one of these events, a story I have told, probably whenever I’ve written about the event before. The crux of it is there was this guy with a bunch of nice records, many Prestiges and Swingvilles, and a 10-inch Sonny Criss on Clef, and they were all $5 each and I was the first one to arrive at his table. ‘Nuff said.

I also received my notice and contract for the WFMU Record Fair, which will take place

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A Promo, a 10-Inch LP, And a “Later” Blue Note

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Here’s some more jazz vinyl we’re watching on eBay now:

Horace Silver, The Cape Verdean Blues, Blue Note 4220. This is an original mono pressing with the Van Gelder and the ear and, of course, no deep grooves. The record is in M- condition and the cover is M- as well, with the original shrink wrap. There’s more than a day left in the auction and the bidding is in the $150 range. Nice record. As we’re seeing with the Bobby Hutcherson records mentioned yesterday, as well as others we’ve been watching, the later pre-Liberty Blue Notes seem to be going up in value by quite a bit recently. It’s interesting to think of “later” Blue Notes as records that are pretty close to 50 years from their original release.

Here’s an early Blue Note from a familiar and highly reputable seller: Kenny Drew Trio, Blue Note 5023. This is an original 10-nch pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. Quite a beauty. Perhaps only one owner? The start price is about $200 and, with two days to go, there are no bidders.

Here’s a promo record that is on the verge of selling for a hefty price tag:

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Blue Notes, Deep Grooves and Vinyl Spirits

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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 Read more

Two for the $1,000 Bin, Two for The Watch List

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A couple of albums we were watching this weekend broke into the $1,000 bin: Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The final price was $1,150. Also, Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Peckin’ Time, Blue Note 1574. This was a West 63rd Street pressing without the New York 23, which I think is an original, contrary to my previous post. This one was from the same seller and was also listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The final price was $1,202.

Here are a few we’re watching now: The Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer, Prestige 7066. I’m trying to see if there’s something wrong with this one. It looks like an original New York yellow label pressing and it seems to be in pretty nice shape, at least VG+ for both the record and the cover. The auction closes tomorrow and the bidding is only at $30, which seems kind of low for an original Prestige in the early part of the 7000 series. Is there so little interest in Brookmeyer? I mean, Moondog Prestige  records sell for a lot more than Brookmeyer records, it seems.

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