Cool Struttin’, Giant Steps and Other Jazz Classics

Let’s catch up on some of the interesting rare jazz vinyl we’ve been watching at Jazz Collector. Big Bear apparently put a magnifying glass to this record and found that it was not necessarily an original pressing: Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588. In addition to the question about the “original-ness” of the record there was also some concern expressed here about the lack of information about the listing. The record wound up selling for $1,913.88 in M- condition, which is probably significantly less than it would have received if it had been offered by a reputable seller with a strong reputation, such as Jazz Record Center or Euclid. Nonetheless, it is still quite a hefty price, particularly if it is not a first pressing. This one came from the same seller and failed to sell: Paul Chambers, Bass on Top, Blue Note  1569. I tried the magnifying glass trick myself but to no avail: Either my magnifier was faulty or my eyes were faulty or, more likely, a combination of the two. I couldn’t figure out if this was original or not. Perhaps other potential bidders had the same problem. Nobody was willing to hit the start price of $500.

As Rudolf pointed out, that copy of Giants Steps sold for $600 and met the reserve price, so I guess it’s not finding its way into my collection. Speaking of Coltrane, that copy of Tommy Flanagan, The Cats, New Jazz 8217,  did not sell. It had a top bid of $510.07, but did not reach the seller’s reserve. It’s kind of funny when you think about these things in perspective: Who could have ever imagined when this record was first issued and could be purchased in a store for $3 or $4 that 50 years later someone would actually turn down more than $500 for the very same record?

In case I don’t get a chance to post later: Tonight, CBS TV in the U.S., Kennedy Center Honors, featuring Sonny Rollins, one of our true greats.