Back to eBay: Monk, Byrd, Pepper
Before posting the previous video, I did have a watch list of nice jazz vinyl on eBay. So let’s see how some of those auctions turned out:
There were those nice items from Euclid records, including The Unique Thelonious Monk, Riverside 209. This was an original white label pressing listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $463.50. Also, Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, Prestige 7075. This was an original New York yellow label pressing in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $768.88. One more: Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand, Blue Note 4019. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $515.
This one sold after several attempts:
Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, Contemporary 3532. This looked to be an original pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and the cover, based on the seller’s description. It had been listed at a higher price, was marked down, and wound up selling for $587. Not bad. I remember reading in Pepper’s autobiography, Straight Life, that he hadn’t played for months leading up to this date. It made for a great story. However, I just took a peek over to Wikipedia and, according to their version, it’s not true. Pepper seemed to have only a passing acquaintance with the truth, but it’s part of the legend, isn’t it? Although Wikipedia isn’t always to be trusted, I would believe that before I’d believe Pepper’s account.
Art Pepper recorded “Modern Life” for Intro records 22 days before “meets the rhythm section”. He also was on Joe Morello’s “Collections” on Intro records two weeks prior.
Pepper’s memory obviously faltered a bit.
“Modern Art” you mean? I guess you could blame the memory being a bit off on the heavy heroin use. Also, he maybe wasn’t the most reliable person in the world, with or without heroin. He was a genius though. And one of my all time favourites.
Man…’Straight Life’ is a FANTASTIC read, not always easy, but a great story, as you say Al, slightly embellished with a few dubious facts but a smashing read and not the normal mundane autobiog. I must dig it out and give it another spin. A very interesting bloke was our Art and what a musician!
Talking of books, Ive read the Miles and the Mingus’ ‘Beneath the underdog’, Dr John’s under a hoodoo moon…are there any others that hit the same heights??? Anyone please?
“Chasin’ The Trane” is good.
Hampton Hawes “Raise Up off Me” is a classic
I remember being very impressed reading Lush Life. Great story and great research. Many people had problems with Bird Lives, but I liked it, sort of must-reading as well.
Ascension is good. Focused, but a lot of interesting detail.
thanks chaps, plenty of good stuff to ready for this years holiday…