Alive and Well (And Live on the Radio)
It’s been a looooooooong time between posts, so let me catch you up on what’s been going on around here. Overall, I’ve been extremely pleased with the way things have gone in my dealings with Carolina Soul. They have been professional in every respect. Very communicative, clear, consistent. They have been prompt with payments, and have answered any questions I’ve had with clear explanations. As for differences of opinion that we may have had on grading: I respect what they do and how they do it. I heard from several winners of the auctions that they agreed with me that some of the records were undergraded. Yet, Carolina Soul also experienced a number of returns. In fact, about 20 of my records that were returned are on eBay right now. For example: Andrew Hill, Black Fire, Blue Note 4151. I’ll provide a more complete list at the end of this post.
In addition to selling about 600 records through Carolina Soul, I had mentioned in a previous post that I had another 3,500 or so records I was hoping to sell to a local dealer/friend/acquaintance. That transaction also happened and he came to the house with a colleague and picked up the records a few weeks ago. I sent him an email asking how he has been doing with the records, but haven’t heard back yet. In any case, I’ve shrunk my collection by about 4,000 records and feel great about it. I’ve done a couple of reorganizations since then, and I find that the collection is less overwhelming and I’m able to enjoy the records more, and listen to them more frequently and attentively.
Another reason I’ve been more attentive to the records is that I am now hosting a radio show here in my local community in The Berkshires. It is called Jazz Collector Live and it is on WTBR-FM Pittsfield. I’ve taped three shows so far and, last I heard, the first show is scheduled to debut tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern. I realize the show is called Jazz Collector Live and, in fact, it is not live. To me, it’s like John Coltrane Live at Birdland or Sonny Rollins Live at the Village Vanguard. The show was live when I recorded it, so that makes it a live recording. Anyway, the show will appear “live” tonight and you will be able to stream it or download it in a few weeks, once I have a few more shows under my belt. I’ll talk a lot more about it in future posts and definitely solicit feedback from my friends here. I’ve never done radio before and I’m really enjoying it.
The radio show is a volunteer gig and is a result of me trying to scale back on my work, which has been happening, slowly but surely. For the past six weeks or so (pretty much since my last post on Jazz Collector), I’ve been winding down my existing work assignments and trying to limit new projects that I take on. This has meant that my nose has been to the grindstone with working. It has also taken up a lot of my brainpower and I’ve had less time to devote to posting here. In any case, this past Wednesday I got caught up on all of my work assignments. I still have a new one coming in this week, but I’m really hoping to be working less, especially during the summer. Perhaps that will translate into more time doing Jazz Collector, but I’m experienced enough to know that I’ve thought those thoughts before and it hasn’t necessarily translated into action. So, we’ll see what happens. In the meantime, here’s the list of my records being sold this week by Carolina Soul:
Aloha Al, again thank you so much for sharing with us about your dealings with CS from beginning to end. The other records you moved to a local store, are those jazz as well or mixed genres? Hope your radio program goes well. Mahalo!
Not a local store, a local dealer who sells at record shows and online, mostly Discogs. It was all jazz, a lot of pressings from the 1970s and 1980s, plus some traditional/New Orleans jazz, vocals and some vintage vinyl that I either had in doubles or just didn’t want anymore for whatever reasons.
Aloha Al, very cool that a local dealer would take that many records off of your hands! Is it consignment? As I help some folks and work on letting some of my records go, I’m contemplating both consignment and someone buying a chunk…In regard to your new radio show, will you be talking about trends in collecting, vinyl/CDs/reel to reel as media or more about certain recordings that folks should consider in any media form? Thank you again! Mahalo!
Kyle, not a consignment, just a straight sale. As for the radio show, I’ll be writing more about it, but it’s not about trends in collecting, it’s about the music. Collecting is peripheral, but the main thing is to share my passion for the music, not the collecting hobby. I play only vinyl, only from my own collection, at least so far.
Aloha Al, thank you for your reply. Neat you were able to make a straight sale for that large of a lot! By the way, did you estimate how many records using say cardboard moving boxes of a particular size? I’m trying to figure out numbers as I help friends and my inventory as well! I just know my dear wife says there are too many, LOL! Great to hear about the radio program and the content of your shows! I will be sharing the information with many! Take care now. Mahalo!
Al, have you looked at Heritage Auctions ? They recently sold a very high profile Jazz collection that was owned by a known west coast DJ. Their current auction has several items that would be of interest to your audience.
https://entertainment.ha.com/c/search-results.zx?N=53+2289+793+794+791+792+2088&limitTo=all&ic=homepage-search-A-X-071316
You have to scroll through, but one lot that caught my eye contains a VG++ or EX copy of Motor City Scene, on what appears to be a Bethlehem 1st pressing. This title has sole for $1k+ in the past.
Looking forward to hearing your show and reading more about it!
It’s cool you’re doing a form of radio Al. I loved my radio days back in Chicago and Detroit. Was on air at various stations for about 10 years. Mostly odd hours, like 5 am to 9 am , 8 pm to,midnight or Friday night/Saturday morning midnight to 6 am. Got to play a lot of looonngg jams in this slot. My shows were mostly Bebop to Free Jazz.
During the midnight to 6 am hours, at a south side radio station, one was never sure if one had listeners, though there were occasional phone calls as daylight approached. Mostly folks wanting to hear Gene Ammons. And I fondly remember one lady who phoned in while I had Pharoah Sanders’ “Harvest Time” spinning and said “What in the world is that you have on? Sounds like the pit band at the Regal Theatre tuning up!”
Somehow that seemed to sum it all up.
And then afterwards walking east of 53rd st to Valois Cafeteria for coffee, grits, eggs, home fries and conversations with the denizens.
It all seems like a lifetime ago now.
I’ve taped four shows so far, and they have aired two of them. I’m taping the fifth show tomorrow, with Monk as a theme. I will post more information and links to them once they appear as podcasts on the web site. In the meantime, if anyone wants to listen live, the show airs at 8p.m. Eastern on Sundays on WTBR FM Pittsfield, MA. https://wtbrfm.com
Al, When I follow the link to the website for WTBR the schedule does not, as yet, show your program on the calendar for Sundays at 8:00 pm. I was listening to Paul Motian’s “Monk In Motian” last month and that, along with the fascinating Hal Wilner project called, “That’s The Way I Feel Now – A Tribute To Thelonious Monk” have always brought me back to the man himself. Looking forward to listening live on Sunday but I’d love to listen to the last two too.
jimrjim — yes, I know. I’m going to ask about that when I tape the show today. but, it is on the air Sunday evenings — I listened to my second show last week. 🙂