Clearing out my Jazz Collector email inbox.The 2026 WFMU Record Fair will be held at the Metropolitan Pavillion in Manhattan for three days, November 6, 7 and 8. I used to be a regular at this show, either as a seller or patron. I haven’t been in years, since before Covid. I would love to check it out this year, just to see how the market has changed and get a sense of what dealers are selling, and for how much.If you are thinking about attending, keep me posted. Maybe we can have a Jazz Collector meet up. Read more
Author: Al
Old and New Vinyl, Blue Note Style
I’ve been meaning to write this post for a few months, but life has a habit of getting in the way. Anyway, last month I wrote a post about my experiences with the Craft OJC Series (Old Vinyl, New Bottles, Craft OJCs), and now I shall write about my experiences buying a few “new” titles from the Blue Note catalogue. At the time I brought the Crafts, I bought five records from Blue Note. Two were from the Tone Poet Series: Dexter Gordon Landslide and Sonny Red, Out of the Blue. Two were from the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series, Hank Mobley, Roll Call, and Horace Silver, Serenade to a Soul Sister. The final record was a new discovery, Horace Silver, Silver in Seattle: Live at the Penthouse. Read more
Podcast: Miles and Trane, Early Days
This week’s theme: The first recordings of Miles Davis and John Coltrane together. Featured artists are Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones.
Podcast: Joy Spring
This week’s theme: It’s Springtime! Featured artists include Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Dexter Gordon, Karin Krog, Kenny Drew, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson, Carmen McRae, Stan Getz, Shelly Manne, LeRoy Vinnegar, Lou Levy, Conte Candoli, Johnny Griffin, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Arthur Taylor, Kenny Dorham, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Cedar Walton, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown, Richie Powell, George Morrow, Harold Land, Sarah Vaughan, John Coltrane, Wilbur Hardin, Astrud Gilberto.
Podcast: John Coltrane, Atlantic
This week’s theme: Pretty simple, John Coltrane on the Atlantic label. Featured artists include John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Eric Dolphy, Don Cherry, Freddie Hubbard, Tommy Flanagan, Cedar Walton, Paul Chambers, Arthur Taylor, Steve Davis, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Connie Kay, Reggie Workman, Charles Haden.
Podcast: The Great American Versebook
This week’s theme: Jazz vocals with verses included. Featured artists include: Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Nancy Lamott, Anita O’Day, Chet Baker, Stacey Kent, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Rosemary Clooney, Karrin Alysson, Carmen McRae, Scott Hamilton, Clifford Brown, Paul Quinichette, Warren Vache, Ed Bickert, Roy Haynes, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Quincy Jones, Russ Freeman, Mundell Lowe.
Podcast: All The Things Must Pass
This week’s theme: All the Things You Are in multiple settings. Featured artists include Art Tatum, Ben Webster, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Tal Farlow, Dan Axelrod, Eddie Costa, Booker Ervin, Tommy Flanagan, Richard Davis, Alan Dawson, Phineas Newborn Jr., Oscar Pettiford, Kenny Clarke, Johnny Griffin, John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Art Blakey, Ella Fitzgerald, Horace Silver, Rosemary Clooney, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Carmen McRae, Kenny Dorham, Doug Watkins, Dexter Gordon, Barry Harris, Buster Williams, Tootie Heath.
Old Vinyl, New Bottles, Craft OJCs
The Christmas holidays have always been a time when I liked to splurge on records. I think it goes back to an experience when I was living on Long Island, and I walked into the Titus Oaks store in Hicksville on the day after Christmas, and the owner/proprietor had just finished putting a bunch of records into the bins, and I was the first to see them, and among the records were original Blue Notes, maybe 15-20 all together, and they were all first pressings in mint, unplayed condition, and they were priced at $5 each. Yes, that really happened. It was the early 1980s, and it was not a dream. I think that experience has stuck with me the rest of my jazz collecting days and I always make sure to check out local record stores during the week before Christmas. As Christmas time approached a couple of months ago, I started feeling that old urge surging through my body. I tried a couple of the local record stores but, alas, no luck. I couldn’t shake the urge, so I went online, as I mentioned in a post back in December (New Old Jazz, Or Old New Jazz, on Vinyl). I went on a little spree. I meant to write about it earlier, but, as you may have noticed, I have not been doing much writing these days. Listening, yes, doing my radio show, yes, but writing, not so much. So, we’ll start catching up now and see if I can inspire myself to sit down and do so more writing in the next week or so. Read more
Podcast: The Fats Waller Songbook
Songs written by or recorded by Fats Waller. Some modern interpretations as well as a bit of historical slide piano. Featured artists include Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Oscar Pettiford, Anita O’Day, Dinah Washington, James P. Johnson, Willie “The Lion” Smith, Hank Jones, Luther Henderson, Nell Carter, Andre De Shields, Amelia McQueen, Ken Page, Charlaine Woodard, Herman Autry, Gene Sedric, Al Casey.
Unsung Artists: Kenny Drew on Piano
This week’s theme: Kenny Drew as a sideman and a leader. Featured artists include Kenny Drew, Hank Mobley, Freddie Hubbard, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Lee Morgan, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers, Niels Henning Orsted Pederson, Dexter Gordon, Percy Heath, Tootie Heath, and more.
April is Jazz Month
