Author: Al

Miles, Monk and a New Face

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Here are some of the items I was watching from the recent auction by the Jazz Record Center, starting with: Wynton Kelly, New Faces – NewSounds, Blue Note 5025. This was an original 10-inch pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $191.38. I should have bid on it. Great music, great cover. How can these 10 inch Blue Notes not be worth more money, given what’s going on with 12-inch Blue Notes?

Miles Davis, Steamin’, Prestige 7200. This was an original New Jersey yellow label pressing that was in probably M- condition for the record and at least VG++ for the cover. It sold for only $75. Weird. Why wouldn’t this get more. It’s actually my favorite among the Miles Prestiges that were all recorded in that one session — Steamin’, Cookin’, Workin’, Relaxin’. By contrast, look at this one from the same auction: Miles Davis, Relaxin’, Prestige 7129. This was an original New York pressing in virtually identical condition to Steamin’. It sold for $393.

I thought this one might fetch a higher price as well:

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One For the $3,000 Bin, And A Few More

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Let’s check in on some of the jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching on eBay, starting with: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This was a sort of original pressing in that it had the West 63rd address, deep grooves, ear and RVG but no New York 23  on one of of the sides, so perhaps sticklers will set it is less than an original. I’d be happy to have it, that’s for sure. The vinyl was M- and the cover was VG+. The final price was $3,355.55.

This one did not sell: John Coltrane, Soultrane, Prestige 7142. The listing had a few inconsistencies, talking about a New York label, when this one never came with a New York label. And the condition listing was not consistent either, although it seemed that the record was probably VG++ and the cover was M-. The start price was $365 and no one was interested at that price.

Here are a couple more nice Blue Notes I was watching:

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A Prestige Pair, and a 10-Inch Blue Note

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Here are a few items we’re watching now on eBay, starting with a couple of Prestiges: Phil Woods, Pairing Off, Prestige 7046. This is an original New York pressing and is graded Ex- for the record and VG for the cover, which translates to approximately VG+ for  the record in the terms we use here, although the seller seems to use both VG+ and Ex in his grading system. Anyway, the start price is $150 and so far there are no bidders. We would expect this to sell, but you never know. I recently received the 10-inch Phil Woods Prestige that I got as a birthday present to myself and to my pleasant surprise, the condition was much nicer than what had been advertised. Music is very nice as well.

Roy Haynes with Booker Ervin, Cracklin’, New Jazz 8286. This seems to be an original pressing, although it has one side that is a deep groove and one that isn’t. What do you make of that? The record is in M- condition and the cover is VG+. The price is in the $140 range and I’m assuming it is an original unless I hear otherwise.

I almost bid on this one and now kind of regret that I didn’t:

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Alvin Lee, RIP

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I got into jazz in the summer of 1970, when I was 17 years old, and I was stuck alone in the house with my father’s records. I have told this story before, quite elegantly I may add, and it can be seen here if you are interested: Song For My Father. Prior to that, like most kids my age, I was into rock and my favorite musician was Alvin Lee, the great guitar player from Ten Years After. If you listen to the album “Undead” you will hear a guitarist who was heavily influenced by jazz and was playing some great jazz-infused, soulful, bluesy and always swinging music in a rock and roll band. Sorry to say, Alvin Lee passed away yesterday. If you’re not familiar with his playing, check this out: 01 I May Be Wrong, But I Won’t Be Wrong Always.m4a 2.

 

Moving On: Tracking More Jazz Vinyl Collectibles

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As much as it may pain me to interrupt the scintillating discussion on my previous post, it is time for me to move on and write a new post because, after all, that is what I do. I do think that the previous post set a new high for comments on Jazz Collector — and counting — and we came within 10 page views of our all time high for a single day, set last summer during the midst of my stories about purchasing the record collection of Irving Kalus. In any case, I received a missive from our friends at the Jazz Record Center that they have a new auction on eBay, so I took a look over to see what they had. Here are some of the things I found, starting with: Serge Chaloff, Boston Blow-Up, Capitol 6510. This is an original promo pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and possibly M- or VG++ for the cover. I haven’t seen that many yellow label Capitols through the years, to be honest. This one does not seem to have the same cachet as Blue Serge, perhaps minus the presence of Sonny Clark on piano, so it will be interesting to watch this and see if it fetches a collectible price. The starting bid is $50.

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A Tale of Two Blue Notes

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Others saw this and pointed to it already, but I couldn’t let it pass without at least a mention: J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This was, alas, a reissue. A reissue that sold for $1,081. Clearly the buyer thinks he is getting an original pressing and will be quite disappointed. I’ve sold enough collectible jazz records on eBay to know that English is not the first language for many of the high-end buyers and when you underline words like “flat edge” and “deep groove” and you don’t call out that it is a reissue, then you are being purposefully obscure. I’m pretty sure the seller is a reader of Jazz Collector and perhaps he will make a strong argument that he was being aptly descriptive of the record. And maybe the buyer won’t complain. I know there are many people who believe that it is the buyer’s responsibility and in this case the seller uses the word “repressing” to describe the record. But if it was me, and I paid nearly $1,100 for a record, and I was waiting for it in the mail and I opened up the box and pulled out a reissue, I’d be might, mighty disappointed. And pretty angry. And I would demand a refund. Whereas if I purchased this record and opened it and pulled it out of the box I’d be quite pleased because it was no doubt an original pressing: Fats Navarro Memorial Album, Blue Note 5004. This was an original — a real original– 10-inch record in M- condition for the record and at least VG++ for the cover. What a beauty, and the seller took some nice pictures as well. It sold for $178.09. Which would you rather have: The Fats original or the J.R. reissue?

 

A Period Piece, and More

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Here are some updates on the jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching, starting with: Sonny Rollins Plays, Period 1204. This is a pretty cool cover, don’t you think? The record looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and the cover, although the seller seemed to wanted additional emphasis by putting in a few more plus signs. It sold for $543. And while we’re on the subject of Sonny, that British Esquire pressing of Saxophone Colossus? It sold for $449.

Bud Powell, The Scene Changes, Blue Note 4009. This was an original pressing that as described in excellent condition for the record and the cover, which I will interpret to VG++ when I place this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide, which I will do eventually. This one sold for $515.

Guess I’m not going to get a black-label copy of Giant Steps this week. This one had no bidders when we last looked, but wound up attracting three bids and sold for $284.99. C’est la vinyl.

 

 

 

eBaying: Jazz Vinyl That Sold, Others That Didn’t

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Let’s catch up on some more jazz vinyl auctions we are/were watching, starting with: Cliff Jordan, Blue Note 1565. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It looked like quite a beauty and, in fact, may still be available. This one received a top bid of $1,525, yet is failed to meet the seller’s reserve price. I know the market is the market and sellers have every right to hold out for top value, but I still find it hard to fathom wanting to pay more than $1,500 for a single record and still being unable to purchase it.

Here’s a fine looking Blue Note for you: J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This is an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The auction closes in three days and the bidding is in the $565 range. Can’t imagine this will sell for less than $1,000, so the question is how much more than $1,000 will it fetch.

This one isn’t regarded as a collectible anymore (clearly), but I kept an eye on it wondering if anyone would even want it at all:

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Developing a Thing For European Prestiges

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Watching a potpourri of jazz vinyl on eBay now. Here’s another one of those European Esquire Prestiges I’ve never seen before: Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Esquire 32-045. This one doesn’t have the classic U.S. Saxophone Colossus cover, but there’s something about the simplicity of this cover that I find quite appealing. I tell you, I’m developing a thing for these records, which is always dangerous. This one looks to be VG++ for both the record and the cover. The auction closes in more than two days and the bidding is in the $160 range.

Here’s another tempting one: Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney, Two Guitars, Prestige 7119. This is an original New York yellow label pressing listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $160 range and the auction closes today. If I could get this for less than $250, hmmm . . . . .

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Aberration is in the Eye of the Beholder

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Since everyone is getting so worked up over the prices of some of the latest auctions, I decided to take a look at all of the recent completed listings from the bobdjukic sales to get an overall sense of things. There are definitely some aberrations between what we expect to see in the market, and some that fit in just fine with market expectation. Just for fun, I’ll pull out a few more of the aberrations.

Sonny Rollins, What’s New, RCA 2572. I love this record, but I’ve never really looked at it as a collectible. I have several copies, in fact. This was a promo copy in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $161.50.

Horace Silver, Song For My Father, Blue Note 84185. This is a stereo pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for the record and probably VG+ for the cover, although you can clearly see ring wear on the photo. It sold for $385.

Chet Baker, Baker’s Holiday, Limelight 86019. This is an original stereo pressing. The record was in VG++ condition, the cover around VG+. It sold for $136.50.

Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Dream, Columbia 8765. This is a stereo pressing, with 2-eye label. The seller claims it is much rarer than the mono??????? It sold for $152.50.

 

 

 

 

 

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