Mobley, Evans, Jackie, KD and A Cool Autograph

Let’s catch up with some of the items on this week’s auction from the Jazz Record Center, starting with one of the real big ones: Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing described as being in “near-new” condition. That’s pretty nice condition, I would say. You would expect this to sell for quite a bit and it did: $2,926.

This record reached a new high for the Jazz Collector Price Guide and almost cracked into the $1,000 bin: Bill Evans Trio, Explorations, Riverside 351. This was an original blue label pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover, which was actually described as being in “extraordinary” condition. Looks like four bidders got into a bit of a war and knocked the price up to $910.01.

Jackie McLean, Lights Out, Prestige 7035. This was an original New York pressing. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover was probably VG+. The price was $758.

Kenny Dorham, Whistle Stop, Blue Note 4063. This was an original deep groove West 63rd pressing. The record looked to be M- and the cover probably somewhere between VG+ and VG++. The price was $510.

Finally, this was a cool one: Jackie McLean, Consequence, Blue Note GXK-8172. This was a Blue Note record issued for the first time by King in Japan. The record itself is relatively hard to find, but this one was autographed and dated by Jackie McLean. It sold for $148.05. I have to believe that’s a bargain — don’t you think someday the autographs of the greats will go up in value? Plus, it’s a cool thing to own. I have a Japanese pressing of Jackie’s Bag signed by Jackie, with a drawing as well, and it’s definitely a favorite.