Comments on: Is There a “Jazz Collector” Era?

By: ceedee

ceedee — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:55:42 +0000

As an iconic lp from the “jazz collector era”, Kind of Blue continues to pull in the big bucks in it’s original pressing. And Bobdj continues to benefit from bidders “got to have it” mentality:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&item=160870568134&nma=true&rt=nc&si=X8hUbg94%252BiSbteNpglRjOjoZXgE%253D&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 00:32:55 +0000

I probably will stick out like a sore thumb, but my journey to jazz is an odd one, I came in through the jazz rock door, the 70’s bloated and delightfully overproduced variety. Forgive me, I was a rock guitarist. I have spent the last 15 years devouring the entire history of jazz, I am fortunate, I have not found any jazz not worthy, from 20’s era Armstrong, all the way through some of the Neo Rock Jazz noodling of the 21st century. Hell I even love Cecil Taylor. for some reason the avant gard has always struck a nerve with me, Maybe its the Frank Zappa I grew up on. but sometimes I need more of a challenge than a Blowing Session. Peter Brotzmann’s Machine Gun? well that would be pushing it.

truth be told, about the only music I despise is 21st Century Country/Pop Music.

By: Shaft

Shaft — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:39:47 +0000

I think all good jazz is collectible but the defined era 54-66 is definately where the money goes.The sound was hifi, the pressing generally good and the music sublime.

By: Bill Shep

Bill Shep — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:47:51 +0000

I agree with Al’s assessment. I would definitely say up to 1965 just because there were some fantastic Jazz albums issued that year: Love Supreme, Song for my Father, Maiden Voyage, Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts album, Tony Williams’ Spring, Andrew Hill’s Point of Departure, Albert Ayler’s Spiritual Unity and Wayne Shorter’s Speak no Evil, among many others.

By: Mike F

Mike F — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 17:03:18 +0000

I’m in the era starting with 10 inch pressing and ending around late 60’s for “collecting”, but I have TONS of great records outside that space. What I mean by that is, I love many records from the 70s-80s, and have tons of cds from the 80s-present but they are not “collectibles” really. Outside of a few exceptions of course.
I consider “collectibles” as items I hunt for, am willing to pay more than $15 for, etc. As an example, I have and love Blakey’s “Album of the Year” from 1981 I believe. It’s my New Orleans bias, but the Terrence Blanchard cut of “Oh by the Way” on that album is one of my favorite songs ever. But it’s not really a collectible, just a nice album. I think about it as I have records, then I have “collectibles”.
This also is the way I feel about other non-jazz music. Of all my records, about %40 is non jazz, but I didn’t really pay top dollar for any of them, nor did I hunt specifically for premium originals. I have David Bowie records for when I want to put on some Bowie, but I never paid more than $10 and I have no idea if any are originals. It’s not what I collect. I’m a “Jazz Collector”, which is why I love this site so much!

By: dottorjazz

dottorjazz — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 06:56:24 +0000

as I wrote in the past, my love is BeBop to Free. there are many more Free Jazz collectors in Europe than in USA, maybe because Free had more followers here. in my frequent travels to USA it’s very difficult to find Free records in stores, some Shepp’s or late Trane’s.
in my collection, built in the last 45 years, there are some Free Jazz top $. I know most collectors here are not interested, as Al stated: it’s a personal taste. but referring to rarity, the first two Albert Ayler recordings are much rarer than all Blue Notes (which I love and collect). issued by a Swedish small and indy label, Bird Notes, volume one is the easier to find, about 200 copies but volume two has never been issued as a commercial item. there are not more than 7 (seven) known copies around. how many of you have ever seen this record, issued in white sleeve with no details? please consider that our 1568 graal has been sold 8 times in the period sept 2011-jul 2012.
I’ve seen Bird Notes LP-2 twice in the last 45 years.
now I can hear it everyday.

By: maartenkools

maartenkools — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 21:28:30 +0000

🙂

By: Al

Al — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:56:13 +0000

Because it’s fun and interesting and the guy who runs it is quite charming, right?

By: Clifford Allen

Clifford Allen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:32:33 +0000

I guess the follow-up would be, then, “why are you reading Jazz Collector?!?!”

By: Clifford Allen

Clifford Allen — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:32:07 +0000

The stuff I collect generally starts around ’64 and ends in the late 1970s, focusing on the more ‘out’ material and European jazz. But I also have a lot of love for bop and hard bop, and yet I approach that with pockets that aren’t deep enough to afford original pressings. There’s a lot of distance between the top dollar free jazz record and the top-dollar Blue Note, though in some cases that gap is closing a bit (as with many rare records).