Jaro, Jaro, Jaro
What’s the collective knowledge out there about the Jaro label? I mention this because I am watching copies of the Kenny Dorham and J.R. Monterose records, which are both on eBay now, and because I listened to a reissue of the Monterose record a few weeks ago and it was terrific. Here’s what we are watching, among other items: The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 5007. This looks to be an original pressing in strong VG+ condition for the record and the vinyl. The start price is about $200 and, so far, there are no bidders. There are two copies of the Monterose I’m watching: J.R. Monterose, The Message, Jaro 5004. This looks to be an original mono pressing that is in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding has reached about $230 with a little more than a day to go and the seller’s reserve price has not yet been met. There is also this one: J.R. Monterose, The Message, Jaro 8004. This is a stereo pressing of the same record. The vinyl looks to be VG+ and the cover probably VG++. The start price is $160 and so far there is one bidder.
found this:
http://www.bsnpubs.com/nyc/toprank/toprank.html
I’ve them both and are identical to those offered now.
mono only, as always.
I have them both, in mono too. I never came across anything else of jazz value on this label.
I believe JARO was the short lived US offshoot of the British Top Rank label.
dottore: I only now opened your link. Well, you said it all.
Rudolf/dottore: How would you compare the sound and pressing quality of Jaro vs Blue Note (or others)?
I’ve listened to them again. No Van Gelder sound.
Bass and mid-range are not well separated and treble isn’t so clear, especially on Montrose.
Kenny Dorham is better.
BigBear: sorry, I did not reply since I am travelling.
Imagine. Atomic got almost 2X more than the other sellers. I have bought stuff there many times and, even though I know I’ll get a decent record in the mail, the grading always seems to be on his side. Just kinda bugs me a little bit but maybe not enough to make too much of a stink at the time. I prefer the bins there as the quality is better but the rarity level goes severely down as Steve puts the rare stuff on line. His bins are good for mono UA re-issues etc etc if not too “original press” pickey.
I have now got my Dorham on Jaro we’ve been watching some weeks ago…
The jacket is NM, the record is very nice and I believe 50% of e-bay sellers would call it NM, the rest VG++ (or EX). Strong VG+ was indeed a conservative grading…
Stii few hours to go before I put it on my turntable.
Gandi – congrats! enjoy! And nice to benefit from a conservative grade – usually I find the buyers tie or lose. I have never heard a Jaro so interested in your opinion of the sound / recording quality / pressing quality etc vs BN or Prestige…
BigBear – I agree with dottorjazz, the sound engineering quality is a “blue note” under the original BN/Prestige. Since my LP is play graded NM, it is very enjoyable – with nearly no background noise (even between the tracks) and great music (Kenny and T Flanagan are my favs – “Quiet Kenny”…)