Just a reminder: Today is the final day of the contest to win the jazz vinyl LP: The Essential Billie Holiday Carnegie Hall Concert, Verve 8410. All you have to do to be eligible to win the record is to post a comment on the Jazz Collector site — anywhere on the site, in response to any post — before the end of the day. We will announce the winner tomorrow. Good luck.
Now Available: Vintage Autographs, High End Audio
We get all kinds of random inquiries here at Jazz Collector. We’ll post a few here, in case anyone is interested or has any comments.
One of our readers has a set of three vintage photos, autographed, framed and mounted. All three photos appear to be made out to Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. The signatures are from Dizzy Gillespie: “To my Dixieland friend — Dizzy G” (that’s what it is, although it would be tough to associate Lockjaw with Dixieland); Dave Tough: “To Jaws, Dave Tough;” and Sidney Catlett: “Blow that horn Jaws! — Sidney Catlett.” It is certainly an interesting piece of jazz memorabilia. If you are interested drop us at note at al@jazzcollector.com and we’ll put you in touch with the seller.
Another of our readers is moving from New York to California and has a batch of high-end audio equipment he is looking to sell. This includes a Klyne pre-amp; B&K stereo amp; Carver tuner; Sota turntable; Sumiko tonearm; Snell speakers and
WFMU Record Fair Coming To NY in Two Weeks
Someone asked on a recent post if we will be attending the WFMU Record Fair this year. The Record Fair, which is the top record show in the New York Metropolitan area, is coming up in less than two weeks: It begins on Friday, October 23 and ends on Sunday, October 25. It’s definitely worth attending: There are generally bargains to be found and also some nice collectibles at collectible prices. For the past couple of years we’ve taken a table but this year we will find ourselves in Washington DC for personal business on Friday and Saturday. Our plan is to show up on Sunday morning to do some shopping and socializing, with the expectation that anything worth purchasing will be long gone by the time we show up. Still, we’ll be there and we’ll certainly feel the rush of adrenaline our body automatically pumps in the presence of so much jazz and other vinyl.
Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Benny Golson On Riverside
This is one of our favorite records: Benny Golson, The Modern Touch, Riverside 256. It is a very nice sextet recording from 1957 with an all-star lineup: Kenny Dorham on trumpet; Golson on tenor; JJ Johnson on trombone; Wynton Kelly on piano; Paul Chambers on bass, Max Roach on drums. Love Dorham’s playing on this LP, JJ as well, and the arrangements are solid. It’s also one of those records on which both sides are equally good and listenable. We highly recommend it and we know we are going to keep it in our collection. The issue, however, is this: We have both an original pressing of this record on Riverside as well as a reissue on Jazzland: Reunion, Jazzland 85. The reissue is in a little bit better condition and, to be honest, they both sound about the same to us on our equipment. So which to keep, the one in better condition or the original?
Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Paul Gonsalves on Argo
This is one that is quite similar to the Seldon Powell Roost jazz vinyl LP we put up yesterday: Paul Gonsalves, Cookin’, Argo 626. It is also a quite rare and collectible record in nice condition by a tenor player who is excellent but not quite in the same category as the greats. This is also a record that has sold for more than $200 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. As well, it is a record for which we have no particular attachment: We purchased it a couple of years ago as part of a small collection. This has a price tag on it and it also has a better cover than the Seldon Powell: An action picture of Gonsalves and the “Daddy-O Presents” tag, which makes it quite interesting. Nice package and a nice record.
Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Seldon Powell on Roost
Here’s the record: Seldon Powell Sextet, Roost 2220. We had this one in a pile to sell. Why: Well, we have no personal attachment to the record, can’t even remember when or where we bought it. We had never listened to it despite owning it for several years. Seldon Powell is a nice tenor player, but, face it, he’s not Sonny Rollins or John Coltrane. The sidemen are good, but nothing special: Jimmy Cleveland, Freddie Green, Aaron Bell, Roland Hanna, Osie and Gus Johnson. Most importantly, this is a record that is quite collectible and could fetch a fair price. In the Jazz Collector Price Guide we’ve seen it sell for more than $200. So, we put it on the turntable this morning with the expectation that we would most likely be selling this record on eBay. So, what’s the verdict?
An Avalanche of Thousand-Dollar-Plus Jazz Vinyl
We’ve been off line for a couple of days, just got back, went to My Ebay and noticed that the auctions of the seller Nautiluso are now in the midst of closing. Wow! Wait till you see these prices. Here’s a start:
Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. Like most of the others in this group, this was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The price was $3,342.99.
J.R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. Condition: M- for record and cover. Price: $2,247.22
Lou Donaldson, Quartet, Quintet, Sextet, Blue Note 1537. Condition: M-. Price: $1,175
Hank Mobley With Donald Byrd and Lee Morgan, Blue Note 1540. Condition: M-. Price: $1,705.
Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. Condition: M-. Price: $2,247.
Bill Evans, Waltz For Debby, Riverside 399. Condition: M-
Price: $1,500.
As noted, this is just a small sampling. There will be more to come. It would be great if some of the winners of this vinyl will report back to us on the condition and whether these records are, indeed, as pristine as they seem.
On eBay Now: Jackie, Dolphy, Bud
Here are a few items we’re watching on eBay the next few days. We’ve already mentioned all of those records by the seller nautiluso, so we’ll be reporting back on those as well.
Jackie McLean, Consequence, Blue Note Japan King GXF-8172. This is an album that was not released originally in the United States and this is the first press. It features Lee Morgan, Harold Mabern, Herbie Lewis and Billy Higgins. It was recorded in December 1965 and appears here with updated liner notes. I didn’t realize that it had value as a collectible, until I noticed it here and saw that the price is already more than $100 with a couple of days left before the auction closes. I do have a copy of this record, so it will now get a thorough listening to see if it makes the cut in The Great Jazz Vinyl Countdown.
Eric Dolphy in Europe, Debut 136. This is the original Danish pressing and
Jazz Vinyl Countdown: Archie Shepp, Impulse
When people ask me about my record collection or even my taste in jazz, I often kid around and tell them it ends in 1964. There is quite a bit of truth in that, however. My taste generally runs to bop and post-bop and, as I’m getting older, I’m finding it going more backwards into mainstream jazz than towards anything current. Anyway, this is a roundabout way of saying I recently picked up a bunch of albums on the Impulse label and am in the throes of deciding what to keep and what to sell. I put this one on the turntable yesterday: Archie Shepp, Fire Music, Impulse 86. It seemed promising: A 1965 LP with tracks such as Prelude to a Kiss and The Girl From Ipanema. The record is in beautiful condition and I’m sure it is a classic of its genre. But
Today on eBay: A Rare Bird Indeed
We spent some time last night perusing today’s activities on eBay, so we figured we’d share some of our findings with you on a bright lovely morning in the New York metro area.
Charlie Parker, The Bird Blows The Blues, Dial 901. This is purported to be the first 12-inch LP ever. It was issued as a promo for Dial. There are reports of only 50 pressings of this record, but, we’re sure that is part of the mythology. We’ve written about it before at Jazz Collector and we’ve also tracked pricing in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Our top price in the past has been $2,850. It certainly does not come up on eBay very often. This one seems to be in pretty nice condition. When we first saw this last night, the price was around a hundred dollars and now it’s around $400 with six hours to go. We’ll see where it ends up. It is quite a rarity and
April is Jazz Month
