Today on EBay: Some Nice Blue Notes

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There’s a seller in Germany who’s got a few very nice Blue Note LPs for sale on eBay, closing in a few hours. Here are a few: Sabu, Palo Congo, Blue Note 1561. This is an original pressing with the West 63rd Street address, deep groove, mono. It is listed in M- condition, both record and cover. The current price is $771. Also, Sonny Rollins Volume One, Blue Note 1542. This is a West 63rd Street pressing, which is not an original. We have a copy of this record in our collection with the Lexington Avenue address. This record is in nice condition, but not mint. The current price is $293 and it has yet to meet the seller’s reserve price. 

Also from this seller:

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Two More For the $1,000 Bin

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We’ve been watching jazz vinyl that crosses the $1,000 barrier on eBay. Here are two more that recently joined the club: Paul Chambers, Whims of Chambers, Blue Note 1534. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that was in M- condition, both the record and the cover. It also had the advantage of being sold by Euclid Records, one of the most reputable sellers on eBay. This record sold for $1,625, quite a bit higher than we’ve previously seen for a copy of this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. The other one joining the $1,000 club, was this one: Eric Dolpy in Europe, Debut 136. This was the original Danish pressing in pristine M- condition, both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,375.

For the Price Guide: Sonny Clark, Dizzy Reece, Monk

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Since we work during the week, we often use the weekend to update the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Here are a few of the items will be adding after we complete this post:

Sonny Clark, Sonny’s Crib, Blue Note 1576. This as an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record was VG++ and so was the cover. The price was $747.

Art Pepper Meets the Rhythm Section, Contemporary 3532. This was an original yellow label mono pressing. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. Price: $240.50

Hank Mobley, Workout, Blue Note 4080. This was a mono pressing with the New York USA label. The record and cover were M- and the price was $335.

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From The Archives: The Duke As a Hillbilly????

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When I was researching that “trick” quiz question on the first Leonard Feather Blindfold Test, I came upon the Downbeat Special 20th Anniversary Issue from June 30, 1954. In addition to talking about the Blindfold Tests, Feather had some great stories and quotes. Here’s a comment from Jack Teagarden on Duke Ellington: “I never did like anything Ellington ever did. He never had a band all in tune, always has a bad tone and a bad blend. I’d just as soon listen to a hillbilly on a jukebox.”

This is what Feather had to say about the first Mary Lou Williams Blindfold test from 1946:

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Leo Parker LP — And The Winner Is . . .

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It’s time to announce the winner of the free record, Leo Parker, Rollin’ With Leo, Blue Note BST 84095. This is the 1986 release of this LP, which was the first time it was released with the cover art and catalog number that was originally intended by Blue Note in 1962. What’s more, this is a promo copy, with a promo stamp on the cover. The record is in VG+ condition and the cover is M-. The rules of the contest are simple: All you have to do is post a comment on the Jazz Collector site, anywhere on the site. Over the past two weeks, since we’ve been running the contest, we’ve had quite a bit of commenting on the site, but as I looked back, it’s not that many people. There are only six eligible to win the record. They are: Jason, Rudolf, Michel, Bethellodge, Mike M and Erich Schultz. And the winner is . . . . Read more

Another Quiz

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Doing that quickie quiz earlier today reminded me that when I used to send out a Jazz Collector newsletter back in 2004 and 2005, I used to run a quiz every week. So I looked back in the archives and came up with this one, a little bit tougher than the “Buckshot La Funke.” Here’s the question:

Who was the subject of Leonard Feather’s First Blindfold Test in Downbeat Magazine?

We’ll see who comes up with this one.

Quickie Quiz

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I posed a question in a post yesterday, but nobody has responded yet. I know you all know the answer, so perhaps you just missed it. But here’s the question I posed yesterday: On the album Here Comes Louis Smith, Blue Note 1584, the alto player is listed as “Buckshot La Funke.” Who is it really? By the way, there’s still time to post a comment on the site and be eligible to win the Leo Parker LP. We’re going to have Mrs. Jazz Collector draw the winning name tonight, and we’ll post the results tomorrow.

Today on EBay: Jordan, Gonsalves, Melle

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Here are some of the items worth watching on eBay today: Duke Jordan, Flight to Jordan, Blue Note 4046. This is an original deep groove mono pressing with the West 63rd Street address. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is VG++. The current price is about $330. 

Paul Gonsalves, Cookin’, Argo 626. This is an original pressing. The record is VG++ and the cover is VG+. The current price is $150. One of the reasons I’m watching this is because I have a copy of the same record in similar condition and I’m thinking of selling it. So, if somebody out there is interested, just let me know by commenting on the site or sending me an email to al(at)jazzcollector.com. 

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Today on eBay: Some Bennie Green on Blue Note

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Fairly quiet day on eBay today, but there’s always something. Here are a couple of nice LPs from the trombonist Bennie Green: Bennie Green, Soul Stirrin’, Blue Note 1599. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing. The record is M- and the cover is VG++. The current price is already $264 and it hasn’t yet reached the seller’s reserve price. We’ll see if it sells. One of the things I like about this album, aside from the music, which is quite good, is that Blue Note lists one of the tenor players simply as “Jug.” Obviously, this was Gene Ammons and he was under contract with Prestige at the time, but by using his real nickname they didn’t really try to hide anything. Another one of these I like on Blue Note is on Here Comes Louis Smith, Blue Note 1584, where the alto player is listed as “Buckshot La Funke.” It’s not hard to figure out who this is, but I will leave it to our readers to supply the answer. Also up on eBay today is

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Monk with Warhol Cover Sells for $843

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We had expected this record to sell for more than $1,000, but it didn’t: Thelonious Monk, Prestige 7053. This was a promo copy with the Andy Warhol cover and the New York label. The record was in VG+ or VG++ condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $843. A few weeks ago a copy of this record in VG condition sold for more than $2,000. Perhaps, as we mentioned before, things are softening a bit. Is the economy starting to affect the market for high-end jazz collectibles?