Another slow, slow, slow day on eBay. So slow, in fact, that we only found a couple of records to watch. So slow that we looked all the way ahead until Wednesday to make sure no one inflicted mischief on our computer to prevent it from viewing collectible jazz records. Fortunately, as we looked ahead, we found some nice collectibles from some of the reliable sellers in the Jazz Collector world, including Euclid Records, Atomic Records and the Jazz Record Center. As for today, the nicest record we found is already closed: The Marty Paich Quartet, featuring Art Pepper, Tampa 28. This was an original red vinyl pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover VG++. The price was $260. Also of interest today: Zoot Sims and the Modern Art of Jazz, Dawn 1102. This is an original pressing, with the record and cover both listed in M- condition. Current price is about $70. That’s really it for today, but tomorrow will be better, we promise. Stay tuned for that post. In the meantime, here’s an update on some of the other items we’ve been watching:
Today on eBay, January 10, 2009
Here’s an interesting one that closed recently. A seller was offering a copy of Lee Morgan Sextet, Blue Note 1541. It looked as if the vinyl was VG+ or VG++ and the cover looked to be VG, with a sticker on the front. It was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The bidding went to $995 — but the record didn’t sell because it failed to meet the seller’s reserve price. That’s a pretty steep reserve price, albeit for a very rare record. We looked up in the Jazz Collector Price Guide: We’ve had one copy that sold for as much as $1,325 — in much better condition — and the second highest price was $877, also in better condition. Anyway, we’re sure the seller will sell the record so if you’re interested you can click the link and contact him. It’s another quiet day on eBay today — not unusual for a Saturday — but here are a couple of items we’re watching:
Today on eBay, January 9, 2009
Things are slow again on eBay, although there are a few decent items coming up, and a few nice items that recently closed. Coming up: The seller gonerrecords has a few nice items closing in a few hours including Lou Donaldson, The Time is Right, Blue Note 4025. This one is in VG+ condition and is in the $170 price range. Also from this seller: Lou Donaldson, LD + 3, Blue Note 4012. This one is also in VG+ condition and is now in the $85 price range. If you click these items, also look at the vendor’s other items for more jazz vinyl collectibles. Not much else on the high-end later today, but you might want to keep an eye on this one: Lucy Ann Polk, Lucky Lucy Ann, Mode 115. This is currently at about $50. We’ve seen it go for as high as $103 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Getting a jump on tomorrow, take a look at this one: Booker Little Four, United Artists 4034. This is an original pressing, and the price is still pretty low.
Among some of the nice items that just sold today are:
Bud Powell, Bud!, Blue Note 1571. This was an original pressing. The record was M-, the cover was VG++, the price was $271. Read more
What’s Happening on EBay, Jan 8, 2009?
Actually, not that much is happening on eBay on January 8, 2009. We know it’s our job here at Jazz Collector to watch eBay, but we’ve been derelict in our duties. So, when we logged back on to eBay today for the first time in a couple of weeks, we expected to see the normal spate of high-end collectible jazz vinyl. At first, we were not disappointed. On the first page of listing, under the featured items, there were, as always, some fine choices, including: An original stereo pressing of Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, Columbia 8163: A VG+ copy of Johnny Griffin, The Congregation, Blue Note, 1580 (albeit with a cover that has a water stain; and, among others, an original Lexington Avenue pressing of J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. Having seen these records, were were expecting to see things as normal. But we sludged through more than a dozen pages and 19 hours worth of records before coming upon another set of records that caught our eye. We’ll mention these records in the next post, which, we promise, will be soon. But it is highly unusual to go through that long a period of time without something exciting. So, we ask our readers (if there are any of you still out there given our lengthy absence): Have things been quiet, or is this just an aberration? Has there been any indication that the economy is having an effect on the market? What do you think?
Remembering Freddie Hubbard
I’m sure many of you saw the news that Freddie Hubbard passed away yesterday at age 70. Hubbard, of course, was a seminal figure in the post-bop era. We write about his records often in the posts at Jazz Collector, particularly since his LP Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040, is one of the top collectibles, often selling for more than $1,000. He also played on Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041, another of the rarest of jazz collectibles. Our own memories of Hubbard stretch back to the great Oliver Nelson LP, The Blues and the Abstract Truth, Impulse 5, where he played in a great setting with Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy and others. I always remember Nelson stating that Hubbard sounded like John Coltrane playing the trumpet, and that always stuck with me. Hubbard was never quite as inventive as Trane or as experimental, but he certainly had a style and sound that was immediately recognizable. Other favorite early recordings are Eric Dolphy Outward Bound, New Jazz 8236, and Art Blakey, Buhaina’s Delight, Blue Note 4104. I saw Hubbard many times at the Village Vanguard in the early 1970s, and he was always a passionate, charismatic performer. What are some of your memories, and favorite Hubbard recordings? Please feel free to comment on this post.
Back Again, Looking at High-End Vinyl
Wow, have we really been away for three weeks? Sorry, sorry, sorry.
So, where were we when we were so rudely interrupted. Ah, yes, we were looking at records that crossed the $1,000 barrier. We just did a quick search of eBay and found a few more for you, just from the past few weeks when Jazz Collector went AWOL. Here are a few to peruse and muse about:
Walter Davis, Davis Cup, Blue Note 4018. This was an original deep groove pressing with the West 63rd Street address. It was in M-/M- condition and sold for $1,248.
John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was an original mono pressing with the black label. It was also in M-/M- condition. Price: $1,031.66
Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was an original pressing that was in M-/M- condition. Price: $1,075
Yow, I’m sure most of you saw this one: Charlie Parker, Bird Blows The Blues, Dial LP1. This is a 12-inch LP, issued from the Spring of 1949 with no cover. The dealer listed it as being the first 12-inch jazz LP ever produced, which we’ve never seen disputed. This was in VG+ condition, with a yellow label and purple vinyl. Price: $2,850
George Wallington at the Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This was an original pressing that came directly out of George Wallington’s collection. It was listed by his brother, who listed the vinyl as M- and the cover as VG, but he said there were virtually no flaws. The price was $1,380.50.
That’s it for now. We’ll be back soon. Promise.
Keeping an Eye on the $1,000 Barrier
We were looking at records that broke the $1,000 price barrier last week. It’s always interesting to take note of high-end collectible prices. Here’s another one that broke the barrier yesterday: Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. This was an original pressing, of course. The vinyl was in M- condition and the cover was VG++. The final price was $1,620 and there were 22 bids and seven bidders. Looking ahead at today’s records, there isn’t likely another $1,000 record, although this one may come close: Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This is an original pressing and the vinyl is in M- condition. The cover, however, is only VG+ and that might limit the bidding. At this point, the price is $543 with a few hours left to go. We took a look at the Jazz Collector Price Guide and found several instances of this record being sold for more than $1,000. The highest price we recorded was $1,591.
Updating The Price Guide, Dec. 2, 2008
Here are some items we’ll be adding to the Jazz Collector Price Guide today. Most of these have previously appeared on the site, so we’re not providing new links. Here goes:
Gigi Gryce, Rat Race Blues, New Jazz 8262. This was an original pressing, deep groove, purple label. Both the record and cover were in M- condition. Price: $205.50
Jutta Hipp at the Hickory House, Blue Note 1515. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was VG- and the cover was VG. Price: $201.50
Art Farmer Quintet with Gigi Gryce, Prestige 209. This is a 10-inch LP. Record was M- and the cover was VG+. Price: $190
Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was an original pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. Price: $435
Norvo, Farlow and Mingus: Volume 2?
A Jazz Collector reader poses a question. On eBay, there was a copy of this record: The Red Norvo Trio, Volume 1, Discovery 4005. This is a 12-inch LP featuring Tal Farlow and Charles Mingus. It includes the following tracks: Little White Lies, Move, I Get A kick Out of You, I’ll Remember April, I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me, I’ve Got You Under My Skin, Zing Went the Strings of My Heart and September Song. These are the exact same songs that are on the 10-inch version of the LP, Discovery 3012, which has similar packaging, with the exception of an added picture (a great one of the group in action). The question is this: Is there a 12-inch Volume 2 of this series as well? There is a 10-inch Volume 2, which is Discovery 3018, so we assume there’s a 12-inch also (probably with the same pictures), but we don’t have a copy and, rather than search through eBay, we figured we’d throw it out there to see if someone knows the answer. Thanks.
Jazz Collector Listener’s Guide, Nov. 28, 2008
It’s Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and, for some reason, this seems a day to sit around and do nothing except listen to music. So I have been in my music room poring through records and putting on some favorites that I don’t listen to all of the time, or haven’t listened to on vinyl in a while. I started with an old Riverside, Bags Meets Wes, Riverside 407. This was recorded in December 1961 and features a great rhythm section of Wynton Kelly, Sam Jones and Philly Joe Jones, in addition, of course, to Milt Jackson and West Montgomery. Side one starts with a blues, “S.K.J” and then Stablemates, Stairway to the Stars and another blues, Blue Roz. I got involved listening to Philly Joe on brushes, which is always a miracle, and that led me to Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047, not Side One with Coltrane, but Side Two featuring Paul’s Pal, with some great Philly Joe brushwork, then My Reverie and The Most Beautiful Girl in the world. Read more
April is Jazz Month
