A Day of Prestige at Jazz Collector
Here are some rare jazz records we are watching this Election Day in the States, starting with Dorothy Ashby, Hip Harp, Prestige 7140. This looks to be an original pressing with the yellow label and the New York address. It must be right at the end of the line for the New York labels. The record and cover are listed in M- condition and the seller, Vinyl-House-UK has a huge stack of nice vinyl for sale this week, closing more than four days from the time I am writing this post. Definitely worth checking out. The bidding on this Ashby record is in the $270 range. It is one of those original Prestiges that has somehow escaped me all of these years and it is somewhat tempting, given that this pressing looks so clean. My nephew, who is 24, somehow really got into Dorothy Ashby and I would like to share this record with him but, alas, when I looked for it on my shelf the cupboard was bare. I do have Soft Winds, Jazzland 961, so perhaps I will put that on next time I have a few moments to listen. Maybe I’ll also bid on Hip Harp. I feel ready to do something, after not having bought a single record since before the pandemic began.
Here’s another one from the end of the New York label Prestige era: Red Garland, Manteca, Prestige 7139. This is an original New York pressing. The pictures look great of the cover and the vinyl, but the seller claims he doesn’t grade records because he doesn’t know how. Fair enough. Bidding is already more than $200 with three days left in the auction. Back in the time when I first starting collecting and thinking about original pressings, this record was fairly common and could be purchased usually in the $25 or $30 range, albeit usually with the New Jersey label. Not anymore.
Want to comment on another Red Garland on eBay now, Red Garland, All Kinds of Weather, Prestige 7148. This is an original New Jersey pressing from the same seller who doesn’t know how to grade records. The start price is $140 and so far there are no bidders. This record has broken through for me in the past few weeks, meaning this: I probably acquired this record about 30 years ago, or more, listened to it once and then put it on the shelf. A couple of weeks ago, I was randomly flipping through my collection looking for something to play that I was unfamiliar with and, for whatever reason, pulled out Red Garland, All Kinds of Weather. What a terrific record. Great choice of songs, amazing rhythm section, beautifully recorded. So, now, the record has broken through and is in my regular rotation. I even relocated it on the shelves to a more prominent spot. It is rare that a record breaks through with me in that way. It also happened with Phineas Newborn, Here is Phineas, Atlantic 1225. Go figure. If you have those two records and haven’t listened to them in a while, check them out. Also, if you have had similar experiences with other records, please share. I am always looking for “new” records that I already own, and I’m sure other readers here have had similar experiences.
I can see what looks like groove wear on Manteca, but All Kinds of Weather looks quite nice.
Well, having stopped collecting and sold it almost all off,10 records left, I can’t say that I know much about records anymore.
However Ebay seller chben-5604 , while claiming ignorance of how to grade records, seems to be a bit stratospheric in starting bidding on a purple/orange Atlantic mono John Coltrane ‘My Favorite Things’ at $1400.00.
I continue to be educated by JC.com, not surprising as my jazz (vinyl) passion began some 8 yrs ago. I had never before heard the name “Dorothy Ashby.” I went to Youtube, listened to a few tunes, & found my jazz pedestrian bias: harp. Weeks ago, when I asked for undervalued lps, there was discussion of the organ as a bias for many. Alas, the harp, as with Alice Coltrane lps I tried to embrace, is an instrument I’ve struggled to enjoy. Can someone convince me of the error of my ways? I want to be wrong!
He does not know how to grade records and does not except refunds, hmmmm that is a big fat No ! for me, let’s not forget that he is brand new to ebay- most likely his secret second account.
Daryl: you are completely right. The harp is antithesis to jazz. Other oddities exist, like the harmonica. But here you can at least mimick the blues, like Jean ‘Toots’ Thielemans does so convincingly.
Why Kenny Dorham, on his splendid first Riverside album with Roach and Rollins, did a few tracks with a harp player (they are all female, I noted) is still an enigma. The bigger groups of Oscar Pettiford on ABC also featured a harp player, but discretely.
But from featuring a harp to making a full harp album stretches it too far. I had all four quartet albums by Ashby on Prestige, N.J., Regent and Argo. They are gone since a long time, virtually unplayed.
The Argo/Cadet Ashby records are great. I know it’s been sampled a ton in the hip-hop realm, but Afro-Harping is still an incredible and special record.
Not all improvising harpists are women: there’s also Jeff Majors (often stylized jeffmajors), Cooper-Moore, and Rhodri Davies. I’m sure I’m forgetting a few.
How can anyone bid on an lp from a seller who doesn’t give detailed grading?
Dorothy Ashby and Frank Wess- In A Minor Groove is a truly superlative record IMHO. I’ve probably listened to it thirty times in the last few months. I’m adopting “New records that I already own” as a mantra. It should stopme from thinking about buying more records for at least a weekend. Glad to see you posting Al.
A grand for Hip Harp — damn!
That certainly is a pretty penny for some harp strummin.’
I also love In a Minor Groove, though I tend to think of it as a kind of mood piece record–it’s not that any individual cut jumps out at me, but it works as a whole. I entertained a shot at that Hip Harp, but vinyl-house-uk gets tip-top dollar for their records, deservedly so, I guess, since the condition on many of them is close to flawless. Still, the final price for the Hip Harp was almost double the Popsike high from 2016. Feels like a whole new class of albums is hitting that $1,000 bin these days…
I’ve understood that vinyl houseUK restore their LPs to some extent. Does anyone here know how and what they do?
I think they clean the LPs thoroughly and that they clean the covers also which in unique if it’s true. Do they do touch-ups, fix seamsplits etc. Does anyone know?
Daryl, see if you can listen to Matthew Halsall & the Gondwana Orchestra album called “When the world was one” which includes some wonderful harp sounds from Rachael Gladwin. If that does not convince you that the harp has a place in jazz then give up.
My favourite Ashby by the way is The Fantastic Jazz Harp on Atlantic , the support of Richard Davis and Grady Tate really make it swing.
Perhaps this comment has a place in this discussion and in a way also reflects on records that I thought to be underrated/valued.
Ms. Janet Putnam made some very nice harp contributions to an excellent Oscar Pettiford lp on the ABC Paramount label, ‘Orchestra in Hi-Fi’ and Ms. Betty Glamann did the same on ‘Orchestra in Hi-Fi Vol. 2.’
I always thought those lps swung a bunch.
I agree with Daryl. I’ve listened to and collected jazz for 30 years and am fairly open minded, however, I too have a bias against the harp as a jazz instrument, ditto for the tuba. However,the tuba has more of a claim to a place at the jazz table than the harp does. Consequently I’ve never owned or desired to own either artist.
And for something completely different, try Zeena Parkins. Her oeuvre on harp and electric harp is quite unique.
I appreciate Dorothy Ashby,” In a minor groove” is a fine record, but i would not jump for 1000 euros for this one or any other of her records.
RE: Ebay seller that will not accept refunds. Ebay will force a seller to provide a full refund to a dissatisfied buyer. Claiming not to know how to grade, is possibly a way of not being pinned down to a statement of condition- in order to avoid responsibility for an LP delivered but “not as described”.
RE: Vinyl-House-Uk At one time their web site alluded to their ability to restore an LP, including the cover. Gilding the Lilly I suppose. BUT- weren’t they involved in a sale of BN1568 for an astronomical price ? Buyer did not pay, but the price point moved the market, and this seller later tried to sell other copies against the new higher price level…..
I wont wait around for strike 3 from this seller…..
Regarding the 1568 I have the impression that 2 buyers just put in “silly bids” probably just to make sure they got the LP. Anyway the ending price was way over what the winning buyer had in funds. So I heard that in the end they made some kind of deal with vinyl house accepting some records as part payment for the 1568. But I would not thin that the actual going market has changed that much for 1568? I mean two crazy bidders (the other one in unknown) does not change the 1568-market in my book. At least one of the two will most likely not bid that high again……….
I hate to keep “harping” on the same old topic, but it sure seems to me that many of comments lately are not really about JAZZ MUSIC. Maybe it’s just me,(as usual) but this excellent sight might re-brand itself with a new name: “collecting jazz for profit “
Art, while your comment provides an apt insight, this site is labeled Jazz Collector, and by the very nature of the beast, a collector, of anything, seeks objects for their value, whether such value be of personal liking or present/future financial gain. And oftentimes to assign valuation to one’s collection, a monetary summation is used.
Personally, when I sold almost all my records, those I valued for their music were often not valued as highly financially by purchasers.
lennib, I am also of your tender age and have a collection of excess 3,000 jazz albums. Primarily 1st pressings. All the”holy grails”. I’m intrigued as to the 10 albums you didn’t sell. I’m sure others will also be interested.
I purchased the Red Garland – Manteca LP mentioned in Al’s post. I took a risk based on the photos and am happy to report there we no condition issues. The cover is beautiful and the record is in equally good shape with no playback issues whatsoever.
Al asked to share the experience of old records which after one initial spin remain on the shelf, forgotten.
Well, recently I discovered ‘Swamp Seed’ of Jimmy Heath on Riverside. The album is just gorgeous, fine compositions, neatly arranged, a better than average Don Byrd, the forceful blowing by Jimmy and some nice solos by Herbie Hancock.
With the demise of Riverside, big quantities of Riverside cut outs flooded the Continent. I bought mine for DFl 9,90 . The audio is fantastic.
Robert- thank you for your interest in what I kept. They are as follows:
And there actually are 11
1.Charlie Parker Night and day Verve MGM pressing 1st Jazz record I bought in 1964/65
2,3,4.Gene Shaw his three on Argo, Breakthrough, Debut in Blues, Carnival Sketches. I knew him and talked with him a lot, though I was too young to really ‘hear’ what he was saying. He also signed two to me.
5. John Coltrane Expression, Impulse stereo another early purchase, bought it when it came out at Jazz Record Mart in Chicago ( there’s a story there)
6. John Coltrane Cosmic Music on short lived Coltrane label. Bought this also at Jazz Record Mart when it came out. Had a dickens of a time getting the hype sticker off plastic to put on lp.
7. John Coltrane s/t Impulse material Japanese three lp box set with interview 7″, kept really for great photos in booklet
8.John Coltrane Coltrane in Japan Japanese box set
9. John Coltrane Second Night In Tokyo Japanese box set
10. John Coltrane Impassioned Tenor-Man Alto Records, a Boris Rose special. I have this material on cd, but loved the title.
11.John Coltrane Hooray For J.C./Gene Ammons Session Records. Another Boris rose special product. According ot my research the Coltrane material is available nowhere else
So there you have it. Thanks for asking this of me Robert.
lennib and Robert, I think that is an interesting discussion. Maybe lennib could write a long post for jazzcollector that includes the Coltrane Expression purchase. When I unloaded (is it better to say “moved along”?) my 2,500+ jazz lp’s I held on to thirty, either because they were signed for me, I was in love with the cover (e.g. “Heavy Sounds” by Elvin Jones and Richard Davis), it had always been a reliable “go-to” (e.g. “Blues and the Abstract Truth”) or it was a talisman (Graves & Pullen at Yale).
When I look at them now they remind me I once had a very engaging collection and now I have only a handful of very meaningful records… to me.
Random Q: Looking at Record Store Day vinyl about to drop on Friday. Found the release below. I’ve never heard of ANY of these cats. Should I buy this?
Jazz Behind The Dikes Vol 1Various
Jazz Behind the Dikes was the first of its kind to present some of the greatest Dutch jazzmen under ideal conditions, in other words in their own combo’s and playing the music of their own choice. They were allowed complete freedom, so that they were not forced to consider the commercial aspects the whole time, an element which frequently leaves its mark on the performances of many a fine jazz artist. This record, therefore, contains nothing but straightforward modern jazz. These modern jazz artists like Rob Madna Trio, Tony Vos Quartet, and Rita Reys are all well-known behind the dikes of the low countries.
1. Rob Madna Trio – All God’s Chillun 2. Tony Vos Quartet – Souvenir 3. Stido AlstrØm Trio – Jean 4. Wessel Ilcken Combo – A Dandy Line
SIDE B 1. Stido AlstrØm Trio – Stido’s Extract 2. Wessel Ilcken Combo feat. Rita Reys – My Funny Valentine 3. Rob Madna Trio – First Date 4. Tony Vos Quartet – You Hi To Mi Ho