Jazz Vinyl, Autographs, Questions, Obits and Memories

I’m watching a few items from the Jazz Record Center eBay auction that is closing later today, starting with Max Roach, Jazz in ¾ Time, Mercury 80002. This is an “original” Stereo pressing, quotation marks to signal that the original stereo pressing is not the same as the original album. The Stereo pressing was issued later than the original mono, and with two fewer tracks. What makes this more interesting to me is the Max Roach dated autograph on the cover. Pretty nice. It’s also a favorite record of mine. My father had a copy that he played often, and, of course, look at the personnel, Roach, Rollins, Dorham, Ray Bryant, George Morrow and another pianist named Billy Wallace, whose credentials, I have to admit, I had to Google. Here’s an interesting thread. Anyway, I’m thinking of even bidding on this record in honor of dad, who would have been 94 next week.

There’s also a copy of Marty Paich, I Get a Boot Out of You, Warner Brothers 1340. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $150 range. Also, it seems we may have another affirmation on the original blue cover of Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige, 7079. This one definitely has the blue cover and is listed as the “original” deep-groove pressing. The record and cover seem to be in VG++ condition and the bidding is “only” in the $900, but I would expect the final price to be quite a bit higher.

Whilst I’m here, let’s also clean out the email box a bit, starting with the following question from a reader: “The July, 1967 issue of DownBeat reports that BN will issue edited discs (of regular LP releases) for radio to gain more air play. Were these 7-inch LPs or 12-inch similar to Capitol’s Minute Master Series. Ever seen one?” Answer: I don’t know and I haven’t ever seen one. But, I am sure, there are Blue Note experts out there who should be able to answer both of these questions.

There have been a few recent deaths to report, three excellent pianists, Harold Mabern, Richard Wyands and Larry Willis. I’ve included links to obituaries. I was fortunate to have seen each of these musicians perform live. I particularly remember Mabern playing with Sonny Rollins at the old Half Note Café on 54^th Street in the 1970s. He was a terrific player and came off as a true gentleman. I somehow missed Willis during his (and my) youth, but caught up with him in January 2015 at Smoke in New York, which I wrote about here at Jazz Collector, A Jazz Master Class.

There was also the death of Ginger Baker, who always considered himself a jazz drummer, and would probably have been distressed to see the New York Times obituary headline describing him as a “rock drummer,”  although they attached the word “superstar” so maybe that would have appeased him. Anyone who has seen the fantastic documentary, Beware of Mr. Baker, would know that Ginger Baker was easily distressed and not easily appeased. I do recall a conversation in that film with Eric Clapton, in which Clapton was asked to compare Baker to John Bonham of Led Zeppelin and/or Keith Moon of The Who. Clapton looked like he was insulted to even be asked such a question and answered something to the effect, that there was no way to compare them, because Bonham and Moon were merely rock drummers and Baker was a real jazz drummer, who could play anything. Clapton said the “jazz drummer” part with such an air of respect, at least as I recall it. There are also great clips in the documentary with Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, and, I think, Max Roach, which show, IMHO, that Baker could, indeed, play with anyone.