Serenade to Some Rare Jazz Vinyl

Here are some of the results from the Jazz Record Center auction that closed the other day, starting with Charles Mingus at the Bohemia, Debut 123. This was an original pressing that looked to be in M- condition for the record and probably VG+ or VG++ for the cover. When we first observed this record a few days ago, there were no bids at a start price of $200. We expected that the action would get hot and heavy and it did. The record wound up selling for $1,333.

Clark Terry, Serenade to a Bus Seat, Riverside 237. This was an original pressing with the white label. This is another great and underrated record by Terry, who died last week (the funeral is today in harlem, by the way). I thought I had this record, and I’m pretty sure I did have it at one time, but I don’t think I have it anymore. I was looking for it to review the liner notes. I had never thought about the title of the record before,

but now I’m finally making the connection that the bus seat referenced in the title was probably related to the Rosa Parks incident, which took place in December 1955. Excuse me for a second while I switch over to Google . . . . Ah, the wonders of the Internet. Turns out that the title had nothing to do with Rosa Parks. Here’s Terry’s explanation, courtesy of JazzWax:

“At the time, I had a record date to make for Orrin [Keepnews]. First, a photographer was supposed to come over and take my picture for the album. But he never showed up, and I didn’t have time after that. So they just took a picture of my horn on a bus seat and put that on the cover and used the title for the album.”

Anyway, if I had taken the time to actually look through my collection and notice that this record was missing, I probably would have bid on this copy from the Jazz Record Center — and I probably would have won. This record was in M- condition for both the vinyl and the cover and it wound up selling for $215.49. This is a record that not only has Clark Terry, it also has Johnny Griffin, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones. Put it on Blue Note (i.e., the Thad Jones Blue Note records for comparison) and you’re talking about the $1,000 bin.

One more from the Jazz Record Center: The Return of Art Pepper, Jazz West 10. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and maybe VG+ of VG++ for the cover. This one sold for $461. Given the condition of the record and the reputation of the seller, I would have expected it to sell for more. We’ve seen it sell for nearly $1,000 in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.