This week’s theme: Jazz Singers, American Songbook. Pretty self-explanatory, don’t you think? Featured artists include Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dinah Washington, Quincy Jones, Helen Humes, Helen Merrill, Clifford Brown, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Chet Baker, Beverly Kenney, Johnny Smith, Lous Armstrong, Diana Krall, Stacey Kent, John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman, Joe Williams, Count Basie, Rosemary Clooney.
Clearing out some emails from the Jazz Collector inbox.
A reader writes that he recently found a series of Jazz Review magazines at an estate sale. Most of these seem to be from the late 1950s and early 1960s. He’s been selling them on eBay, but if anyone is interested they can contact me and perhaps get access to some of them before they are offered to the general public. This is one of the listings that has already sold: The Jazz Review.
There will be a New Jersey Record Bash this year, June 19-June 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Edison, New Jersey. I used to attend this even fairly regularly, sometimes as a vendor, sometimes as an attendee, always as a buyer. It was always a good event, but I haven’t been in years. You can get details at their site 49th Annual Jazz Record Collectors’ Bash.
Speaking of record shows, the WFMU Record fair is back in New York this year, Nov. 8 and 9 at the Metropolitan Pavilion. That was always one of the best shows around, so I’m planning to be in New York for that one, strictly as a buyer. Not looking to sell anything . . . yet. Read more
Here we have Lee Morgan Volume 3, Blue Note 1557. This was another one of those records from the recent and ongoing auctions from the seller Carolina Soul. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that was in VG+ condition for the record and VG- for the cover. The front and back of the cover were signed by Benny Golson, who plays tenor on the record and wrote the compositions and arrangements. I’m not sure if the presence of the signature adds or detracts from the interest in the record from collectors. This copy sold for $1,259.56. The Benny Golson signature reminded me of the Steven Spielberg “The Terminal” with Tom Hanks, in which a Benny Golson autograph plays a prominent role, believe it or not. If the record had been signed by Lee Morgan, it would have gotten a lot more interest, right? Perhaps even in the $3,000 bin like this one. Tubby Hayes Quintet, After Lights Out, Tempo TAP 6. This was an original British pressing that looked to be in M- condition for the record and VG++ or VG+ for the cover. The final price was about $3,210. Read more
Wow — 49 comments and counting on the previous post. Glad you all have been keeping the conversation going while I’ve been out making a living. Been gone so long my own Web site wouldn’t let me back on without having to sign up. So much to catch up on, and I will start with the current auction from The Jazz Record Center.
Charlie Parker in Sweden, Limited Edition, Sonet SLP 27. This is, apparently, a rare limited numbered edition, of which this copy is number 734. Until reading this listing I wasn’t aware that there was a limited edition of this record. I’m pretty sure I have some copy of it, but I will have to look to see if mine is numbered. This one looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. There are about three days left in the auction and the bidding is nearing $200.
Beverly Kenney With Jimmy Jones and the Basie-Ites, Royal Roost, 2218. This is a nice record and I could use a clean copy, which this is, at least for the vinyl, which looks to be M-. The cover looks to be about VG or VG+ depending upon how you feel about tape stains, about which I personally don’t feel to good. This one is in the $60 range.
Here’s an interesting package of Hank Mobley records on Blue Note:
Spent some time casually perusing eBay for jazz vinyl the other day and here were some of the items I found.
Beverly Kenney Sings For Johnny Smith, Roost 2206. This was an original pressing with the blue label and deep grooves. The record was listed in mint condition and the cover was VG++. There were 18 bids and the record sold for $660. I’m sure there are Beverly Kenney records that have sold for a higher price, but that’s the highest that we’ve ever seen in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
The same seller had several other interesting items as well, including: Steve Lacy, Evidence with Don Cherry, New Jazz 8271. This was an original purple label pressing listed in near mint condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. This one sold for $687, setting another record for the Jazz Collector Price Guide. And here’s another:
Here are a few of the more expensive jazz vinyl auctions we’ve been watching:
Art Pepper Quartet, Modern Art, Intro 606. This one was rated in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. I have to give the seller and/or Photoshop credit — that is a fine looking picture of the cover and it certainly looks a lot more appealing than VG+. I have a feeling some of the bidders felt the same way: This one sold for $1,580 with 20 bids and about half as many bidders. Love the simplicity of the cover of this one. Anyone know who did it? Intro is not a label that gets noticed too often.
J. R. Monterose, The Message, Jaro 5004. This looked to be an original mono pressing in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $888.78.
Beverly Kenney, Like Yesterday, Decca 8994. This was an original deep-groove pressing with the pink promo label. It looked to be in quite gorgeous condition and was graded M- for both the record and the cover. Quite a nice find, which was reflected in the final price, which was $790, the highest we’ve ever seen for this record.
Here’s a nice list of jazz vinyl now on eBay that would be a fine addition to any jazz collection:
Jutta Hipp with Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This is an original Lexington Avenue deep groove pressing. The record is listed in near mint condition and the cover is VG. The bidding is in the $200 range, there are two days left and it has yet to reach the seller’s reserve price. While we’re on the subject: Jutta Hipp, New Sounds From Germany, Blue Note 5056. This is an original 10-inch record. The record is in VG+ condition and the cover is listed as M-. There are five days left on this one and the bidding is now in the $140 range. It will go quite higher.
Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. This is an original New York yellow label in what is described as M- condition for both the record and the cover. The seller does mention “three tiny clicks, barely audible,” which is honest of him to mention and perhaps doesn’t diminish from the M- grade. Can you listen to almost any record without three tiny clicks somewhere? This one is now in the $335 range and has not yet met the seller’s reserve price.
Here’s a nice jazz vocal LP I wouldn’t mind owning:
Here’s some interesting jazz vinyl we’ve been watching on eBay:
Gigi Gryce – Clifford Brown Sextet, Blue Note 5048. This one had a nice picture with it, as you can see, but the description wasn’t very complete. The seller noted that the record was glossy and had a few light marks and the cover had some wear, but there wasn’t any M- or VG+ or other grading to which we are normally accustomed. Nonetheless, there were bidders attracted to this type of description — optimists I would say — and the record sold for $608. Our previous high for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide was $579.
What do you think of records like this next one:
Here’s an update on some of the records we’ve been watching:
The Magnificent Thad Jones, Blue Note 1527. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record was in VG+ condition and the cover was VG++. The price was $336. A second copy of this record also sold in the last couple of days. The seller described the vinyl as VG to VG+ and the cover seemed to be about VG+. The price of that one was $199.99.
Beverly Kenney Sings For Playboys, Decca D8743. The record was in M- condition — probably unplayed, according to the seller — and the cover was VG+. The price was $399.99, the highest price we’ve seen for any Beverley Kenney record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Bill Evans, New Jazz Conceptions, Riverside 223. This was an original pressing with the white label as well as the first cover. The vinyl was in M- condition and the cover was listed as VG+. The price was $709.99.
We had mentioned yesterday the Arte Shaw LP on Clef:
Here are still a few more for the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This have already been logged into the database, so you can see them if you click on the price guide.
Jutta Hipp, Jutta, Blue Note 5056. This was an original 10-inch LP in VG+ conditon, both record and cover. The price was $330.
Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing, Blue Note 4038. This was a second pressing in M- condition. The price was $191.30.
Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time, Blue Note 4001. This was an original West 63rd street pressing in VG+ condition, both record and cover. It sold for $598.
Here’s a real heavyweight we’ve talked about previously:
