Tag: Bill Evans

Ups and Downs on eBay

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Going backwards through my eBay watch list for a moment, starting with Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 399. This was an original blue label pressing that was in VG++ condition for the record and the “lower end” of VG+ for the cover. You can definitely see some cover damage in the pictures. The final price was $1,524. This is one of my favorite records, but still I am surprised to see how much the value has soared over the years, possibly more so than any other record not on the Blue Note label. At this stage, is there any Riverside record that sells for a comparable price? Perhaps just one of the other Bill Evans rarities, such as a first cover New Jazz Conceptions? Read more

To Bid, or Not to Bid

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Needless to say, I did not bid on that copy of Freddie Redd, Shades of Redd, Blue Note 4045. I was convinced that there was enough difference of opinion on the cover to avoid taking the risk. In any case, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have bid enough to win the record anyway. The final price was $1,624, and who knows how much higher the winning bidder actually bid. Perhaps if it had been a mint copy, but I’m guessing that mint copies will now only be available in the $2,000 or even $3,000 bin. In any case, time to move on. The Jazz Record Center has a copy of Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601. This is an original pressing. The record looks to be in VG++ condition and the cover probably around VG+. The bidding is in the range of $2,250 and the auction closes in a little more than a day. I would love to replace that record in my collection, and I like the fact that it is from the Jazz Record Center, but the price is beyond my reach, financially and philosophically.

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Vinyl Musings and a Plea to Help Kenny Burrell

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I spent the last three weeks galivanting around Europe. Alas, no record stores or scores on this trip, not even any live jazz. But, I’m back and checking up on some of the things I missed whilst away, including an auction from the Jazz Record Center that featured Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was an original pressing that looked to be in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The final price was $2,225. The same auction also featured Bill Evans Trio, Portrait in Jazz, Riverside 315. This was an original pressing with the small blue and silver reels logo. The record and cover both looked to be in new, pristine condition. The final price was $1,385. Finally, this is not music I am familiar with, but I’m sure it will be of interest to Clifford and other readers: Maulawi, Strata SRI-104-74. This looks to be an original pressing in M- condition. The final price was $910.

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Record Temptation, Then and Now

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I had my eye on this one and someone also mentioned it in a comment on the previous post: Bill Evans, New Jazz Conceptions, Riverside 223. This was an original white label pressing with the original photo cover. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG++, although perhaps VG+ may have been more accurate given the tape/tape residue on the back cover. Nevertheless, you rarely see the front cover this clean, and it’s such a gorgeous cover, you wonder what they were thinking at Riverside when they changed it. Anyway, this particular copy sold for $3,629, with the buyer and other bidders no doubt entranced by the clean picture of the cover. A quick click to Popsike tells us that this is by far the highest price ever paid for this record. Read more

Random Thoughts, Random Rare Jazz Vinyl

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Here’s some random rare jazz vinyl from the stuff we are watching on eBay, starting with Charlie Parker Sextet, Dial 207. This is an original 10-inch pressing listed in VG condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. There are nearly six days left on the auction and the bidding is in the $200 range. One reason I’m watching this is because, after all these years of collecting jazz (we are now somehow approaching 50), and even the years that my father collected before me, I still don’t have any of the original Bird 10-inch Dials. It’s certainly not for lack of scouring for them, but I haven’t been inclined to pay top dollar and the only time I’ve ever seen them in nice condition would have required me to pay top dollar. This one included because, to me, at more than $200 in VG condition, this has already exceeded my personal comfort level. So, the search continues.

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Potpourri: Rare Jazz Vinyl, Bill Evans Tributes

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Time to catch up on a few items from our watch list on eBay, starting with John Coltrane, Soultrane, Prestige 7142. This was an original New Jersey yellow label that looked to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. When first first looked at this on Jazz Collector, it had a start price of $200 with no bidders. In the end, it wound up selling for $618, which is pretty near the top price was Soultrane. I was pleased to see Rudolf’s comment on the last post because I wholeheartedly agree that this is my favorite of the Coltrane’s on Prestige. If we watch this space long enough, I’m pretty sure we’ll see the day when a mint copy of Soultrane ends up in the $1,000 bin.

The Sonny Clark record, Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’, Blue Note 1588, which turns out not to have been an original pressing Read more

Guest Column: Another Misadventure

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I said I have more stories this week. Here’s another. But it’s not mine. This one comes courtesy of one of our loyal readers, who wants to be known, simply, as JazzBo Dave. This is his story:

I got tipped to a smaller collection that might be for sale down here in the Southeast.  I had a couple of pleasant phone calls with seller James. He was in his 80s, had lived all over the U.S. and had been collecting since the ‘50s when he was in college.  Immediately, the pre-screening light bulbs started to go off in my head.  There might actually be something there.  Read more

Rare Jazz Vinyl: A Question of Condition

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I had my eye on this one to see if it would sell: Jutta Hipp, At the Hickory House, Volume 2, Blue Note 1516. This was an original pressing with the Lexington Avenue label. So, it was listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. Except . . . the record had a few light surface scratches and played with some surface noise. So maybe the vinyl condition gets downgraded a notch. And then . . . the cover has a seam split ton the top with visible damage, so that gets graded down at least a notch, perhaps two. Then the question becomes how much do you trust a seller when there’s a clear discrepancy and the start price for the record is more than $900. The answer on eBay was “not enough,” since nobody bid. The record is back for sale with a lower start price, barely, of about $900.

Here‘s another:

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Another UK Esquire and an Audiophile Question

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Back with another Esquire Prestige to start with, if you will all kindly indulge my new obsession: Donald Byrd, Kenny Dorham, Gene Quill, Phil Woods, Pairing Off, Esquire 32-026. This is an original UK pressing listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It’s a another cool cover, IMHO, illustrating the instruments of the two sets of pairs, the trumpeters and altoists. It’s quite a bit different than the U.S. version, which was released as a session led by Phil Woods. Bidding is in the $120 range with more than a day left on the auction.

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Portait In Jazz Prices

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When I’m not posting frequently enough I can always count on our friend CeeDee to gently prod me with a list of auctions he’s been tracking. Now I know how infrequently I’ve been posting, since the latest missive from CeeDee is replete with TEN listings, so let’s look at some of the highlights, starting with Bill Evans, Portrait in Jazz, Riverside 315. This record sold for $767, and CeeDee expresses surprise that a later pressing would attract such a high price. I agree, but I can’t determine from the listing that this is, in fact, a later pressing. The seller describes it as an original U.S. pressing, with an M- record and Ex cover. It isn’t fully clear to me what the pictures entail, since the first picture is described as a stock photo “for illustration purposes only.” Anyway, I’m probably being obtuse today so if anyone (CeeDee?) can clear things up, I would greatly appreciate it.

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