Dee had already been in contact with a guy who has a record store in Maine. He was disappointed that I wound up with the records. He had no way to know and didn’t realize, I’m sure, I had no intention of keeping them all. Dee put him in touch with me and we arranged for him to come to The Berkshires and make an offer for whatever he wanted. We struck a deal and he took about  220 records, including many of the rock and blues records. There were probably about 400 jazz records left. I reached out to a friend who owns a record store around here and invited him to take a look and make an offer. He came, but didn’t take anything. He did, however, bring a friend who did buy a few choice items, including the two Monk Blue Notes, which, for the record, were not original pressings but early West 63^rd labels.

At that point, I didn’t really know what to do. I had reached out to one of our loyal readers immediately when I got the collection, but he was only interested in a few items and I put them aside for him. Then on Dec. 12, I dropped a hint on Jazz Collector. In viewing records on eBay, as I do, I wrote this:

“Let’s start with Ornette Coleman, The Shape of Jazz To Come, Atlantic 1317. This is a deep groove pressing, unplayed, still with its original loose sleeve. The start price is around $200 and the auction closes today with no bidders. This record caught my eye because in my other room just down the hall I have a copy of this record still with its original seal unopened. Oh, yes, and the record happened to be owned by Ornette himself. Oh, yes, and it is part of a collection that I recently purchased and am looking to sell in toto. Intrigued? I will be providing more details soon, because, as always, there was an adventure and a story that goes with it. In the meantime, if anyone is interested you know where to find me.”

I received 5-6 responses to this hint that I dropped. But that turned out to be enough. I worked out a deal with another one of our loyal readers and wound up selling him everything that was left. He got a good deal with some great records and, in the end, I did wind up getting my money back and a little bit more for Dee.

As I reach the end of telling this story, I realize this account is lacking in some of the usual specifics: more record titles, condition, who ended up with the records. There are a few reasons for this lack. I never did write anything down. I don’t remember all of the records I had. There was a Jackie McLean Blue Note and a Freddie Redd Blue Note (not Shades of Redd, unfortunately). There was a New Jersey Sonny Rollins Plus Four. A few Monk records that Dee asked me to put aside. A lot of Ornette records. Blue Train, of course. Several later pressing of Miles on Columbia and Coltrane on Impulse.

It seemed like the records slipped through my hands before I had a chance to really enjoy them or even play them. I am also careful with details out of respect to everyone involved, including Dee, the dealer from Maine, and, of course, the two loyal Jazz Collector readers who ended up with small and large portions of the collection. However, to Dee and anyone else mentioned here directly or tangentially, even The Lovely Mrs. JC, I offer, as always, the option to comment on this post, or write a post of your own.

Separately, I once again want to remind you all that Dee still has this incredible collection of one-of-a kind photographs, some signed by the artists, and she is still looking to sell them. Plus she has other memorabilia as well. If you are interested, you know where to find me, and now you know where to find Dee.

I’ve asked Dee if she would like to have her own post to put an exclamation point on this particular adventure and I am hoping she takes me up on that offer. In the meantime, she sent the following note with today’s set of pictures.

“These artist captures should be mentioned as Ornette’s long-time band mates, photographed during his own appearances. Bobby Bradford, and Charlie Haden, in an Autographed Edition of one original vintage silver gelatin 8 X 10” print, made by the photographer within one year of exposure. Also, Bobby Bradford lived with ME, my aunt (his partner), ORNETTE, and my mother for several years in their joint 150 West 15^th Street apartment during those early years. That is where the piano Monk woke me up to play late nights was also living!”