This week’s theme is a random playlist from the Clef, Norgran and Verve catalogues. Artists include Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Art Tatum, Ben Webster, Tal Farlow, Buddy DeFranco, Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Williams, Count Basie and many more.
Whilst I’ve been away, a friend sent me this link: A Recital by Tal Farlow, Norgran 1030. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It looked pristine, probably with the original inner sleeve. The final price was $121.49. Is that high, low or just right? It seems original Norgrans in this condition are quite hard to find, but the demand is nothing close to the original Blue Notes or Prestiges. For my money, Farlow was the best of the bop-oriented guitarists, but his records rarely sell for high collectible prices, particularly in today’s market as we are seeing prices of some records rising to staggering levels. Is it a question of label, race, style of music, era, artist, instrument or some combination of all of the above? It would be easy to suggest it is race, but then someone sent me this link as well: Art Pepper, Modern Art, Intro 606. This was also an original pressing and it was also in M- condition for the record and the cover. This one sold for $3,506. Pepper was iconic because of all the other stuff in his life, so well told and chronicled in his book Straight Life so maybe I’m just stretching a comparison, but it’s interesting to ponder what makes collectors interested in one set of records or artists, versus others of the same era. Hopefully we can generate some interesting discussion.
Time to catch up on some of the items we’ve been watching on eBay the past couple of days:
There was this copy of Sonny Clark, Dial S for Sonny, Blue Note 1570. We had spotted it at $484 with a few hours left to go, and we expected that the price would probably double. It actually did more than that: It surpassed the $1,000 mark and sold for $1,025. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. We looked this record up in the Jazz Collector Price Guide and, interestingly, it had previously sold for as much as $1,750, in worse condition.
Speaking of Sonny Clark, he was on two of those Buddy DeFranco LPs we were watching. He was on Buddy DeFranco, In a Mellow Mood, Norgran 1079. This was an original yellow label pressing in VG+ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $67.78. Sonny Clark is also on The Artistry of Buddy DeFranco, Norgran 1012. This was also an original yellow label and
I’m watching some records that are closing soon from Buddy DeFranco. These are original Norgrans in pretty nice condition. They are all being offered from the same seller: Odalisque, Norgran 1094; The Artistry of Buddy DeFranco, Norgran 1012; and In a Mellow Mood, Norgran 1079. When I started watching these records last night they were all in the $9 range. Now they are in the $20s. Still, not very much at all. Two of these records — The Artistry and In a Mellow Mood — feature Sonny Clark on piano, which usually means some enhanced collector interest, and some higher prices. I guess what I’m wondering is what happens to an artist like Buddy DeFranco. He was great for his time and he put out some beautiful records, but as time goes on does there continue to be interest in his music, or does he fall by the wayside the way interest in some of the traditional players has fallen? I’ll be interested
We’ve missed a couple of days posting. Sorry. Up in the country. The weather is beautiful and the Internet connection is inconsistent. We will attempt to be more regular. To get back into posting shape, this morning we will list some of the new items we’ll be entering into the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Nothing in the $1,000 bin — we’ll save those for later — but some nice, interesting collectibles. Here are several:
George Wallington Quintet at the Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This is an original pressing and the seller listed it as near-mint condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $810.
Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This was an original pressing, also in near-mint condition and was one of the items sold by the seller herschel78. This one also sold for $810.
Here’s a record I actually bid on (and lost, by $1):
Here are some items we’ve just added to the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Kenny Dorham ‘Round Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This was a Lexington Avenue pressing in VG+ condition, both record and cover. The price was $447.
Art Farmer Quintet, Prestige 7017. This was a New York pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. The price was $130. Also, Art Farmer, Prestige 7031. This was an original New York pressing. The record was VG+ and the cover was VG. The price was $151.
Curtis Fuller Volume 3, Blue Note 1583. This was an original West 63rd Street
