This week’s theme: Jazz recordings of songs from the pop/rock, television and even maybe a little Yiddish. Artists include George Benson, Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, Ray Barretto, Richie Cole, Bobby Enriquez, Jimmy Rushing, Zoot Sims, Stephane Grappelli, Martin Taylor, Sonny Rollins, George Duke, Roland Kirk, Rosemary Clooney, John Oddo, Seve Lukather, Jackie McLean, Tony Williams, Hank Jones, Charles McPherson, Sonny Criss, Tal Farlow, Cedar Walton.

This week’s theme: Composed by Dizzy. Featured artists include Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Clyde Hart, Remo Palmieri, Slam Stewart, Cozy Cole, Al Haig, Curly Russell, Sid Catlett, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Barretto, Ray Bryant, Tommy Bryant, Charles Persip, Charles McPherson, Cliff Jordan, Barry Harris, George Tucker, Alan Dawson, Junior Mance, Les Spann, Sam Jones, Lex Humphries, Chino Pozo, James Moody, Kenny Barron, Chris White, Rudy Collins, Red Garland, John Coltrane, Donald Byrd, Arthur Taylor, George Joyner, Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell, Pierre Michelot, Kenny Clarke, Double Six of Paris, Supersax.

This week’s theme: Jazz With Strings. Featured artists include Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles McPherson, Bill Evans, Kronos Quartet, Ben Webster, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley, Clifford Brown, Sarah Vaughan.

This week’s theme: The Billie Holiday Songbook

Overall, not bad. The concert wasn’t exactly as I expected. The first set there were no strings and only a little bit of McPherson. It was mostly a sextet under the direction of Vincent Gardner, a trombone player affiliated with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. They played a set of bop tunes associated with Bird, although the sensibility was more post-bop than bop, which was fine by me. The highlight for me was the alto player Wess Anderson. McPherson joined for the end of the first set and he was in okay form, nothing great.

The second set brought out the string section, with a lot more McPherson and also some more Anderson. This set was definitely more interesting to me. What was most compelling was watching the alto players playing with the string section and how much they enjoyed the interaction – then thinking about Bird, back in the early 1950s, and how much he would have valued this kind of background as well: Where he was the featured soloist in a far more highbrow type of setting and all of the other musicians, classically trained, were there to support him. It was actually enlightening from that perspective, and the music was nice as well.

As for the venue . . . can’t really complain. The acoustics were fine, everyone could see from all seats. The prices were quite high – I paid more than $80 a seat and sat upstairs – and the hall was small enough as halls go, so it’s definitely a nice setting for jazz, although there was nothing in either the music or venue that made me feel like, “Oh yeah, I have to come back here.”  Having said that, I’ll have no problem going back if there’s another concert that strikes my fancy.

Sonny Rollins, Moving Out, Prestige 7058. This was an original New York pressing. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and the seller has a good reputation. The price was $197.50. This one has Kenny Dorham and Thelonious Monk. We would have expected a higher price.

Webster Young, For Lady, Prestige 7106. This was an original New York pressing as well. The record was only VG, while the cover was M-. The price was $213.50.

Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Prestige 7294. This was an original yellow label pressing with

the New Jersey address. The record was listed as VG+ and the cover looked to be somewhere around VG or VG+. The price was $177.50.

We’ve watched this one a few times recently: Phil Woods Quintet, New Jazz 1104. This was an original 10-inch LP. The record and cover both looked to be in VG+ condition and the price was $192.50.

Finally, here’s a very nice record that doesn’t usually get covered here at Jazz Collector because it’s not a highly valued collectible. But it is a terrific record and the price is usually right, so keep an eye out for it: Charles McPherson, Con Alma, Prestige 7427. This LP features a two-sax-led quintet with Cliff Jordan joining McPherson. This was an original blue label pressing that sold for $26.50 in M- condition, well worth it in our opinion.

Jim Thornton. Congratulations Jim. You can send an email to al@jazzcollector.com and we can get your information and send you the record. There are, as always, no strings attached — we even pay the postage. Stay tuned today and tomorrow to Jazz Collector, because we’ll be putting up another item for a free collectible contest, and we will also try to get around to posting the Bird article we’ve been talking about posting for the past two weeks.

We’ve been talking a lot about Andy Warhol covers on the site. Here’s a chance to get one, perhaps at a bargain price because the seller didn’t realize that the cover is by Warhol: Count Basie, RCA 1112. This is not in great shape, but it’s only $1.99 and closing fairly soon. A few weeks ago, we recorded one of these in the Jazz Collector Price Guide for $161. 

The seller Tuneup Music has quite a large group of pretty nice records for sale this morning, including Blue Mitchell Big Six, Riverside 273. This is an original blue label pressing. The record is VG++ and the cover is VG+. The current price is $75. Also from this seller is a sealed copy of Larry Young, Into Something, Blue Note 84187. This is already at $125. The challenge with a sealed record is not knowing whether it’s an original label, so, personally, I’d be careful on this one. If you look at these records, you should click View Seller’s Other Items because there’s a lot more. 

Another seller with several decent items closing today is Funk-Plus, including this one: Horace Parlan, On the Spur of the Moment, Blue Note 4074. This is a West 63rd Street pressing. The record is VG+ and the cover is VG. The current price is about $75. 

Someone on the site asked about spotting bargains the other day. Here’s a nice record, not a high-end collectible, but a good, solid record that should be under $25: Charles McPherson, Bebop Revisited, Prestige 7359. This is an original blue label stereo pressing. The record is VG++ and the cover is VG. The current price is about $10.