This week’s theme: It’s Springtime! Featured artists include Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Dexter Gordon, Karin Krog, Kenny Drew, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson, Carmen McRae, Stan Getz, Shelly Manne, LeRoy Vinnegar, Lou Levy, Conte Candoli, Johnny Griffin, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Arthur Taylor, Kenny Dorham, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, Cedar Walton, Max Roach, Sonny Rollins, Clifford Brown, Richie Powell, George Morrow, Harold Land, Sarah Vaughan, John Coltrane, Wilbur Hardin, Astrud Gilberto.

This week’s theme: Dexter Gordon studio recordings 1950s (and The Resurgence). Featured artists include Dexter Gordon, Stan Levey, Conte Candoli, Frank Rosolino, Leroy Vinnegar, Lou Levy, Kenny Drew, Lawrence Marble, Carl Perkins, Chuck Thompson, Jimmy Robinson, Dolo Coker, Martin Banks, Richard Boone, Charles Green.

The Jazz Record Center seemed to do well with it’s most recent auction, although careful scrutiny would suggest that prices are down from previous expectations. That copy of Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134, sold for $1,891.88. Last year at this time we logged two copies of this in the Jazz Collector Price Guide at more than $2,000. Miles Davis Volume 3, Blue Note 5040. This original 10-inch LP was in M- condition for both the record and the cover and sold for $565. Art Blakey, A Night at Birdland Volume 2, Blue Note 5038. This also looked to be in M- condition. It sold for $359. One more: Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This was an original New York pressing with the frame cover. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover was probably around VG++. The price was $345. In my view, somebody got a bargain on this one.

There was also that other copy of Conte Candoli, Cool Gabriels, Groove 1003 in VG++ to M- condition. It looked for a while that this one might go cheap, but it sold for $1,705, which, given this one’s condition and recent prices of other copies, was cheap, relatively. This one, of course, has the Andy Warhol cover.

Let’s start with a couple from the Bethlehem label, which doesn’t always get a lot of attention here: Mal Waldron, Left Alone, Bethlehem 6045. This is an original pressing. The vinyl is VG++ and the cover is only VG. The current price is a little over $300 and there are still 10 hours to go on the auction. This next one is a little tough to figure: Charles Rouse and Paul Quinichette, the Chase is On, Bethlehem 6021. I love this record, but this is a stereo pressing with a blue label. Can’t imagine this was issued the same time as the mono pressing, so it much be a later pressing, right, even if it is the first stereo issue?  In any case this stereo pressing is listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It’s closing later today and is in the $150 price range so far.

Here’s a Stanley Turrentine Blue Note doing quite well:

Stanley Turrentine, Up at Minton’s Volume 1, Blue Note 4069. This seems to be an original pressing. It has the ear in the deadwax and it has the West 63rd address, but those do not look like deep grooves on the label. I don’t have Fred Cohen’s Blue Note book here: Should this be deep groove, or is it past the point of deep groove? The price on this one is nearly $180 already.

And once again here is Conte Candoli, Cool Gabriels, Groove 1003. I went decades having never seen this record and now there seems to be at least one a week on eBay. This one is in nice condition and the price is still low: The record and cover are at least VG++, perhaps nicer, and the price is just in the $225 range for now. By contrast, Rudolf’s copy last week finally sold for $1,724. This one, of course, has the cover by Andy Warhol which is the reason it is of such high value.

So why am I mentioning potential softness in the market? Here are a few examples, perhaps not a trend, but examples nonetheless. Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This is an original West 63rd deep groove pressing in M-/VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover. Hard to find this record is such nice shape and it has sold for more than $1,000 previously in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. This one has a start bid of $300, it closes tomorrow, and there are no bidders. Hmmm. I can use an upgraded copy for my collection.  Or perhaps there are many snipers lurking in the weeds for this.

Here’s another I’d expect to have more action: Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness, Prestige 7047. This is an original New York pressing and, musically, does it really get any better than this, Sonny and Trane together? This one is VG+ for the record and VG for the cover and is in the range of $125 closing later today. Even this one, in not such great shape, would normally be getting more action: Jutta Hipp, At the Hickory House Volume 1, Blue Note 1515. This is an original Lexington Avenue, flat edge, deep groove, kakubushi cover. The record is VG and the cover is VG minus. It is still under $100 and closing tomorrow.

Here’s a beauty for the $1,000 bin: Cliff Jordan, Cliff Craft, Blue Note 1582. This was an original West 63rd pressing with the deep grooves and was listed in M- condition for the vinyl and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,330.

This one had a start price of about $325 and, surprisingly, did not sell: Horace Silver Quintet, Blue Note 5058. This was an original pressing and ti was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It features both Hank Mobley and Kenny Dorham and it has sold for as much as $537 as previous recorded in the Jazz Collector Price Guide. Any theories on why this one did not sell: The seller is definitely reputable and has excellent feedback.

This one made the $1,000 bin with plenty to spare: Conte Candoli, Cool Gabriels, Groove 1003. This was an original pressing and, of course, the main feature is the cover illustration by Andy Warhol. The record was VG-, the cover had splits on the top and the bottom, yet it still sold for $1,825. The Warhol market is driving these prices quite high, but this one seems to do even better than the Blue Notes in better condition. It must be harder to find? Or perhaps the Warhol collectors are more enamored with the artwork?

This one was not an original pressing, at least not in the way we think of originals as “first” pressings: Sonny Rollins Volume 1, Blue Note 1542. This one had the West 63rd Street address, plus the deep grooves and ear and all the other markings of an early pressing: But a first pressing would have had the Lexington Avenue address. This one was in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover and it sold for $334. Quick question: I know most collectors prefer Blue Notes over Prestiges in general but, musically, to me the Sonny’s on Prestige are far more preferable and inventive than the Blue Notes. How do other collectibles feel about this?

Here’s a nice black-label copy of John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This was in M- condition for both the record and the cover, at least as described by the seller. It sold for $621.

This one did all right for a Norgran, but it came from the bobjdukic batch so it’s hard to tell if the price is indicative of real interest or if it is just how this record would be priced in the alternate universe: Lester Young, Pres and Sweets, Norgran 1043. This was an original yellow label pressing and it has the nice David Stone Martin cover. The record was M- and the cover was VG+ and it sold for $157.50. I like to think that would be around market value for this record in this condition.

Here’s another jazz record with a cover by Andy Warhol: Conte Candoli, Cool Gabriels, Groove 1003. I have to admit, this is one I’ve never seen before. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG++ as well. The price for this one was also $2,000.

Since we’re already in the $2,000 bin, here’s one more:

Bent Axen, Jazz Quintet 60, Metronome MLP 15124. This was an original Danish pressing and it was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,015.