This week’s theme: All the Things You Are in multiple settings. Featured artists include Art Tatum, Ben Webster, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez, Tal Farlow, Dan Axelrod, Eddie Costa, Booker Ervin, Tommy Flanagan, Richard Davis, Alan Dawson, Phineas Newborn Jr., Oscar Pettiford, Kenny Clarke, Johnny Griffin, John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Lee Morgan, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Art Blakey, Ella Fitzgerald, Horace Silver, Rosemary Clooney, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Carmen McRae, Kenny Dorham, Doug Watkins, Dexter Gordon, Barry Harris, Buster Williams, Tootie Heath.

This week’s theme: Tina Brooks as sideman and leader n Blue Note. Featured artists include Tina Brooks, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Sam Jones, Clifford Jarvis, Freddie Redd, Jackie McLean, Paul Chambers, Louis Hayes, Blue Mitchell, Kenny Drew, Arthur Taylor, Johnny Coles, Wilbur Ware, Philly Joe Jones, Lee Morgan, Sonny Clark, Doug Watkins, Art Blakey.

This week’s theme: A tribute to the late Benny Golson. Featured artists include Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Lee Morgan, Harold Mabern, Bobby Timmons, Addison Farmer, Milt Jackson, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Curtis Fuller, Barry Harris, Jamie Merritt, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Abbey Lincoln, Percy Heath, Ray Bryant, Winton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Charlie Persip, Gigi Gryce, Sahib Shihab, James Cleveland, Julius Watkins, Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins, Art Taylor, Jimmy Cobb, Grachan Concur III, Roy McCurdy.

This week’s theme: Jackie McLean on Prestige, Volume 2. Featured musicians include Gene Ammons, Art Taylor, Donald Byrd, Bill Hartman, Mal Waldron, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland, Arthur Phipps, Wade Legge, Doug Watkins.

This week’s theme: Jackie McLean on Prestige. Featured artists include Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Gene Ammons, Art Taylor, Donald Byrd, Bill Hartman, Mal Waldron, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Red Garland, Arthur Phipps, Wade Legge, Doug Watkins.

This week’s theme: Horace Silver, Part Two, the quintets. Featured artists include Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Doug Watkins, Art Blakey, Louis Hayes, Joe Henderson, Carmel Jones, Roy Brooks, Junior Cook, Blue Mitchell.

Today’s theme: Horace Silver, Part One. Featured musicians include Horace Silver, Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Hank Mobley, Curley Russell, Art Blakey, Kenny Dorham, Doug Watkins, Jimmy Raney, Roy Haynes, Clifford Brown, Lou Donaldson, Louis Smith, Blue Mitchell.

In the Van Gelder studio was there a single piano that Richie Powell played on Sonny Rollins Plus Four and Wynton Kelly played on Newk’s Time, and Horace Silver, Bud Powell, Freddie Redd, Sonny Clark, Red Garland, etc. etc., all played on when they did all of the recordings? If so, that would probably be the most recorded piano in all of jazz and would probably be quite a valuable collector’s item. I imagine the answer to that question may just involve a Google search, but I am going to pose it here instead and see what kind of insights we may discover and what else  we may learn with our collective wisdom (not to mention obsessions). Piano is one thing – what about the drums, which are more personal? Did Max Roach bring his own set for Sonny Rollins Plus Four and Philly Joe bring his set for Newk’s time, or was there a common set that all or most of the drummers used in the Van Gelder studio?

This is what I get when I have too much time on my hands.

Charles Mingus, Pethecanthropus Erectus, Atlantic 1237. This looks to be an original black label pressing that looks to be in VG++ condition for the record and M- for the cover. A fine looking copy, indeed. Bidding is in the $270 range with more than two days left on the auction. Two Transitions, two Atlantics: Tony Fruscella, Atlantic 1220. This is also an original black label pressing. Looks to be like the record is in VG or maybe VG+ condition, and the cover is VG+. Bidding is close to $200, with more than two days left on the auction.

Let’s finish off today’s post with two Blue Notes: Jackie McLean, Let Freedom Ring, Blue Note 4106. This looks to be an original New York USA mono pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover. The bidding is in the $250 range and this auction also closes on Sunday. Lee Morgan, Volume 3, Blue Note 1557. This is an original pressing with the New York 23 label. The record is probably in VG condition and the cover is listed as VG+, although there is a water stain on the back cover that might bring the grade down for some potential buyers. Bidding is in the $399 range, and this is another auction that closes on Sunday.