. . . but we couldn’t agree on the price. It was as simple as that and it was all very amicable. Jason and Nate were great and we had a nice, easy rapport. Jason shared pertinent information about his business model and what he and Nate thought they could get for the records. I didn’t want to let the records go for the amount they offered and we were too far apart for a compromise. So, sitting in my living room with Jason, Nate and The Lovely Mrs. JC, I suggested we turn to Plan B. I would go through the records yet again, this time with the idea that we would do a consignment deal.

If I haven’t done so already, I should make perfectly clear that money was not the primary motivation for me. If I wanted to maximize the value, I could sell the records on eBay myself, or even do something here on Jazz Collector, where I could avoid paying eBay fees. But one of the main decisions I made was that I don’t want to be in the jazz vinyl retail business. What I really wanted was to pare down the collection and reduce it by a significant amount. This meant including a lot of really valuable records, but also a lot of records that would not necessarily be worth the effort on Carolina Soul’s part to sell on eBay. I understood.

When I realized that I wasn’t go to pare down the collection in the amount I wanted, I reset my priorities. I was never looking to make a financial killing, but when I was hoping to sell a large part of the collection outright, I loaded the package with a significant amount of the real high-end stuff. A few examples: Thad Jones and Sonny Clark on Blue Note. I had original pressings and later pressings, either Japanese or United Artists. In the original package, I included the originals for Carolina Soul. In the revised consignment deal, it was the later pressings. Blue Train: I had a New York 23 and a West 63^rd. For the package deal I included the New York 23; for the consignment deal it is the West 63^rd. Miles Davis on Blue Note: in the original package I decided to keep the 10-inch and sell the 12-inch. When it became consignment, I kept them all.

I was willing to sell a bunch of high-end records because it will give me a sense of how well the consignment process works. It was a hard call, but I included all of my doubles. I tell you, when you are holding an original copy of Soultrane, Blue Train or Saxophone Colossus in your hands and you know that you searched for years for those records, it is very hard to part with them, even if you have another copy. I’m sure Ruldolf can attest to that as well. Also, there were very rare collectibles that I just don’t listen to: The Donald Byrd on Transition and Jutta Hipps and Grant Greens on Blue Note are examples of that. My Jutta Hipp with Zoot is so clean, I’m hoping we may be able to set a new high for that record.

What’s next? I haven’t heard from Jason for a few days, but per our last email, the records may be going up for auction this week. I gave him carte blanche to list them as he wants, to grade them according to his standards, to use whatever language he wishes to describe them. After all, he’s the one in the business of selling rare jazz vinyl on eBay, and he’s done pretty well without me so far. Stay tuned.

The post A New Adventure in Jazz Collecting, Part 6 first appeared on jazzcollector.com.]]> https://jazzcollector.com/features/a-new-adventure-in-jazz-collecting-part-6/feed/ 18 9161 https://jazzcollector.com/blue-note/filling-up-the-1000-bin/ https://jazzcollector.com/blue-note/filling-up-the-1000-bin/#comments Wed, 02 Feb 2022 14:26:10 +0000 https://jazzcollector.com/?p=8893 Catching up on the eBay jazz vinyl watch list. Let’s start with one that was sent to me by Japhy: Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, [...]

Catching up on the eBay jazz vinyl watch list. Let’s start with one that was sent to me by Japhy: Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This was an original deep-groove. West 63^rd Street mono. The record and the cover were both in VG++ condition. The final price was $1,650. Japhy’s note was titled “Swinging for the fences,” and he did my homework for me: “A new high of $1,650 for Jackie McLean Swing, Swang, Swingin’ in reported VG++/VG++ condition. Prior high was $1,283 back in 2005.” Speaking of “Swingin’” new highs, we were watching this one the other day:

Dexter Gordon, A Swingin’ Affair, Blue Note 4133. This was also in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. I had predicted that this copy would set a new high for A Swingin’ Affair. The final price was $707. And the final answer? Yes, it did set a new high. The previous high, per Popsike,  was $705.

There are a bunch of records from the $1,000 bin sitting in my watch list. Some of these go back a couple of months. Let me clean those out as a first step in shrinking the list:

Dizzy Reece, Star Bright, Blue Note 4023. This was an original West 63^rd Street pressing. The record and cover were both rated in M- condition. The final price was about $1,091.

Donald Byrd, Byrd in Hand, Blue Note 4019. This was also an original West 63^rd Street pressing. The record and cover looked to be in M- condition. The final price was $1,175.

Grant Green, Idle Moments, Blue Note 4154. This was an original New York USA pressing, probably in VG+ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The final price was $1,302.

John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This was an original West 63^rd Street pressing that looked to be in VG+ condition for the record and VG for the cover. The final price was $1,915.

Jackie McLean, Jackie’s Pal, Prestige 7068. This was an original New York yellow label. The record and cover looked to be in about VG+ condition, with a promo stamp on the back. The final price was $1,137.

Jutta Hipp With Zoot Sims, Blue Note 1530. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record looked to be in VG+ or VG++ condition, and the cover was graded as VG+. The final price was $2,247.

Introducing Johnny Griffin, Blue Note 1533. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The record looked to be M- and the cover was VG+. The final price was $2,045.

Sonny Clark, Dial S for Sonny, Blue Note 1570. This was an original West. 63^rd Street that looked to be in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. The final price was $2,605.55.

Donald Byrd, Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill, Transition 17. This was an original pressing without the booklet. The record was graded in VG++/M- condition and the cover was VG+. The final price was $1,775.

Hank Mobley Quartet, Blue Note 5066. This was an original 10-inch Lexington Avenue pressing. The record and cover both looked to be in VG+ condition. The final price was $1,625.

Horace Parlan, Us Three, Blue Note 4037. This was an original West 63^rd promo copy. The record was VG and the cover was VG+. The final price was $1,200.

Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. This was an original New York yellow label. The record sounded like VG+ condition and the cover VG, based on the seller’s descriptions. The final price was $2,862.

BTW, I got an email from a guy who has a collection that belonged to Bob Scobey, the Dixieland trumpeter who died in 1963. He sent me pictures that were mostly 78 RPM records, with a few 10-inch LPs sprinkled in. He says he has a lot more photos. The collection is in the Los Angeles area. If anyone is interested, send me an email and I’ll put you in touch.

The post Filling Up the $1,000 Bin first appeared on jazzcollector.com.]]>

From the same auction: Grant Green, Street of Dreams, Blue Note 4253. This was an original mono pressing with the Van Gelder stamp. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover, based on the pictures, looked to be VG+ to me, although the listing makes it sound more like VG++. I guess the buyer made his own judgment, and judged $935 to be the going rate for this copy.

One of the interesting phenomena of the new market is the rise in bidding for these later Blue Notes of the 4200 era. Here’s another: Jackie McLean, Action, Blue Note 4218. This one looked to be in M- condition for the record and M- for the cover as well. The final price was $1,180. And one more: Lee Morgan, Delightfulee, Blue Note 4243. This was an original mono pressing. The record looked to be M- and the cover probably around VG++. The final price was $404.

This continued rise in value for these records provides a segue to a note I received the other day from Dale, under the subject: Jazz Value Question. Here ’tis:

“Here is something I’ve been thinking about. I’m guessing that most Jazz collectors who have valuable collections are probably pushing 60 years old or older. Of course, there are many exceptions.

1. 20 years or so from now, will the bottom fall out on many of the valuable Jazz records due to lack of demand? (baby boomers will be dying off, many selling collections or estates selling).

2. If one is in that age bracket and has valuable collections (assuming the value is important), what would be the market signs that will show it’s time to unload.

I think this would make a great discussion. Personally, I think we are at the peak right now for Jazz values in general. Plus, all the labels are releasing all these re-issues while the going is good.

Of course, there are many young Jazz collectors, but enough to keep the present values? Maybe on a first pressing Blue Train. Beatles, Zeppelin, etc will have many years ahead….those bands are still played on regular rock radio today.

I would love to see a good discussion on this topic somewhere.”

I wrote back to Dale, noting that we have been having this discussion for years here at Jazz Collector. But I also said it’s always of prime interest to the community and, when we experience major changes in the market, as we’re seeing with the records listed in this post, it is always interesting to recalibrate our opinions. I know I have done so over the past two years in watching the market change during Covid and seeing a new coterie of younger collectors, who apparently have money.

Here are a few others from the Jazz Record Center auction:

Clifford Brown Memorial Album, Blue Note 1526. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing. My grading would put this at M- for both the record and the cover, based on the description, because JRC doesn’t use our standard grading language. This one sold for $700.

“Baby Face” Willette, Face to Face, Blue Note 4068. This was a West 63rd Street pressing without the deep groove. It was probably in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover, depending upon how you feel about the previous owner writing her name in ink on the back — in three different places. Huh? Anyway, this record sold for $560, which is not making a lot of sense to me. Perhaps someone out there in Jazz Collector world has a reasonable explanation.

Herbie Hancock, Takin’ Off, Blue Note 4109. This was an original New York USA pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover. It had the added benefit of Hancock’s autograph, if you consider that to be a benefit. It sold for $710.

Grant Green, Grant’s First Stand, Blue Note 4064. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that looked to be in M- condition for the record and the cover. The final price was $710.

Next up: Dexter Gordon, A Swingin’ Affair, Blue Note 4133. This looked to be an original New York USA mono pressing, probably in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The final price was $676. Given the way things are trending, would anyone be surprised to see this record, and others of its ilk/era, in the $1,000 bin someday soon? Finally there was Grant Green, Sunday Morning’, Blue Note 4099. This was an original New York USA pressing. It was listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. In my eyes, the cover grading raises strong credibility questions about the seller. Look at the pictures and the description. There is no way that cover is anything better than VG. I think even Gregory the Fish, who disagreed with my last assessment, will agree with me on this one. GTF are you there? Anyway, cover and all, this one sold for $481.26.

This came from another reader: Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. This was an original Yellow label New York pressing. The record and cover were in VG+ condition. The price was $2,254.99. The price for this record is not out of the ordinary, but for this record in this condition it seems like we are approaching new territory, don’t you think?

Finally, I don’t normally do this, but this person was trying to post a comment on the site and wasn’t able to get it posted and I don’t know how to fix my site, so I’ll take the lazy way out and post it here, in case anyone is interested. I’m not going to make a regular habit of this, so don’t get any ideas.

Message Body:
JAZZ CDs FOR SALE  : Italian label  RED RECORD
Hi everybody, 
i’m from Italy and I’m going to sell many of this rare and wonderful titles, from my Private Collection. Each CD is in mint condition, like new.
ORIGINAL CD First print (not reissue!) – Made in ITALY
 15 $ / each CD
  I can ship Worldwide at cost (for shipping costs contact me) 
Payment methods: BANK TRANSFER (preferred for European customers), PAYPAL 
Please feel free to email me for any question , additional information and total price for multiple purchases  
a.legend@virgilio.it
On sale:
ATTI CARLO      Featuring Hal Galper Trio – Sweet Beat Blues    Red Records 123277-2 RED
BAKER CHET      At Capolinea           Red Records 123206
BISHOP WALTER JR.       Midnight Blue   Red Records 123251-2 RED
BOSSO FABRIZIO   Fast Flight            Red Records 123287-2 RED
GROSSMAN STEVE   Love Is The Thing                Red Records 123189.2 RED
HENDERSON JOE   An Evening With Joe Henderson-Charlie Haden-Al Foster Red Records 
HERSCH FRED-LASPINA STEVE-HIRSHFIELD JEFF       ETC            Red Records 123233-2
HIGGINS BILLY   3/4 For Peace          Red Records 123258.2 RED
HIGGINS BILLY   Soweto         Red Records 123141-2 RED
LEWIS VICTOR    Know It Today, Know It Tomorrow      Red Records 123255 RED
LIEBMAN DAVE    QUARTET-Setting The Standard          Red Records 123253-2 RED
LIEBMAN DAVE-D’ANDREA FRANCO    Nine Again            Red Records RR 123234 – 2
MCDUFF JACK          Jack-Pot              Red Records RR 123267-2
MELILLO MIKE    TRIO-Bopcentric       Red Records 123279-2 RED
MELILLO MIKE    Alternate Changes For Bud              Red Records 123211.2 RED
MOSSMAN MICHAEL PHILIPS-SCHNYDER DANIEL Granulat   Red Records 123240-2 RED
NELSON STEVE QUINTET    Live Session Two              Red Records RR 123235-2
OATTS DICK-SANTORO DAVE QUARTET    Meru         Red Records 123274-2 RED
SNIDERO JIM         While Your Here              Red Records 123241-2 RED
SPHERE  Pumpkins Delight – Sphere Live At Umbria Jazz     Red Records 123207-2 RED
STEWART ROBERT Nat The Cat – The Music Of Nat King Cole Red Records 123292-2 RED
STEWART ROBERT      Beautiful Love              Red Records 123273 – 2 RED
TRANCHINI SALVATORE With Jerry Bergonzi, Franco Ambrosetti – Radio Suite Red Records 
URBANI MASSIMO      The Blessing        Red Records 123257-2 RED
URBANI MASSIMO  360°     Aeutopia            Red Records 123146-2 RED
WALTON CEDAR    Piano Solo-Blues For Myself      Red Record 123205.2 RED
WOODS PHIL  Integrity – The New Phil Woods Quintet Live Red Records RR 123177  (2CD)
WOODS PHIL      European Tour Live      Red Records 123163.2 RED   (2CD)

Similar situation with this one: The Arrival of Kenny Dorham, Jaro 5007. This looks to be an original pressing with the promo stamp. The record and cover are both listed in VG++ condition. The start price is $200 and there is a single bid so it will definitely sell, but I would normally expect this record in this condition to get a bit more action than this one seems to be getting.

No worry about this next one seeing lots of action:

Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing that looks to be in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. There’s more than a day left on the auction and the bidding is in the $565 range. I would certainly expect this to sell for more than $1,000, and perhaps in the $2,000 range.

The seller of the Lee Morgan record is based in Germany and is selling off his personal collection, as he says, due to his age. I wonder how old he is and if/when I’ll ever get to the same point. I don’t want to leave the task to my kids, but I also don’t want to get rid of my records, at least not now, as I approach age 64 in a few weeks, which still doesn’t feel so old to me. Anyway, if it ever comes to the time when I want to or need to sell my records, I will keep the Rollins, Coltranes, Cliffords, Miles, Cannonballs, Evans and a few others as a fail safe. Perhaps this seller, anilin1000, is doing the same with his favorite artists. Anyway, here’s one more from his collection, also closing tomorrow: Grant Green, Sunday Morning, Blue Note 4099. This is an original New York USA pressing. The record is graded at M- and the cover is graded a VG+, although from the pictures I would definitely grade it VG. Look for yourself and tell me what you think. The bidding is now in the $150 range.

The final batch of records has arrived. The guy from the shipping department in the building just brought them up on a hand truck. Three boxes – those banker’s box file boxes, the brown and white ones you get in Stapes. They’ve never been good for storing or transporting records, but hopefully this batch made it through safely. Opening the first box. There’s a sheath of what looks to be sheepskin or some kind of cotton on top. Nice. The records seem safe. On top, an Errol Garner record. No big deal. Going through the records. Each has the same type of soft plastic cover: I have a feeling these were the original covers on the records. In the 1950s and 1960s they didn’t use what we have come to know as shrink wrap, but they used a cover and it fit loosely over the records, just like these. They certainly seem old enough, and dirty enough, and covered with enough dust to have been original covers from the 1950s. No matter. Getting through the box, one by one, record by record.

And, in the first box, here they are. First the Dexter Gordon Blue Notes. Then Lou Donaldson. Johnny Griffin. And here it is. Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin. Taste it, smell it, touch it. Mine, in my apartment, in my hands. And open it. Original label. Mint condition. Sweeeeeet. And now. Dizzy Reece, Soundin’ Off. The plastic sleeve is filthy. I have to take it off, original or not. The label. Original. The record. Mint. Sweeeet again. Lou Donaldson, Light Foot. Original label, no deep grooves. Ah Well. Record is Mint. I don’t have this one in my collection. Oh, that’s right. I do have it in my collection now. This is my record. Grant Green. Two originals, Green Streen and Grant’s First Stand. Get rid of these filthy covers. Records and covers: Mint and original, two of my favorite words. Interesting – all of these records all seem to have the original Blue Note inner sleeve. Bolsters my theory about the plastic covers being original.
Clifford Brown Memorial. Second pressing with the West 63^rd label. I knew that. Still, the record and cover are mint. Actually, the back cover has some writing. VG++. Art Blakey, Blue Note 1508. Also a second press, West 63^rd. I knew that.  Same as Clifford. Record is mint, cover has some writing on the back. Lou Donaldson, Here ‘Tis, New York USA, second pressing, with the ear and RVG in the dead wax. I don’t have an early pressing of this. Now I do. Introducing Johnny Griffin. West 63^rd. Mint. What will I do? I have a Lexington Avenue pressing of this in VG condition. My guess? I’ll keep both. Milt Jackson, Lexington 1509. This one has a Lex on one side and West 63^rd on the other. Still a nice upgrade from the one in my collection, which is a NY USA pressing, of all things. Sonny Rollins Volume 1. West 63^rd.  Not original, but a second press in very nice shape. I’m sure I’ll keep it. And probably even listen to it.

Here it is again. Cool Struttin’. There is a one-inch split on the spine and a couple of small creases on the cover. I’d grade it a safe VG++.  The record needs to be cleaned. It has a couple of small marks, probably from being put in and out of the jacket. It looks like it’s never been played. I’d rate it at safe VG++, but I’ll play it to make sure.

Keep going. Lou Donaldson, Blues Walk. Original. Beautiful cover. A touch of writing on the back. Original label, original pressing. VG++ for the record and the cover. Sweet. Definite improvement over the one in my collection. Donald Byrd, The Cat Walk. Original pressing in M- condition. Cover has some slight water damage, VG+. Dexter Gordon, Go. One of my favorite Blue Notes. Beautiful original in Mint condition, maybe VG++ for the cover. Someone wrote little bits on a lot of these. Dexter Calling. Another favorite. This one is definitely unplayed. The inner sleeve was on the side. Small writing on the front, but immaculate record. Yes, all of these are mono pressings, most of them originals. Ahhhh.

Went through the rest of the records, called my friend Danny, just went to post on Jazz Collector. Been busy. I didn’t necessarily want to post about the collection but . . . as soon as I logged onto eBay, the first record I saw was a copy of Meet Oliver Nelson on New Jazz and I just got off the phone with Danny and mentioned that record to him because it was part of this batch. In near mint condition, an original pressing. The copy on eBay just sold for $157. 50. This was among a few nice original non-Blue Note pressings, but the bulk of the value in the collection is definitely the Blue Notes mentioned above and the ones from the previous batch. In addition to the Oliver Nelson, there is a nice New Jersey pressing of Sonny Rollins Tenor Madness; a nice original black-label pressing of John Lewis and Sacha  Distel, Afternoon in Paris; a couple of original Stan Getz LPs, a Sonny Stitt on Roost, Lee Konitz on Verve, a few nice Pacific Jazz records, including an original Chet Baker. The rest of the records are mostly pressings from England and South America. A couple of these are quite cool as well, including an original Esquire Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants.
Of course there is the question of what I will do with all these records, probably 180 or so in all, but that’s for another day. Now, I shall bask in the glow of owning these gems and I shall sit on my sofa and stare at them for awhile, letting it all sink in.

What happened next? Stay tuned for Part 8

I was watching this one, not because I was interested, but because I wanted to see how high it would go, which was plenty: Grant Green, I Want to Hold Your Hand, Blue Note 4202. This was an original mono New York USA pressing in M- or so condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. It sold for $511.11. Here’s the existential question for today: Why?

Our friend CeeDee sent this link to tempt me:

Sonny Rollins Volume 2, Blue Note 1558. This was a an original test pressing. No cover, of course, but the record was in VG++ condition. The cool thing about it is the big Plastylite logo and the hand-written description. Could it be Van Gelder himself? This one sold for $569.86.

Hank Mobley Quintet, Blue Note 1550. This was a West 63rd Street pressing, deep grooves, but it did not have the New York 23 so, I guess, that would make it a clear second pressing, but a very early second pressing? The record was probably VG++ with some light surface noise and the cover was VG. The price was $908.

Kenny Dorham, Round ‘Bout Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. The consensus seems to be that this was a later pressing using old Lexington Avenue labels and an older Lexington Avenue back cover. It was listed as a first edition, however, replete with flat edge and deep grooves. The record was probably VG++ and the cover was VG. It sold for $578. It was, by the way, the same seller as the Mobley, who did all right with a couple of records that were not quite first pressings.

Jackie McLean, The New Tradition, Ad-Lib 6601. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,975.

A few more:

Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Volume One, New Jazz 8260. This was an original pressing in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. I had a feeling the bidding would get heated for this one after my post and it did. The final price was $505.90.

Grant Green, Am I Blue, Blue Note 4139. This was an original New York USA pressing. The record was in M- condition and the cover was probably VG++, based on the description. The final price was $355.

Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot Volume 1, New Jazz 8260. This is an original mono pressing with the purple labels and the deep groove. It looks very nice from the picture, although the grades are only VG+ for both the record and the cover. I was watching this all week and there were no bids for a long time at a start price of about $200. The auction closes in a few hours and now there is a bid. I don’t think it will be the only one, because, as I said, the record looks really nice in the photos. Here’s another Dolphy from the same era: Eric Dolphy, Out There, New Jazz 8252. This is also an original pressing with the purple label and deep grooves. The record is in VG++ condition and the cover is VG+. It also looks very nice in the photo. The start price is around $250 and there is one bidder, so the record will sell.

This one is mentioned by a commenter in the post below, but we’ll write about it here and see what people think: Kenny Dorham, ‘Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This one is listed as having the deep groove, flat edge, ear, etc., but from the picture it doesn’t look like a deep groove. Also, there is the question of whether the cover is an original framed cover. What does everyone think? Is it just a poor picture that would indicate a lack of deep grooves, or is it just a later pressing with Lexington Avenue label? I have

several Blue Notes with Lexington labels that are clearly later pressings, notably the Herbie Nichols LP. This Dorham is listed in probably VG++ for the record and VG for the cover. It closes in a few hours and the bidding is in the $325 range. If this was a clear-cut original in this condition, the price would be quite a bit higher. And, perhaps, when the auction closes, it will be. This seller has a bunch of nice records on eBay now, including: Grant Green, Am I Blue, Blue Note 4139. This one looks to be an original pressing listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The current price is almost $300. If you look carefully at this listing you will get a sense of possible problems with the Dorham listing. The seller clearly does not know what a “flat edge” is, if he is saying that the Green record has a flat edge. Definitely makes you wonder about the provenance of the Dorham record, doesn’t it