This week’s theme: Charlie Parker and Dexter Gordon in the studio for Dial and Savoy, 1945 to 1948, with a little Lester Young thrown in for good measure. Musicians include Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, J.J. Johnson, Max Roach, Dyke Jordan, Tommy Potter, John Lewis, Curly Russell, Count Basie, Walter Page, Jo Jones, Todd Dameron, Art Blakey, Leo Parker, Leonard Hawkins, Bud Powell.

This week’s theme: Clifford Brown, Early Recordings.

Featuring 10-inch Blue Note and Pacific Jazz recordings, originals and Mosaic reissues/newly discovered tracks. Featured artists include Lou Donaldson, J.J. Johnson, Horace Silver, Jimmy Heath, Art Blakey, Zoot Sims, Philly Joe Jones, Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Percy Heath, John Lewis, and more. Also some discussion of Michael Cuscuna of Mosaic.

Wes Montgomery, Full House, Riverside 434. This was a mono pressing with the white labels, which I assume is a promo pressing. There don’t seem to be deep grooves, but I’m not sure if that has anything to do with whether this is a first pressing. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+, with some wear on the cover. It sold for $310.

Curtis Fuller, Bone and Bari, Blue Note 1572. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing with the deep grooves. It was listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The bidding reached $855, but it did not surpass the reserve price set by our friend Serge.

These two also did not sell, but they have since been re-listed at the same price, and are still not getting any action:

J.J. Johnson, Volume One, Blue Note 1505 and J.J. Johnson Volume Two, Blue Note 1506. Both of these look to be original Lexington Avenue pressings in about VG++ condition for both the records and the covers. The start price is and has been about $250, but so far there hasn’t been any interest.

Here’s one that actually sold: Jackie McLean, A Fickle Sonance, Blue Note 4089. This was an original New York USA mono pressing listed in Ex condition for the record and the cover, which the seller kindly translated to VG++.  The record sold for $256.

The Lovely Mrs. JC, but I was able to find a nook in my new country house where there was empty space and where The Lovely Mrs. JC didn’t object to a couple of small record cabinets. Of course, The Lovely Mrs. JC hasn’t actually seen the records or the cabinets yet, so we don’t know what verdict she will eventually render. For the time being, at least, my 10-inch records are all out, all on display and all ready to be placed on a turntable. The two records above are both in my collection and, perhaps, will get a listen next time. As we’ve noted many times, one of the great things about the 10-inchers is that they are so clearly of a certain era. To my knowledge, the record companies pretty much stopped making 10-inch LPs by 1956, so you have a small window of 1950 to 1955 when these beauties were sitting on the shelves of record stores. A lot of the early 10-inch LPs were reissues of material first available on 78s — such as the two records above — but, to me, that doesn’t diminish anything about them.