Songs written by or recorded by Fats Waller. Some modern interpretations as well as a bit of historical slide piano. Featured artists include Fats Waller, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Oscar Pettiford, Anita O’Day, Dinah Washington, James P. Johnson, Willie “The Lion” Smith, Hank Jones, Luther Henderson, Nell Carter, Andre De Shields, Amelia McQueen, Ken Page, Charlaine Woodard, Herman Autry, Gene Sedric, Al Casey.

Al:

My jazz collecting the past 25 years has morphed mainly to jazz autographs. There is something about a genuine signature that makes an item come alive: This was actually in the hands of Billie, Bird, Trane, etc. One must be careful to not obtain a fake, but I have mainly dealt with reputable dealers, and over time, I have become more savvy in finds on sites such as eBay.

I did bid on this Coltrane item, but exited the bidding when it went above $2000.

The prizes of my collection are signed photographs, some contracts, some personal letters, etc. To give you an idea of some of my prized items, here is a partial list:

Jelly Roll Morton (very hard to find – I have 2, one of which is sheet music)

Bix Beiderbecke

James P Johnson (photo)

Charlie Christian

Fats Navarro (photo)

Clifford Brown (photo, Study in Brown album)

Booker Little

Serge Chaloff

Charlie Parker (2 photos, a note to Chan, a contract, a signature by his entire quartet)

Lester Young (2 photos, one 78 RPM record)

Coleman Hawkins (multiple photos, cancelled check)

Django Reinhardt (photo, concert program)

Wes Montgomery (photo)

Thelonious Monk (photo, concert program)

John Coltrane

Bud Powell

Bill Evans (photo, high school yearbook)

Billie Holiday (photo, 2 separate contracts regarding the rights to her autobiography, one signed Eleanora Fagan, copy of Lady Sings the Blues)

Lee Morgan (beautiful signed photo, paper with all 5 members of Blakey group, contract for club engagement)

Wardell Gray (10″ LP)

Bennie Moten (78 rpm)

Chet Baker (photo)

Charles Mingus (Mingus at Monterey album, photo)

Ma Rainey (royalty agreement)

Like all financial transactions, especially collecting, the price is determined by supply and demand. Some iconic figures are in high supply (Louis, Duke, Ella), but their iconic status keeps their value to at least a modest level. Iconic figures that died young (Bix, Bird, Trane, Billie) command very high prices. Then there are figures that died young that are only known to the ever-shrinking jazz market rather than the general public (Clifford, Lee Morgan, Wardell Gray, Christian, Fats Navarro). Their items are very rare, but prices aren’t at the level of the Bird, Trane items, possibly for this reason. Some more obscure figures command even less interest (Allen Eager, Wade Legge, Joe Albany, Freddie Webster).

The “what” factor values a photo, letter, or official document over a scrap of paper, napkin, etc. Until recently, a signed record album was not as valuable. However, this has changed lately, as evidenced by the recent Coltrane auction. I have seen some signed Miles Davis albums go higher than I would expect recently.

The one “signature” in my collection that turns out to be a fake is Art Tatum. There was a signed contract for chattel mortgage for a Plymouth automobile. The item came from Arline Tatum, Art’s sister. The address on the contract was his home in Toledo (I have been by the home). The signature was somewhat messy, and signed Arthur Tatum. I couldn’t let this slip by my hands, but have been suspicious. Over the years, with the help of databases on ancestry.com, I have seen a signature of Art Tatum, Sr., Art’s Father, on a marriage license, and WWI draft card, which matches the signature on my item. Further research of multiple contracts, a personal check, and Art Tatum, Jr.’s marriage license are all marked with an X. Oh well………………

Someone like you would understand the thrill of the hunt for items such as these. After a while, one becomes more selective and discerning, and don’t feel bad letting an item get away when the price is too high.

Bill

By the way, I enjoy your website.

My reply:

Fantastic. Do you mind if I post your reply on he site, preferably with your name?

I don’t go out of my way to collect autographs or other ephemera, but I am happy when I come across them. Among my most prized possessions is an copy of Sonny and Hawk, with the following signed by Sonny:

“12/13/63. To my friend at ‘A+ P’ with Holiday wishes to you & yours Sincerely Sonny R.”

A & P was a local supermarket chain. I also have an original 78 of Moody’s Mood For Love, signed by James Moody and am original Birdland program signed by Stan Getz.  — al