This week’s theme: Songs from the Ellington Songbook, vocal and instrumental versions. Songs include Cottontail, Lush Life, In a Sentimental Mood, In a Mellowtone, Come Sunday, Take the A Train, Just Squeeze Me, and more. Artists include John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O-Day, Johnny Hartman, Mahalia Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Wes Montgomery, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Clark Terry and more.
This week’s theme: Exploring instrumental and vocal performances from the Jazz Standard Songbook, including Yardbird Suite, A Night in Tunisia, Round Midnight, Jeanine, Dat Dere, Afro Blue, Waltz for Debby and more. Featured artists include Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Phineas Newborn Jr., Sheila Jordan, Oscar Brown Jr., Eddie Jefferson, Richie Cole, Benny Golson, Abbey Lincoln, Kenny Dorham, Winton Kelly, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, JJ Johnson, Curtis Fuller, Ella Fitzgerald and many, many more.
This week’s theme: More jazz vocals and instrumentals from the Great American Songbook. Artists include Lous Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Brown, Herb Ellis, Oscar Peterson, Buddy Rich, Paul Desmond, Jim Hall, Tal Farlow, Eddie Costa, Vinnie Burke, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison, Sarah Vaughan, Roy Haynes, Thad Jones, Ronnell Bright, Richard Davis, Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, Paul Motion, Zoot Sims, Rosemary Clooney, Scott Hamilton, Dave McKenna, Warren Vache, and many more.
This week’s theme. Jazz vocals and instrumentals from the Great American Songbook. Featured artists include Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Red Garland, Jackie McLean, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Rosemary Clooney, Scott Hamilton, Art Pepper, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, Dexter Gordon, Kenny Drew, Dizzy Reece, Stan Getz, and many more.
Back on eBay after a slight delay to spend some family time in New York City (and celebrating my birthday). First thing that popped up when I hit my search the other day was Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing listed in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. The sellers are my friends at Carolina Soul and, based on my experience, they tend to grade very conservatively. Not only that, but this record comes from the personal collection of Chick Corea, the auction for which is being conducted by Carolina Soul. Congratulations to them. The bidding on this record is already at $3,050 with more than a day left on the auction. Some readers may recall that I once owned a mint copy of Lee Morgan, which I sold 35 years ago to buy a boat. Yada, yada, yada . . . the boat sank, and I haven’t ever replaced my original pressing of Lee Morgan Candy. Read more
I mentioned that my watch list runneth over and, as it happens, some of the auctions I was watching have runneth over as well. Let’s see what happened, starting with John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This was an original deep groove pressing, with side one bearing the New York 23 logo. The seller was Funkyousounds and the neglected to mention the labels. But they were clear to see for anyone looking at the pictures. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+. The final price was $5,100. I’ve never thought to ask this before, but have you ever wondered why they called the record Blue Train as opposed to Blue Trane? Read more
This week’s theme: Welcoming in 2025, Part 2. Featured artists include John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Ornette Coleman, Ella Fitzgerald, Oliver Nelson, Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Shorty Rogers, Art Pepper, Miles Davis, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims and many more.
OMG, it’s so freaking easy to get hooked again. I went on eBay on Thursday for the first time in months and now I’m checking every few hours, including 5 AM on a Sunday. It’s re-awakening the old, familiar adrenaline rush of just looking at the records, seeing the prices, and feeling that old collector’s feeling of “boy this is fun.” Then there’s the vinyl envy of the records in great condition that I don’t have, The Unique Thelonious Monk as a case in point. I’m pretty sure I’m going to bid on that record. I’ll keep you posted. In the meanwhile, here are a few more records that have tickled that familiar feeling, starting with another Monk record from the Jazz Record Center auction: Thelonious Monk, Monk’s Music, Riverside 242. This is an original white label pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and at least VG++ for the cover. I have never owned an original white label pressing of this record, and it is John Coltrane (among others) playing with Monk. Bidding is a little bit more than $100, with the auction closing Monday evening.
This week’s theme: A tribute to the late Roy Haynes. Featured artists include Roy Haynes, Lester Young, Sarah Vaughan, Phineas Newborn, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jackie McLean, Leon Thomas, Oliver Nelson, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, Eric Dolphy, Freddie Hubbard, and many others.
This week’s theme: Various artists playing songs from the Ellington catalogue. Featured artists include Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, John Coltrane, Ben Webster, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson, Jimmy Hamilton, Russell Procope, Harry Carney, Tyree Glen, Clark Terry, Sonny Greer, Sam Woodyard, Cat Anderson, Ray Nance, and many more.
