Tag: John Coltrane

InBox: Una Mas, New OJCs, Autographs and A Rare J.R.

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I know it’s been a long time between posts, but there is a reason, and, fortunately, it has nothing to do with health, at least physical health, but there may be some of you out there who will question my mental health once I get around to telling the whole story, which I will do in a few days. Sorry for the intrigue and mystery, but for a couple of days I want to just do regular, routine posts, looking at rare jazz records on eBay, so I can take a little more time to write about may latest adventure in Jazz Collecting. You’ve waited this long between posts, you can wait a few days more to hear the story. Meanwhile, our old friend CeeDee has gotten impatient, rightfully so, and sent me a link to this record: Kenny Dorham, Una Mas, Blue Note 4127. This looks to be an original New York USA pressing. The cover is pretty trashed and the record plays with slight noise throughout. It is on buy-it-now on eBay for $245. Something about this listing has perplexed Mr. CeeDee because this is the note that accompanied the link: “I don’t know whether to laugh, cry or scream. I’m sure there is something missing . . . isn’t there?” Is there?

Also in my inbox was a new press release from Craft Recordings announcing that they are relaunching the Original Jazz Classics series on vinyl. The press release mentions that the first OJC issues came out in 1982, which is more than 40 years ago, which seems quite amazing to me. I was never a huge fan of the original OJCs, with their soft cardboard covers and thin vinyl. I would use them to fill in gaps in my collection, but always with the idea that I would like to replace them with originals as soon as possible. These new OJCs are being pressed on 180-gram vinyl and “housed in a replica of the original tip-on jacket. I have no idea what the original tip-on jacket means, but I hope they are using thicker cardboard so they feel more like the original original pressings. If these are nicer copies that the first round of OJCs, do you think they will have any impact on the market for first pressings. Perhaps collectors will be content with a nice reissue, but if experience is any guide, it might make the originals even more in demand as collectors/listenters get hooked on the idea of having these great music on vinyl. The first two records to be issued are Workin’ With the Mildes Davis Quintet and the Monk/Coltrane record on Jazzland. Looks like the first of the products are shipping at the end of May. Perhaps I’ll be among the first to purchase, even though I have both records, just to report on it here at Jazz Collector.

While I’m here, I will clear out some of the other items in my mailbox. This one comes from a reader looking for a buyer: “I have a programme from a Jimmy Smith gig in Birmingham, England. It is signed by Jimmy and his guitarist Nathan Page when I met him at the stage door. Would it be of any interest to anyone as I am willing to sell it?” If you are interested send me an email at alatjazzcollectordotcom and I will pass on your name and email address.

One of our readers bought a collection and sent this note: “Recently I bought a Jazz LP collection and found a sample copy. This record is a promotional press of J.R. Monterose recorded in 1963 live in Tender Trap at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I read in a Japanese website that it was a British Spotlight recording distributed as promotional records in Japan in only 20-30 copies, but for copyright problems never released. Later it was repressed in 1993 by Fresh Sound. The sample copy is: Spotlight SPJ 152 (C 556). Do you know something more about this sample copy and his grading of rarity? I suppose, as it was written in that Japanese Web site, it’s a very rare record.” I replied that I was ignorant about this particular record, but felt pretty sure that someone in the Jazz Collector audience will have the information. So, if that someone is out there, please comment.

Finally, our friend Clifford sent this link: My Name is Albert Ayler, Fontana 6888603 ZL. The record was graded VG and the cover was just good. But the cover had signatures from Albert Ayler, Don Cherry, Gary Peacock and Sunny Murray. Per Clifford: “I’ve seen one other Ayler autograph in my life, almost exactly the same, so it’s definitely legit – the Sunny Murray signature looks like the other ones I’ve seen.” There were four bids and the final price was $1,532.

A Few of My Favorite Things

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Back after a lovely holiday in Costa Rica celebrating my birthday. Now it’s back to reality, which means watching rare jazz vinyl auctions on eBay. But first, I came back to a couple of notes in my inbox with opposing viewpoints on the same record and the same auction. This was the auction in question: John Coltrane, My Favorite Things, Atlantic 1361. The auction was from our friends at the Jazz Record Center in New York. This was listed as the “original mono pressing . . . on the red and purple labels.” The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover was probably VG++. There were four bidders, seven bids, and the final price was $255. Read more

Four for the Holidays

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Heading into the holiday weekend, here are some of the auctions we’ve been watching on eBay, starting with the Roy Haynes Quartet, Out of the Afternoon, Impulse A-23. This was an original mono pressing with white promo label and the Van Gelder in the dead wax.  The record and cover were both listed in VG+ condition and the final price was $416. The same seller had Curtis Fuller Volume Three, Blue Note 1583. This looked to be an original deep groove mono pressing with the West 6rd Street address. The record and cover were listed in VG+ condition. The final price was $736. Read more

Book’s Book, Cattin’ and Some Arts

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My usual searches on eBay this week are coming up relatively bare. Just a quiet week, I suppose. We can start with a couple of Prestiges: Booker Ervin, The Song Book, Prestige 7318. This is a personal favorite of mine, Booker playing all standards and playing them quite well. This is an original yellow label pressing. The record and cover are both listed in VG+ condition. The start price is $200, the auction closes in seven days, and so far there are no bids. You can buy it now for $260. This record has sold for more than $300 several times in the past, although I would presume in better condition. This is another Prestige, sort of: Cattin’ With John Coltrane and Paul Quinichette, Esquire 32-101. This looks to be an original U.K. pressing, probably in VG+ condition for the record and the cover.  More than three days left on the auction and so far no bids at about $180. Read more

Dorham, Mobley, Trane and the Return of Moose the Mooche

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Today we have lots of nice records from some of the more prominent eBay sellers so let’s get right to it, starting with Kenny Dorham, Quiet Kenny, New Jazz 8225. This one is listed in VG or so condition for the record and VG for the cover, with a drill hole through the label. The bidding is in the $425 range with three days left on the auction. The seller, the-big-game-hunter has some other nice records for sale this week, although not necessarily in the best of condition. Here’s another likely to fetch a high price: Hank Mobley, Blue Note 1568. This is a West 63rd Street pressing, listed in G+ or VG- condition for the record and a very generous VG for the cover. There’s also a big stain on the one of the labels. Bidding is in the $400 range with three days left. Read more

Jazz Vinyl, Sun Ra and a Sax Played by Trane; Welcome Back

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Lots to catch up on. Let’s start with a few things that are for sale on eBay now and segue into news and comments from readers and see where that takes us. Here’s one that’s closing later today: J. R. Monterose, Blue Note 1536. This looks to be an original Lexington Avenue pressing. The seller has a complicated grading process, but he does mention a slight warp on the record, so I’m thinking VG+ if I were to bid, which I won’t, and maybe VG++ for the cover. The bidding is in the $550 range and I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see this end up in the $1,000 bin. Read more

One Record

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I was driving in the car the other day and listening to a playlist on my phone. A usual car playlist will have a variety of music, from the Beatles to Ella, James Taylor, 60s rock and, of course, some jazz. I was listening for about a half hour, singing along a little, but nothing that necessarily put a smile on my face. But then came this: Paul’s Pal, by Sonny Rollins. As soon as it came on, my face lit up. For me, it’s one of those songs that always puts a smile on my face. Maybe it reminds me of the first time I heard it, or perhaps because it always seemed to me like Sonny was smiling while he played it. Anyway, I started thinking about the record, Tenor Madness, and the thought popped into my head: If I could keep only one record, Tenor Madness would be one of the contenders. Now, I realize this is silly because there is so much music available everywhere in digital formats, so I could listen to pretty much anything I would want at any time. But it’s my game, and here’s how I played it out. Read more

A Supreme Love Supreme, Prestiges and Blue Notes

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Still here. Still watching jazz vinyl on eBay. Here’s one: John Coltrane, A Love Supreme, Impulse A-77.  Gotta give the seller credit for being loquacious and highly descriptive about this record. We know why he is selling it, what equipment he played it on, how loud. It is one of the more unique listings I’ve seen. Anyway, after reading all that, I would guess, as the seller does, that the record is in VG+ condition, that it is an original pressing and the cover is probably in VG+ or VG++ condition. The start price is $400 and so far there are no bidders with a bit more than a day left on the auction. The seller says he is ambivalent about selling the record because he is afraid to play it, so maybe the market will make it an easy decision for him to keep it. Read more

Whims

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I’m back watching eBay and it’s really hard not to return to the Blue Notes, particularly in light of the discussion on the previous post, but let’s resist the temptation and start with one from a few weeks ago: Booker Ervin Quintet, Cookin’, Savoy 12154. Someone, I think it was Gregory the Fish, mentioned that the bottom may be collapsing on some of the non-Blue Note, non-Prestige pressings from the ‘50s. I don’t doubt that it may be happening, as GTF is far more active in the market than I am these days. However, I must say I’m not seeing it from some of the records I’ve been watching on eBay and this is one of them. It was a second pressing with the maroon label. The seller identifies it as a second pressing. The record was in M- condition and the cover was VG+. The final price was $788.99. I’ve had a copy of this record for years, also with the maroon label, and I used to wonder if, perhaps, maroon was the original label, since I had never seen a red label in person. But, eBay has cleared that up and, indeed, if you have a red label of Cookin’, you have an original.

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Red, Trane and More Moose the Mooche (This Time With Trane)

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The inbox isn’t empty and, in fact, there was a pleasant surprise to share, but I will save it to the end because . . . well, you’ll see. Anyway, this time we will start with our friend Japhy, under the subject “A new garland for Red!” with a link to: Red Garland, A Garland of Red, Prestige 7064. This was an original New York label. The record was in VG+ condition, the cover was only VG. The final price was $1,375. I will give Japhy the honor of putting this into perspective: “Hi Al. Wanna keep goin’ with the crazy? Here’s a new all-time high for a Red Garland (as a leader) record: $1,375 for A Garland of Red. According to Popsike, that’s $375 more than the prior leader, All Morning Long, which sold for $1k back in 2012. The prior high for this particular side was $760 in 2011.” Read more

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