This week’s theme: The Gershwin Songbook, as played by jazz pianists and their groups. Featured artists include: Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Red Garland, Billy Taylor, Bud Powell, Oscar Pettiford, Art Blakey, Paul Motian, Scott LaFaro, Hampton Hawes, Red Mitchell, Chuck Thompson, John Lewis, Percy Heath, Connie Kay, Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen, John Ore, J.C. Moses, Ray Barreto, Arthur Taylor, Paul Chambers, Randy Weston
Tag: John Lewis
Podcast: More of the Best of ’26
Continuing last week’s theme, celebrating the New Year with jazz vinyl featuring the number 26 in the catalog number. Featured artists include Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, Tommy Flanagan, George Morrow, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Ella Fitzgerland, Nelson Riddle, Kenny Drew, Lawrence Marable, Curtis Counce, Harold Land, Jack Sheldon, Billie Holiday, Benny Carter, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, Elvin Jones, Clifford Brown, Gigi Gryce, Percy Heath, John Lewis, Art Blakey, Buddy Rich, Sweets Edison, Willie Smith, George Wiggins, Bill Evans, Zoot Sims, Donald Byrd, Jackie McLean, Duke Pearson, Doug Watkins, Lex Humphries, Duke Ellington, Coleman Hawkins, Earl Coleman, and more.
Podcast: Duets
This week’s theme: Duets. Featured artists include John Cotrane, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Philly Joe Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Peterson, Art Pepper, George Cables, Al Cohn, Jimmy Rowles, Tal Farlow, Dan Axelrod, Stephane Grappelli, Marc Fosset, Zoot Sims, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Lewis, Hank Jones, George Shearing, Carmen McRae, Rosemary Clooeny, Ed Bickert, Nancy Lamott, Christopher Marlowe, Ken Sebesky.
Podcast: Bird, Dex, Dial, Savoy
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.
Podcast: Charlie Parker Part Four – Savoy, Dial, 1947
This week’s theme: Bird in the studio for Dial and Savoy, 1947. Featured musicians include Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Bud Powell, Errol Garner, Red Callender, Doc West, Early Coleman, Wardell Gray, Howard McGhee, JJ Johnson, Dodo Marmarosa, Barney Kessel, Don Lamond, Tommy Potter, John Lewis, Nelson Boyd, Dyke Jordan.
Podcast: Clifford Brown, Early Recordings
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.
True Blue, Peanuts and More
Today we have some random jazz vinyl from our eBay watch list, starting with a record that has already surpassed $3,000 in bidding, Tina Brooks, True Blue, Blue Note 4041. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and cover. The bidding is at $3,156 with five days left on the auction. So far there are six bidders and 14 bids. In the past few months we’ve seen a copy of True Blue sell for $6,643 and yet another copy sell for $5,779, according to Popsike. Perhaps this one will end up in similar rarified territory. Read more
A Couple of Nice Ones, A Monk Autograph?????
Sorry for sporadic posting schedule this week. Been crazy with work and now I am in Las Vegas, of all places. I’ll do my best. Here are some nice records that have been sold on eBay in my absence, starting with:
Jackie McLean, Swing, Swang, Swingin’, Blue Note 4024. This was an original pressing in what was described as “fantastic” condition, which we would assume would be M-. It sold for $713.
This one got a nice price, not quite like the one last month: John Lewis and Sacha Distel, Afternoon in Paris, Versailles 12005. This was an original French pressing in VG condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $345. Clearly, this record is moving up in desirability among collectors.
This one didn’t sell yet, but it’s quite interesting: Thelonious Monk, Genius of Modern Music, Blue Note 1511. This looks to be an original Lexington Avenue pressing with a very clear autograph of Monk on the cover. Whether the signature is legitimate, we’ll leave that to our readers. Don Lucky — what do you think? Oh, yes. The price is about $2,000.
And Now For the $1,000 Bin
A lot of the records we were watching this past week ended up in the $1,000 bin, starting with the one that has already received a loet of comments from the Jazz Collector audience: John Lewis and Sacha Distel, Afternoon in Paris, Versailles MDEX 12005. This was an original French pressing listed in M- condition for the record and at least VG+ for the cover. It sold, to the surprise of many, for a whopping $2,415.
The Magnificent Thad Jones Volume 3, Blue Note 1546. This was an original West 63rd Street pressing that was listed in M- condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $1,784. That would be a new high price for any Thad Jones record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.
Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1543. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing with the cover design by Andy Warhol. The record and the cover were both in VG+ condition. We predicted that this one would break the $1,000 barrier and it did, selling for $1,215.
Bonjour, Mon LPs
Just swung over the eBay and, mmmm, there are some nice records for auction right now. Here are a few, starting with: John Lewis and Sacha Distel, Afternoon in Paris, Versailles MEDX 12005. I know, I know, another European pressing. But this is quite a beauty, isn’t it? And great music featuring Barney Wilen on tenor sax. This one is in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. The price is already $600 and, no, I am not bidding on it despite my post yesterday. I may be crazy, but I’m not insane. The U.S. Atlantic pressing will definitely suffice for me.
Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1543. This is an original pressing with the Andy Warhol cover design as well as the Lexington Avenue labels. This was the last of the Lexington Blue Notes. The record and cover are both listed in VG+ condition and the bidding is in the $315 range with nearly three days to go. It will fetch a hefty price.
The Magnificent Thad Jones Volume 3, Blue Note 1546. This is an original West 63rd pressing with the New York 23 labels. The record is M- and the cover is VG+. Would love to have this but, alas, I will keep searching for a copy that doesn’t cost as much. This one is already more than $400 and there are more than three days left on the auction.



