This week’s theme: Tina Brooks as sideman and leader n Blue Note. Featured artists include Tina Brooks, Freddie Hubbard, McCoy Tyner, Sam Jones, Clifford Jarvis, Freddie Redd, Jackie McLean, Paul Chambers, Louis Hayes, Blue Mitchell, Kenny Drew, Arthur Taylor, Johnny Coles, Wilbur Ware, Philly Joe Jones, Lee Morgan, Sonny Clark, Doug Watkins, Art Blakey.

I was watching this copy of the original 78-RPM recording of Billie Holiday, Strange Fruit/Fine and Mellow, Commodore 526. It was at $225 when I did the post and wound up selling for $255. I just checked Popsike and, oddly, a copy sold on June 19 for $1,000. And another copy sold on May 9 for $810. The $1,000 and $810 copies were in better condition than the $225 copy, as you might expect. And further into my watchlist was still another copy of Strange Fruit that looked to be in near mint condition and this one sold for $331.

One of my all-time favorites that I never get tired of listening to: Sonny Rollins Plus Four, Prestige 7038. This was an original New York yellow label with the original framed cover. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG. The final price was $775.75

John Jenkins with Kenny Burrell, Blue Note 1573. This was an original West 63^rd Pressing. The seller confidently declared that this was “easily one of the top ten Blue Note 12-inch LPS in existence.” The seller was bobdjukic so you can draw your own conclusions as to the veracity of that statement. The record was listed as VG+ and the cover as VG++. The final price was $2,381.

From the same seller: Roland Kirk, Triple Threat, King 395-506. This was, according to the seller “one of the rarest jazz albums  in existence . . . copies in good condition of this monster rarity are all but unknown.” This one was in VG condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. The final price was $841.

Here Comes Louis Smith, Blue Note 1584. This was an original West 63^rd Street mono pressing, with the ear, deep grooves, Van Gelder et al. The record and cover were in M- or VG++ condition. The final price was $1,500 and there was only one bidder. I am usually a bit skeptical about records that sell with just one bidder, but $1,500 is not an unreasonable price for this record. My skepticism with one bidder is that the seller could have a shill to get the bidding started at a high asking price and then find that no one else is interested because the start price is so high.  Same seller and same situation with Johnny Coles, Little Johnny C., Blue Note 4144. This was an original New York USA pressing, also M-/VG++ , also just one bidder, with a final price if $500. One more single bid winner from the same seller: Lou Donaldson, Sunny Side Up, Blue Note 4036. This was an original West 63^rd Street pressing with the original cover. Similar condition, M-/VG++. Final price was $1,000.

This record has risen a lot in value since we have been watching records on eBay: Charles Mingus, Mingus Ah Um, Columbia 8171. This was an original stereo pressing with the six-eye label. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was VG. The final price was $239.50.

I wrote about this one skeptically as well: Wayne Shorter, Speak No Evil, Blue Note 84194. This one was pretty well trashed, graded in G+ condition. I even titled the original post “Shorter Shilling.” Turns out there was one bid at $495. I think my original instinct was on target, but you never know. Someone may have really wanted a trashed copy of a semi-original Blue Note. The other one I was watching at the same time, Wayne Shorter, JuJu, Blue Note 4182, in just VG condition for the record and the cover, sold for $621. With five bids and five bidders, this one seemed legit, albeit a bit pricey.

Watch list is still not emptied so to be continued . . . .

This was an original pressing. The record was listed in M- condition and the cover was VG+, but I can assure you looking at the picture very few of us in the Jazz Collector world would consider it VG+, what with clear water damage on the bottom corner. Even with that damage the record sold for $455, which is a bit of a shocker to me, and probably to CeeDee as well, which is why it ended up in my email box.

Then there was this one, a record I would never normally watch or notice, leaving it to our friend Clifford to mention: The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Les Stances of a Sophie, Pathe C-062. This was an original pressing listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG- for the cover. It sold for $335, which I assume is a high price for this particular record in this particular condition.

Also in my mailbox was a reminder that there will be a jazz record show in my neck of the woods this weekend, the 43^rd Annual Jazz Record Collector’s Bash at the Hilton Garden Inn in lovely Edison New Jersey. It is a two-day affair, Friday and Saturday. Normally this is an event that I would not be able to attend, as it takes place in June every year, a time when it is nearly impossible to pry me from my home in The Berkshires. In fact, I haven’t attended one of these in probably 20 years. But this year is different. The Lovely Mrs. JC has requested my presence in New York this weekend because she has purchased some theater tickets and because she has a conference that she needs to attend, which happens to take place on Saturday during the same hours as the 43^rd Annual Jazz Record Collector’s Bash. So what shall I do while she is in the conference? You guessed it. I will drive out to lovely Edison New Jersey for the 43^rd Annual Jazz Record Collector’s Bash. Well, wouldn’t you?

Ted Brown Sextet, Free Wheeling, Vanguard 8515. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and VG++ for the cover. The simple post surprisingly generated quite a bit of comment. Perhaps that attention pushed up the interest in the record? It wound up selling for $510.

Johnny Coles, Little Johnny C, Blue Note 4144. This was an original pressing in M- condition for the record and cover. When I did the post there were no bids at $100. The bidders eventually jumped in, pushing the price to $338. As one of the commenters suggested, perhaps that is a nice bargain for a great record.

This one was listed as a John Coltrane record, but in my collection it sits under “H” with Wilbur Harden as the leader: Mainstream 1958, Savoy 12127. This was an original red-label pressing in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $272. Probably a good idea to list it under Coltrane.

Sonny Rollins, Saxophone Colossus, Prestige 7079. This was an original New York yellow label. The record was probably in VG++ condition with a couple of light ticks. The cover looked VG++ or M-. The record sold for only $976. I say “only” because that is a relatively low price for an original Saxophone Colossus. My guess is the price suffers because the Jazz Record Center is so meticulous in its grading and descriptions. I’m sure those few ticks are very light — I bet other sellers would probably consider it M-. And they would probably get a bid up in the $2,000 range. Heck, some sellers of “insanely rare” records might even get into the $3,000 range, know what I mean?

I can’t figure out why there are no bids yet for this one: Johnny Coles, Little Johnny C, Blue Note 4144. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $100.

Here’s a nice Riverside:

Kenny Dorham, Jazz Contrasts, Riverside 239. This is an original white label pressing in M- condition for the record and probably M- or VG++ for the cover. The bidding is in the $250 range.

This used to be an item that would regularly sell for more than $1,000 and often more than $2,000, but its value seemed to have been dropping in the past few years: Fred Astaire, The Astaire Story. This is the beautiful bound set that includes the four records, David Stone Martin Prints, photos, booklet and, of course, the original Astaire signature. This one looked to be in beautiful condition and sold for $1,009.

One more that we don’t often track here at Jazz Collector:

Oscar Pettiford, My Little Cello, Debut 132. This looks to be an original Danish pressing. The record was in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+.  The price was $153.50.

I’m always pleased to find a record I’ve never seen before. I’ve been collecting jazz records for nearly 40 years, I’ve been to hundreds of record stores in the U.S. and Europe, I’ve been on eBay quite consistently for at least six or seven years. And even still, there are records that are new to me. Here’s one, on eBay now: Johnny Coles, The Warm Sound, Epic 16015. This is an original mono pressing with the yellow label. It looks to be in M- condition, based on the seller’s description. The current price is $200 and there’s more than two days to go.

We also have a few records for sale this week, including a few of the ones that passed through our Jazz Vinyl Countdown, such as: Seldon Powell Sextet, Roost 2220. This one is in nice VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG++ condition for the cover. Michel warned us not to sell this one and perhaps he was right. The current price is

only $49, and when we decided to put this on eBay we were hoping for considerably more than that. Oh well: You play the game, you take your chances.

Our friends at Euclid Records also have some nice vinyl up this week, including: Clifford Brown Memorial, Prestige 7055. This is an original pressing with the New York address and the yellow label. The vinyl and the cover are both listed in M- condition and the price is around $160. After you look at this you should look at the seller’s other listings because there’s some more there worth viewing.