First there was that copy of Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants, Prestige 7150, that was autographed by Miles, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk. It was offered by the Jazz Record Center so there was some level of credibility attached to the autographs, although the listing didn’t say anything about independent verification. The price for this was $4,305. It’s certainly a one-of-a-kind item, so there is probably no price too high to have surprised us. This seems pretty reasonable for such a rare item. Here are a couple more from the same auction: Art Pepper, Intensity, Contemporary 3607. This was not only signed by Art Pepper, he also put the date and his home address with the signature. The record and cover both looked to be in M- condition. This one sold for $150.27. This one was not signed: Johnny Hodges, In a Tender Mood, Norgran 1059. This was an original yellow label pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $161.50. I was watching this because I like to keep an eye on the original Norgrans, just to see that there is still a collector’s market for them, since they really reflect artists mostly from the pre-bop era, with a few exceptions, of course. This one also has that weird kind of cover from the era, with a picture of a white woman as the sole image on the picture of an album by a black male artists. Is it really possible that

these records with the white women on the cover — this one has a certain Marilyn Monroe vibe, wouldn’t you say — sold better than the records with the artist’s picture, or with a beautiful drawing by David Stone Martin. As a collector, a record such as this has less appeal to me because of the cover, compared to some of the other Norgrans. What do you think?

Here are three for the $1,000 bin:

George Wallington Quintet at the Bohemia,Progressive 1001. This was an original pressing offered by Euclid Records, another of the most credible dealers, and it was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover.  It also had a promo stamp. It sold for $1,213.89.

Hank Mobley, Roll Call, Blue Note 4058. This was an original pressing with the West. 63rd Street address. It was listed in VG++ condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,081.

Finally, there was Freddie Hubbard, Open Sesame, Blue Note 4040. This was an original pressing also in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $1036.

John Coltrane, Giant Steps, Atlantic 1311. This looked to be an original black label pressing. There were some questions about the deep grooves, since the picture wasn’t clear, but the seller confirmed that there were, indeed, deep grooves on both sides. This one was listed in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $622.70. In the Jazz Collector  Price Guide we’ve seen Giant Steps sell for more than $1,000 several times, so perhaps it’s a bargain, perhaps it’s just market changes, perhaps it’s unfamiliarity with the seller.

Jutta Hipp, New Faces, New Sounds from Germany, Blue Note 5056. This was the original 10-inch pressing. It’s one of those listings that confuses me a little on labeling of conditioning. The seller says it looks VG+, but it plays more like Ex and therefore it was graded as Ex. In my thinking I’ve always correlated VG+ with Ex, but it sounds like Ex is more like VG, based on this listing, which I assumed to be a downgrade, but perhaps I’m wrong and it’s an upgrade based on the next item below. The cover was listed in just G condition, which is never very good. The price was $247.50.

Another one for the $1,000 bin: George Wallington At the Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This was an original pressing listed in “Near Mint/Ex” condition for the vinyl. So here it appears that Ex means more like VG++ or M-. Perhaps my brain is just waterlogged from three days of constant rain, but it’s not quite making sense to me. I’m sure the readers will set me straight, so thank you in advance. The cover is VG++. It sold for $1,025.

George Wallington Quintet at the Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This is an original pressing and the seller listed it as near-mint condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $810.

Kenny Drew, Undercurrent, Blue Note 4059. This was an original pressing, also in near-mint condition and was one of the items sold by the seller herschel78. This one also sold for $810.

Here’s a record I actually bid on (and lost, by $1):

Buddy DeFranco, Cookin’ The Blues, Verve 8221. This was an original trumpeter pressing and the vinyl was in M- condition, the cover VG+. I have a few copies of this record, but none that I am happy with. The one in my collection is an original, but not in great listening condition. I have one here in the country that sounds great, but it’s a Japanese pressing. I also have an MGM copy that sounds fine, but is not an original. So, I figured I’d take a shot at this one. I bid $40.40 and it sold for $41.40. It’ll be back. It happens to be a favorite record of mine and it has some personal meaning as well: My father had a copy and it was also the first record on which I heard Tal Farlow, who became both my favorite guitarist and a teacher/mentor to my good friend Dan. By the way, Tal and Dan showed up at my sister’s wedding 30 years ago and did a session, spontaneously. It was quite incredible. I’ll save the story for another day, or for Dan to tell it.

John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This was an original pressing in M- condition. The price was $710.

The Amazing Bud Powell, Blue Note 5003. This was an original 10-inch LP in M- condition, both record and cover. The price was $380. 

Miles Davis, Miles, Prestige 7014. This was an original New York pressing. The record

was M- and the cover was VG+. Price: $355.

George Wallington at The Bohemia, Progressive 1001. This looked to be in VG condition, but it came directly from Wallington’s personal collection. The price was $406.16.

Eric Dolphy, Far Cry, New Jazz 8270. This was an original purple label pressing. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $182.50.

Hal McKusick, East Coast Jazz, Bethlehem 16. This was an original red label pressing. The record was M- and the cover was VG++. The price was $166.

Sonny Rollins, Rollins Plays for Bird, Prestige 7095. This was an original New York pressing sold by Euclid Records. The record and cover were M- and the price was $224.50.

Johnny Hodges, Ellingtonia ’56, Norgran 1055. This was an original yellow label pressing. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. Price: $72.

The Fats Navarro Memorial Album, Blue Note 5004. This was an original 10-inch pressing. The record was VG++ and the cover was VG+. The price was $128.16.

The Charlie Mariano Sextet, Fantasy 3-10. This was also a 10-inch LP, in M- condition, both record and cover. The price was $130.50.