This week’s theme: Jazz and vocal versions of songs written by Irving Berlin. Featured artists include John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Ray Bryant, Max Roach, George Bryant, Charles McPherson, Jackie McLean, Rosemary Clooney, Ed Bickert, Scott Hamilton, John Oddo, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Lamott, Duke Jordan, Walter Bishop Jr., Oscar Peterson, Dinah Washington, Lockjaw Davis, Paul Quinichette, Clark Terry, Lou Donaldson, Horace Silver, Arthur Taylor.

This week’s theme: Sonny Rollins on the Impulse label. Featured artists include Sonny Rollins, Tommy Flanagan, Bob Cranshaw, Billy Higgins, Mickey Roker, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison, Oliver Nelson, Kenny Burrell, Roger Kellaway, Ray Bryant, Walter Booker, Mickey Roker

This week’s theme: Sonny Rollins. Featured artists include Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, Clifford Brown, Richie Powell, George Morrow, Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Percy Heath, Kenny Clarke, George Cables, Bob Cranshaw, David Lee, Ray Brown, Shelley Manne, Barney Kessel, Hampton Hawes, Leroy Vinnegar, Ben Riley, Jim Hall, Ray Bryant, Red Garland, Philly Joe Jones, Paul Chambers, Wade Legge, Kenny Dorham, Tommy Flanagan.

In addition to this podcast featuring Sonny Rollins, I’ve also done several Sonny-themed podcasts in the past. Here’s a list:

April 21, 2025, Sonny and Trane, Trane and Sonny

Nov. 11, 2024, Rollins Plays Rollins

May 27, 2024, Sonny Rollins, European Tour, 1959

Jan. 29, 2024, Random Rollins

June 26, 2023, Sonny Rollins, Prestige

The one from June 26, 2023, was  the third show I ever did and the first themed show after two introductory shows.

This week’s theme: Composed by Dizzy. Featured artists include Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Clyde Hart, Remo Palmieri, Slam Stewart, Cozy Cole, Al Haig, Curly Russell, Sid Catlett, Miles Davis, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Barretto, Ray Bryant, Tommy Bryant, Charles Persip, Charles McPherson, Cliff Jordan, Barry Harris, George Tucker, Alan Dawson, Junior Mance, Les Spann, Sam Jones, Lex Humphries, Chino Pozo, James Moody, Kenny Barron, Chris White, Rudy Collins, Red Garland, John Coltrane, Donald Byrd, Arthur Taylor, George Joyner, Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell, Pierre Michelot, Kenny Clarke, Double Six of Paris, Supersax.

This week’s theme: Jazz Vinyl recorded or released in 1965. Artists include Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, George Coleman, Anthony Williams, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, Jimmy Garrison, McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter, Ray Bryant, Pete LaRoca, Dave Brubeck, Herbie Mann, Paul Desmond, Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, and many more.

This week’s theme: Alternating favorite tracks between John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins. Featured artists include John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Shelley Manne, Ray Brown, Barney Kessel, Hampton Hawes, Wynton Kelly, Max Roach, Jimmy Cobb, Ray Bryant, George Morrow, and more.

This week’s theme: A tribute to the late Benny Golson. Featured artists include Benny Golson, Art Farmer, Lee Morgan, Harold Mabern, Bobby Timmons, Addison Farmer, Milt Jackson, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Curtis Fuller, Barry Harris, Jamie Merritt, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Abbey Lincoln, Percy Heath, Ray Bryant, Winton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Charlie Persip, Gigi Gryce, Sahib Shihab, James Cleveland, Julius Watkins, Tommy Flanagan, Doug Watkins, Art Taylor, Jimmy Cobb, Grachan Concur III, Roy McCurdy.

Here’s an interesting copy of John Coltrane, Blue Train, Blue Note 1577. This is a not-quite-original pressing with the West 63^rd Street labels, but no New York 23 label. This is another one in which the seller feels compelled to use the word ‘grail,’ although not a holy one, just a regular old grail. The record and cover look to be in very nice VG+ condition. The bidding is in the $210 range with about four days to go. To me, this would be a lovely, acceptable copy to own. I can’t imagine that it sounds one whit different than the version with the New York 23 label. I have a nice original pressing of this record, as well as a duplicate that has the West 63^rd labels, the ear, the RVG signature and only one side deep groove. What do you think the provenance of that pressing is, and what do you think it would be worth in VG++/VG+ condition? I’m curious because I did offer it for a price to one of our loyal readers.

This one looks like a prize: Presenting Ernie Henry, Riverside 222. This is an original mono pressing with the white labels and it seems to be in M- condition for the record and the cover. The start price is $150 and so far there are no bidders with about five days left on the auction. There is also a promo stamp on the back.

Joe Henderson, Page One, Blue Note 84140. This looks to be an original stereo pressing with the New York USA labels. The record is listed in Ex condition and the cover VG+. The start price is around $300 and so far there are no bidders with more than three days to do. My preference on these Blue Notes is always for the mono pressing, although I can’t exactly tell you the reason. Maybe someone can explain it to me.

The Jazz Record Center has an auction going now, but it’s not one of their usual high-end collections, although this is a nice item: Ray Bryant Trio, New Jazz 8227. This is an original deep groove pressing with the purple labels. This looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The start price is $100 and so far there are no bidders with about five days left on the auction.

Barney Wilen, Barney at the Club St. Germain, French RCA 430.053. This is an original pressing that looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The bidding is at $350 but, again, it has not yet reached the seller’s reserve price.

Here’s another rare one that may not sell: Lee Morgan, Candy, Blue Note 1590. This looks to we an original West 63rd Street pressing. The seller lists it in VG+ condition for the vinyl and VG for the cover. There’s clearly some damage on the cover, which may be a turn-off to would be buyers, particularly since the start price is approximately $1,400. So far there are no takers, with just a few hours left on the auction.

Here’s one that will sell: Hank Mobley, Jazz Message #2, Savoy 12092. This is an original pressing with the red label. The record and cover are both listed in VG++ condition and the bidding is in the $250 range. The auction is closing today and there is no reserve price.

This one will sell as well, perhaps by the time many of you read this post: Ray Bryant Trio, Prestige 7098. This is an original pressing with the yellow labels and New York address. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover as VG++, although I may be skeptical based on the picture of the cover. Looks like it may be more like VG+. Still, it’s a nice record and it will fetch a nice price. The bidding, as of this writing, is in the $350 range.

Cliff Jordan, Blue Note 1565. This was an original pressing with the New York 23 labels on both sides. Nice. The record was listed in VG++ condition and the cover was VG+. There were 13 bids and it sold for $1,525.  In better condition it would certainly have broken the $2,000 barrier, as we have previously seen for this record in the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

This one did make it into the $2,000 bin, with plenty to spare: Tommy Flanagan Overseas, Prestige 7134. This was an original New York yellow label pressing listed in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It sold for $2,314.

Roy Haynes, Cracklin’ with Booker Ervin, New Jazz 8286. This was an original purple label pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover. It sold for $408.33. Anyone find my copy yet? I’m sure if I sold it (which, of course, I still don’t remember), it was not for more than $400.

Ray Bryant Trio, Prestige 7098. This was the one that was described in M- condition for the record and cover but had that super-annoying cutout hole right through the cover and the label. Never mind. It sold for $775.55