This week’s theme: More Ella Fitzgerald. Artists include Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Flanagan, Roy Eldridge, Duke Ellington, Don Abney, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Paul Smith, Jim Hall, Oscar Peterson, Ray Brown, Jo Jones, and many more.

This week’s theme is blues-influenced jazz and jazz-influenced blues. Artists include Lavern Baker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Jimmy Rushing, Big Joe Turner, Count Basie, Lambert Hendricks and Ross, Joe Williams.

serve as introductions to some of the songs. The readings were performed by Gilbert Millstein, who was a writer for The New York Times and who also contributed liner notes to this record.  In addition to Millstein’s notes and commentary, there is also an essay by Nat Hentoff. Here’s an excerpt: “The audience was hers from before she sang, greeting her and saying good-bye with heavy, loving applause. And at one time, the musicians too applauded. It was a night when Billie was on top, undeniably the best and most honest jazz singer alive.”

As a great recording, as well as a piece of jazz history, this is quite a nice package. It also features Roy Eldridge and Buck Clayton on trumpets; Coleman Hawkins, Al Cohn and Tony Scott on reeds; Carl Drinkard on piano; Carson Smith on bass; Chico Hamilton on drums; Kenny Burrell on guitar. The tracks are: Lady Sings the Blues; Tain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do; Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone; I’ll Be Seeing You; I Love My Man; Body and Soul; Don’t Explain; Yesterdays; My Man; I Cried For You; Fine and Mellow; I Cover the Waterfront; What A Little Moonlight Can Do.

As always, we have one copy of this record to give away to one fortunate reader of Jazz Collector. To be eligible to win the record, all you have to do is comment on the Jazz Collector site — anywhere on the site — between now and Monday Oct. 12, when the contest ends. At that point all of the eligible names will be placed into a hat, or something like a hat, and the lovely Mrs. Jazz Collector will choose, at random, the winning name. As always, we even pay for the shipping, so it is truly a free collectible, as our previous winners will all attest. So please, begin commenting on the site and we hope to have our greatest contest yet.

We don’t often see Dizzy Gillespie among the higher-priced LPs, but here was a nice one that was sold earlier this week by Euclid records: Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge, Roy & Diz #2. This record was in M- condition, both record an cover, and sold for $145. No doubt helping the value of the LP is the great illustration by David Stone Martin.

Also featuring a David Stone Martin illustration is The Tal Farlow Album, Norgran 1047. This was also sold by Euclid and was also in M- condition. It sold for $83, not bad for a quality record like this in today’s market. Seems that within the Norgran/Clef/Verve pantheon there are still bargains to be found. Also, please take a look at our earlier post on this album Today on eBay: Tal, Drew, Kenny Dorham, True Blue. I had mentioned that my good friend Dan Axelrod was a good friend and protege of Tal, and he shares some personal insight about the album that’s worth reading.

Speaking of Kenny Drew, that copy of The Kenny Drew Trio, Riiverside 224, that

was being sold by Euclid, became the latest member of the $2,000 record bin. It was an original white pressing in near mint condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $2,080.55.

Some other items we’re watching here at Jazz Collector: 

Paula Castle, Lost Love, Bethlehem 1036. This is a 10-inch LP that looks to be in M- condition, with a VG++ cover. The current price is $212.50.

Bobby Hutcherson, Happenings, Blue Note 4231. This is an original New York USA pressing from Atomic Records. The record is in M- condition and the cover is VG++. The current price is about $115.

Here’s a personal favorite: Wes Montgomery, Full House, Riverside 434. This is an original pressing with the blue label. The record looks to be in VG++ condition and the cover is VG+. The current price is about $130. 

Finally, there’s this one, with a great photo cover: Roy Eldridge, Little Jazz, Clef 683. This is an original pressing. The record looks to be VG++ and the cover is VG+. The current price is about $50.

We took a quick peak ahead to tomorrow on eBay, and it should be quite interesting. Euclid Records has a bunch of fantastic 10-inch LPs and The Jazz Record Center is also back with a big auction. We’ll keep you posted on some of the hot items.

Back from the weekend, so it’s time to catch up on eBay. Here are some of the records we were watching.

 Donald Byrd Sextet, Transition 5. This was an original pressing in what seemed to be M-/VG++ condition. The LP had the booklet and sold for $300.

Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot, Volume 1, New Jazz 8260. This was an original pressing with the purple label. The seller listed it in M-/M- condition, although there seemed to be ringwear on the cover, based on the photo. Still the price was $278.99.

Here’s a record we were watching because we were curious to see if it would sell. It was a nice copy of Charlie Parker on Dial, Dial 203. The dealer had a start price of $499.99 and a “Buy It Now” price of $800. As we expected, the record did not get any bids.

 Dizzy Gillespie was not part of the Blue Note stable and, to our knowledge, never recorded any 12-inch LPs for Blue Note. Here, however, is a 10-inch LP, Dizzy Gillespie, Horn of Plenty, Blue Note 5017. This was in VG++/VG++ condition and sold for $172.50.

 Here’s a nice original Prestige: Tadd Dameron and John Coltrane, Mating Call, Prestige 7070. This was in M-/VG++ condition and sold for $206.05.

 Sometimes you can get original pressings of great music and not have to pay exorbitant collector’s prices. Not often, but sometimes. Here’s a copy of a great record, Oliver Nelson, Blues and the Abstract Truth, Impulse 5. This was a stereo pressing in VG+/VG+ condition. It had the original cover and sold for $71. The music on this LP is spectacular with Eric Dolphy, Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard, Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes.

Here’s another one that falls into the same category: Ben Webster, King of the Tenors, Verve 8020. This was an original pressing, great music, trumpeter logo in VG++/VG++ condition. It sold for $40.99.

And here’s yet another nice collectible for a reasonable price. Roy Eldridge and Dizzy Gillespie, Roy and Diz, Clef 641. This was an original pressing in M-/M- condition. It sold for $47.99.

 That’s it for today. Tomorrow we’ll look ahead on eBay and see what’s in store for the coming week. See you then. — Al