This week’s theme: Celebrating the New Year with jazz vinyl featuring the number 26 in the catalog number. Featured artists include Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Jack Sheldon, Herb Geller, Loraine Geller, Sonny Rollins, Max Roach, Tommy Flanagan, George Morrow, Clifford Brown, Gigi Gryce, Art Blakey, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Nelson Riddle, Sonny Stitt, Kenny Drew, Lawrence Marable, Curtis Counce, Harold Land, Jack Sheldon, Billie Holiday, Benny Carter, Sweets Edison, Count Basie, Buddy DeFranco, and more.

This week’s theme: Songs that have the name of a woman in the title. Eclectic, but fun. And some great music. Featured artists include Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, Max Roach, Clifford Brown, Wynton Kelly, Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, Connie Kay, Percy Heath, Eddie Jefferson, Oscar Peterson, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Stitt, Miles Davis, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, Jimmy Rushing, and many more.

This week’s theme: More jazz tracks that reference U.S. cities and states. Featured artists include Tal Farlow, Gerry Wiggins, Ray Brown, Chico Hamilton, Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Joe Morello, Eugene Wright, Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Cannonball Adderley, Milt Jackson, Wynton Kelly, Percy Heath, Art Blakey, Richie Cole, Bobby Enriquez, Shelly Manne, Bruce Forman, Bob Magnusson, Dave McKenna, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Sonny Stitt, Ray Brown, Jo Jones, Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell, Pierre Michelot, Kenny Clarke, and more.

This week’s theme: Another show wherein I play a jazz vocal from the Great American Songbook, followed by a jazz instrumental of the same song. Featured artists include Rosemary Clooney, Stan Getz, Eddie Jefferson, Nat King Cole, Harry Sweets Edison, Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Clarke, Anita O’Day, Hank Mobley, Sonny Clark, Marshall Royal, Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, LaVern Baker, Sonny Stitt, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, Paul Chambers, Arthur Taylor, Bill Hartman, Curtis Porter,and many more.

This week’s theme: Sonny Stitt on alto and tenor. Featured artists include Sonny Stitt, Mel Lewis, Lou Levy, Leroy Vinnegar, Hank Jones, Shadow Wilson, Ray Brown, Oscar Peterson, Ed Thigpen, Bobby Timmons, Edgar Willis, Kenny Dennis, Barry Harris, Sam Jones, Alan Dawson and more.

This week’s theme: Jazz With Strings. Featured artists include Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles McPherson, Bill Evans, Kronos Quartet, Ben Webster, Sonny Stitt, Cannonball Adderley, Clifford Brown, Sarah Vaughan.

This week’s theme: Two-tenor LPs. Featured artists include John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Sonny Rollins, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Rouse, Ben Webster, Sonny Stitt, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Gene Ammons, Dexter Gordon, Paul Gonsalves, Hank Mobley.

This week’s theme. Welcoming in 2024, with 24-related jazz vinyl. Hint, Swing, Swang, Swinging’ and A New Perspective on Blue Note. Featured artists include Jackie McLean, Donald Bird, Herbie Hancock, Hank Mobley, Al Sears, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Stitt, Bud Powell, John Coltrane, Oscar Pettiford, Oliver Nelson, Kenny Dorham.

This week’s Theme: The BeBop Songbook

More missives from CeeDee:

Shelly Manne, 2,3,4, Impulse A-20. This was an original orange label mono pressing from the Jazz Record Center. The record looked to be in M- condition and the cover was probably VG++. The final price was $400. This also must be top dollar for this record and perhaps any record with Shelly Manne as a leader. Back to Popsike  . . . . Nope, it is the second highest. In 2013 there was as sealed copy of Shelly Manne & His Men at the Blackhawk Volume One that sold for $494.

Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Media Dreams, Saturn, CMP 1978, “Handmade Shower Curtain Art.” Not being a Sun Ra collector, I know little about this album, nor do I know what is meant by Handmade Shower Curtain Art, although it sounds quite intriguing. I’m sure Clifford will fill me and others in soon enough. In any case this record as in VG+ condition and the cover was VG-. The final price was $3,225. CeeDee also sent this one: Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Deep Purple, Saturn 485, also with handmade shower curtain art. This record was VG/VG+ and the cover was also VG-. The final price was $2,551.

I received a note from a gentleman in Sweden who has what is likely the most complete collection of Howard McGhee recordings in the world. I am not sure what he wants, but, with his permission, I would be fine to share his email address with anyone interested. You know where to reach me.

Here’s another question from a reader, for which I don’t have the answer at hand, but I do think the answer may be buried somewhere on the Jazz Collector site in comments. One of these days, when I am no longer working full time, I will take the time to go through the site and compile everything relevant into a wonderful print or web edition. In the meantime, the question at hand is: “Does anyone know what happened to the inventory of Dayton’s when Jimmy died? Was it sold? Does it still exist?”

Here’s another link that came in from a reader, with the following note:

“Subject: Jackie McLean on Ad Lib without cover

I wonder how many people would pay $1,280.99 for an album without a cover? Rare album of course, but still . . . .

Jackie McLean, the New Tradition, Ad Lib 6601″

The record was listed in VG++ condition. There was some damage to the label on the A side. Answer to the question: If someone had the cover, but didn’t have the record, that person would pay $1,280.99 for the record.