Overall, it seems to me that prices are a bit lower these days than they have been recently. Does it have to do with the strength of the U.S. dollar? I don’t really keep track of monetary exchange values, but I’ve been surprised at some of the bidding. Not to the point where I’m tempted to jump in, but I would have no problem paying $500 or so for that copy of Flight to Jordan, if I didn’t have a copy of my own in better condition.

Here’s another one that should fetch a higher price than the current bidding would indicate: Doug Watkins, At Large, Transition 20. This is an original pressing with the booklet. The record, cover and booklet all look to be in VG+ or so condition. The auction closes later today and the bidding is in the $370 range. We’ll see where the bidding ends up, but I’d also expect this one to be close to the $1,000 range under normal circumstances, if we can ever use such a phrase to describe the Jazz Collector market.

Art Taylor, Taylor’s Tenors, New Jazz 8219. This looks to be an original pressing with the purple label and the deep grooves. The record is probably in VG++ condition and the cover is VG+ or better, with a nice (and flattering) picture taken by the seller. The start price is $554.99, which is a lot for this record. But, if you don’t own a copy (like me), it’s one you’d sure like to have in your collection (like me).

The same seller has this one: Eric Dolphy, Out to Lunch, Blue Note 4163. This is an original pressing with the New York USA label as well as the ear and the Van Gelder in the dead wax. This one has a start price of $474.99 and still no takers (yet).

My friend Dan passed along this article from The Daily Beast: How Verve Records Got Gutted. It tells the story of how the Verve label is now under the control of the hip hop division of a major label. I find it hard to get worked up about such things. Hasn’t this kind of stuff been going on for awhile? Plus, I don’t think they’re bringing Ella and Louis in for any more record dates. Tell me what I’m missing here?

This one is a lot more interesting to me: A film clip of Bill Evans from 1980, just a few weeks before he died.

Speaking of $2,000 records, there was also Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1559. This was an original pressing listed in M- condition for the record and VG++ or M- for the cover. In a previous post I admonished the seller for the poor quality of his picture. Turns out the seller is one of our regular readers and, in fact, someone I have had very pleasant dealings with over the years. So I will be a little bit more circumspect in some of my comments. Although, it really was a poor picture. No matter. The record sold for $2,181.

This one, from the same seller as the Griffin, didn’t quite make it to the $2,000 bin, but it gave it a good run: Donald Byrd, Byrd Jazz, Transition 5. This one was probably VG++ for the record and M- for both the cover and the booklet, which was included. It sold for $1,531.

Here’s another one with camera issues: Johnny Griffin, A Blowing Session, Blue Note 1559. This looks to be an original pressing with the New York 23 labels. The record is listed in M- condition and the cover is listed as VG++ or M-, although it would be hard to tell from the cover picture, which seems as if it was taken in a coffin. This bidding has topped $500 for this record, but, alas, it has also not reached the seller’s reserve price.

The same seller put up a fine picture of this record: Donald Byrd, Byrd Jazz, Transition 5. This is an original pressing

with the booklet and it looks to be perhaps M- or just a shade below for the cover, M- for the booklet and probably VG++ for the record. The bidding on this one has topped $600 but it has not yet topped the seller’s reserve price.

This one doesn’t have any reserve. It also doesn’t have any bidders: Kenny Burrell and Jimmy Raney, Two Guitars, Prestige 7119. This looks to be an original New York yellow label pressing, probably in VG++ condition for the record and the cover. The starting price is $150 and so far there are no bidders. This one would fill a nice gap in my collection and $150 isn’t too bad for an original Prestige of that era. Hmm.

Now, onto the Watch List and the Price Guide:

Art Farmer, Donald Byrd and Idrees Sulieman, Three Trumpets, Prestige 7092. This is an original New York pressing that looks to be in M- condition for the record and perhaps a drop less for the cover. It sold for $338.58. I happen to have a spare copy of this record sitting in my closet, if anyone is interested. I also have a spare copy of this one: Lou Donaldson, Swing and Soul, Blue Note 1566. This was an original pressing listed in VG condition for the record. The cover looked like it was probably VG+. The record sold for $127.50.

This one fetched quite a nice price, breaking into the $1,000 bin:

Donald Byrd Sextet, Transition 5. This was an original pressing. It did not have the original booklet, but the seller included a copy of the booklet he had obtained by fax. Okay. The record was probably VG+ and the cover was VG. The booklet was a fax. The price was $1.199.99 and there was only one bidder.

This one also fetched a nice price: Joe Henderson, Page One, Blue Note 4140. This was an original New York USA pressing with the ear and the Van Gelder. It was probably in VG++ condition for the record and close to VG++ for the cover. It sold for $546.

Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby, Riverside 399. This was an original promo pressing with the white label. The record was probably VG++ or maybe M- and the cover looked to be about VG+. It sold for $1,151. Wow.

Donald Byrd, Byrd’s Eye View, Transition 4. This was an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. What’s more, it not only had the original booklet, the labels were actually still attached, which is almost unheard-of for an original Transition. This one sold for $1,044. This seller had a couple of others in the $1,000 bin, including: Kenny Dorham, Round ‘Bout Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia, Blue Note 1524. This was an original Lexington Avenue pressing that looked to be in M- condition for the record and probably VG++ for the cover. It sold for $1,335.  And . . . Dizzy Reece, Blues in Trinity, Blue Note 4006. This was an original West 63rd pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It sold for $1,358.

Sonny Rollins, Newk’s Time, Blue Note 4001. This is an original West 63rd Street pressing that looks to be in VG+ condition for both the record and the cover. It closes later today and the bidding is in the low $300 range.

Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Peckin’ Time, Blue Note 1574. This is an original pressing in VG++ condition for the record and VG+ for the cover. It closes tomorrow and the bidding is still very low, just a little more than $100. It may be difficult to get at a bargain price, however, since the seller has a reserve price on it and the bidding has not yet reached the reserve. The seller is aware of market value for the records. How do I know: He has a link to the Jazz Collector Price Guide.

How about a Transition for the new year: Donald Byrd, Byrd Jazz, Transition TLP 5. This is an original pressing in M- condition for both the record and the cover. It also has the booklet. The bidding closes tomorrow and is stuck at just a little bit more than $100. This one also fails to meet the seller’s reserve at the price. Perhaps Rudolf is right and this is not the best time to be placing records on eBay?

Bud Powell’s Moods, Norgran 1064. This is an original yellow label pressing. The record and the cover both look to be in M- condition. It has a cover design by David Stone Martin and has a start price of $100. We’d also expect this one to sell, right?

The bidding has already started on this one: Dizzy Reece, Star Bright, Blue Note 4023. This is an original pressing that also looks to be in M- condition for both the record and the cover. The auction closes in about five days and the bidding is now in the $260 range.

Donald Byrd, Byrd’s Eye View, Transition 4. This is an original pressing. The record looks to be in M- condition and the cover is probably VG++ due to some repair work. There is no booklet, which will effect the ultimate price. So far the bidding on this record is also in the $260 range.

Kenny Dorham and Jackie McLean, Inta Somethin’, Pacific Jazz 41. This is an original stereo pressing in M- condition for the record and the cover. The price is $150 and there is already one bid