Rare Autographs: Bill Evans, Charles Mingus
A Bill Evans autograph. That’s one of the items on the latest auction from the Jazz Record Center. To me it’s kind of cool to have, but not sure how it fares in the collectibles market. There was that letter from Bill Evans to John Coltrane that sold for $38,000 several years ago. A friend of mine spent a few hundred dollars for a high school yearbook signed by Evans. Anyway, this is a copy of the record Bill Evans, Trio ’65, Verve 8613. It is a second pressing signed on the front by both Evans and Chuck Israels. The start price is $100 and so far there are no bidders.
From the same auction is an Autographed Letter From Charles Mingus on the stationery of Debut Records. It is to a fan/customer who was complaining about a specific pressing in his recording from the Cafe Bohemia. A rare, very cool find indeed. This one is priced starting at $500 and there is already one bidder.
The stars must be in alignment again here in the Jazz Collective. For the last few days, without knowing exactly why, I seem to have been listening to a lot of Bill Evens lps than usual… Especially his work with Tony Bennett. (Now I know why !)
…It’s always interesting to see an autograph with the date it was signed to help establish some form of provenance. Then there are items like the Mingus letter above can actually transcend beyond the autograph itself, and provide insights into the artist at a certain period in time. In this case, the fabled (and short-lived) Debut Record label founded by Mingus and his wife. Definitely worth a few bids I say !
bennett and evans, one of the Greatest Duo’s ever!
(another one: Larkins and Braff)
ah, what the he.., another one : Shepp and Waldron (2007)
…not to mention Louis & Ella, Torme & Shearing, and of course, who amoung us could resist Steve & Eydie ? (Heh heh)
Maartenkools, so cool that you pulled out the Waldron/Shepp. I love that disc. I haven’t listened to it in two years or more but am pulling it out today. When I first saw it I thought, this is gonna be weird. I bought it because I love Mal, and bought whatever he released. I’m mixed n Shepp, but when I fired it up, I was like WOW. Thanks for reminding me of it.
steve eydie..haha, knew them from “frenesi”.. but i just discovered this one… are these realy the same people? It says so in the underscript. WOW , i like the original a lot (perfect end-of-the-grunge-funaral song) but this is a nice one too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55rtXg0ZsLE