Afternoon listening: Some Informal Jazz on a sunny Friday

March 17, 2017

Informal Jazz sounds great on this Friday afternoon...

I have taken the day off of work. Sitting here enjoying "Informal Jazz" by The Elmo Hope Sextet on Prestige 7043. It's a nice album. My boy is taking a nap, which he doesn't do much anymore, but I'm seizing the moment and getting some listening done. I'm grabbing every opportunity I can, cause these days it's hard to find the time.

I have some thoughts on what albums I will purchase next. Like I've mentioned, I'm getting hooked on the Bill Evans Trio albums on Riverside. So I'm hoping to add a few more to the collection before long. I only have "Portrait In Jazz", which is fantastic. Fingers crossed..

I'm wondering a bit how much you guys are listening to jazz on vinyl, in let's say a week? How many times, hours? I probably get a couple of hours per week worth of listening to my albums at the moment. Almost exclusively on the weekends. That's bound to change at some point, when the children grow up. Then I'll probably listen almost every day.

Looking forward to posting the next album here before long, stay tuned for that... have a great weekend folks. Cheers!

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Marty Paich Quartet featuring Art Pepper on Tampa TP 28

March 5, 2017

Of all the rare records I have in my collection, this is for me probably the rarest and most beloved. This is because it belonged to Art Pepper. It was his personal copy, which the guy I bought it from acquired from his widow Laurie Pepper. To think that Art held this record in his hands and maybe put it on the turntable... now that's pretty cool isn't it? Just a cool as the music on this wonderful album, which is chock full of smooth cool jazz, played to perfection by one of the masters of that kind of music, Art Pepper. The whole album is just so free flowing, smooth and cool. It's a very rare piece, even the copys not from Art's collection of course. It should be considered a holy grail if you will. My original 1st pressing is in great condition, or just about as good as it gets with a red vinyl Tampa. This title should have the red vinyl to be a first pressing, and it just looks so great in that red color. The cover design is a bit special as well. I dig it. The problem with these original Tampa covers is that they are very fragile. Very difficult to find in top condition.

This is one of those records that I've been looking, and looking and looking for. It's not easy to find. But the satisfaction to finally have secured it is nothing short of magical. Besides the rarity it's such a great album all the way through. One of my favorite albums. Readers that have been following me for a while have most certainly picked up that I love Art Pepper and that he is one of my favorite jazz musicians. This LP almost makes my Art Pepper collection complete. There's just one 10" on Discovery that's missing. I don't need more than these early albums. Maybe I will try and find a few more though. A few on Contemporary that I haven't got as well, we'll see. But I'm quite satisfied with what I have now. I think I've got his best work.

I feel there's no point really to pick favorite tunes from this album, they are all top notch. Just put it on the turntable and sit back and enjoy the album back to back. You'll feel relaxed, refreshed and happy when it's finished. A great album to listen to on a lazy Sunday afternoon like this. The wife and kids are baking a cake together downstairs and I'm upstairs enjoying some jazz.

If you're unfamiliar with this record, for your own sake, look it up. You won't be disappointed. It's beautiful west coast jazz that you don't wanna miss. It should be in every jazz lovers' collection.

Lately I've been getting more and more into Bill Evans and his trio work. I already have "Portrait in Jazz" on Riverside but I will try and get some other of his albums on Riverside as well. Like "Waltz for Debby", "Sunday at the Village Vanguard", "Explorations", "How my Heart Sings!", "Everybody Digs..." and "New Jazz Conceptions". It's absolutely superb music. The trio with LaFaro and Motian is maybe the greatest jazz group ever. LaFaro is so damn amazing and inventive on the double bass. I also enjoy the later bassists in Evans' trio groups like Chuck Israels and Eddie Gomez. Hearing these cats play, I feel that I almost have to reevaluate my opinion on which instrument my favorite in jazz is. Shifting a bit from trumpet being my favorite to lifting up the double bass to top spot. I have some leads on buying a couple of these Evans albums soon, so let's hope it works out. Stay tuned for that.

Have a great rest of the weekend and please leave a comment if you want. Cheers!

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Jackie McLean "4, 5 and 6" on PRLP 7048

February 11, 2017

One of my favorite jazz albums by one of my favorite alto sax players.

This one was quite hard to get my hands on. I went through some options, even bought another copy which wasn't up to scratch, before I acquired this great copy which I'm very pleased with. It is such a wonderful album that I had to find it, no matter what. One of my favorite albums that I have in my collection. I don't have that many Prestige LP's, but I'm aiming to get a lot more. There are so many great albums in their catalogue. Jackie McLean, on my top 3 alto players of all time list (the other cats being Bird and Art Pepper), recorded many great sessions for the label. This album, 4, 5 and 6 is probably one of the best. It's so good all the way through. It's made up of three different sessions, with a quartet, quintet and a sextet format therein. It contains standards mixed with originals. All the tunes are so pleasing to listen to. It's relaxing and at the same time exhilarating. There's the slow tempo first track "Sentimental Journey" in which I find some nice, loose and bluesy qualities. Not the typical harb bop tune. I like that. I often find that the bluesier jazz efforts are quite interesting and enjoyable to mix in with the standard bop format. Other stand-out tunes are the Kenny Drew original "Contour", Charlie Parker's superb, original classic "Confirmation" and the beautiful, lush take on the standard "When I Fall In Love". The last one probably being my favorite track on the album. It makes me happy and the theme really speaks to me.

The line-up is stellar with Jackie McLean flanked by the great and highly talented Mal Waldron on piano, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Hank Mobley on tenor, Doug Watkins, who plays a terrific double bass solo on "Sentimental Journey" and the always amazing Art Taylor handles the drums in such a tasteful way.

All in all, this LP is an absolute must in any jazz collection. I've waited a long time to be able to add this original 1st pressing to the collection. And it's been worth the wait. It's not an easy one to find in great condition. There are a lot of Prestige LP's on my want list. I will maybe go for another one before long. The Jackie McLean and Bill Hardman album on PRLP 7068 is very tempting for example. Let's see what happens.

Regarding the new additions department: I have just added two great LP's to the collection. One of them is an awesome and very rare album which I have been looking for for a long time. And the thing also with this particular copy is that it was owned by one of the cats playing on the record. The vinyl is red... can you guess which one it is?

Stay tuned for more great vintage original jazz LP treats. Have a nice weekend, and please leave a comment if you want. Maybe you own the PRLP 7048 yourself and would like to share your thoughts on it? Cheers!

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"The Cooker" by Lee Morgan on Blue Note 1578

January 7, 2017

And so another year has begun. I'm celebrating 2 years maintaining this version of the site. I've posted many great albums so far and many more are coming. Let's start this year with a real gem, namely "The Cooker" by Lee Morgan. I have an original 1st pressing in amazing condition. It sounds phenomenal. The 1st track of the album is a wonderful rendition of the Dizzy Gillespie classic "A Night In Tunisia". Lee Morgan's trumpet is smokin' on this, not to mention the brisk, lively tones of Pepper Adams' baritone. Now this is a player I haven't yet explored much. He is a superb player, and the blend of Morgan's trumpet and his baritone really works great. There are not many albums with horns that only has a trumpet and a baritone which I can recall, besides from the famous, and beautiful Mulligan-Baker interplay. The combination is really interesting with the two miles apart register-wise, but still complements each other so smoothly. The rest of the album is a joy to listen through. It contains two original compositions by Lee Morgan. The highly enjoyable medium-tempo effort "Heavy Dipper" and the relaxing, slower paced and bluesy "New-Ma". The tune "Just One Of Those Things" by Cole Porter contains fantastic solos by Adams and Morgan played with lightning speed. A nice and crisp version of "Lover Man" is also included to make the package complete. On this album I also have to mention pianist Bobby Timmons who is growing into one of my favorite jazz pianists. A really talented player who died far too young, like so many other jazz greats.

As with all the early Lee Morgan albums, this one doesn't disappoint. It's from the sweet spot of his amazing body of work. It's one of my favorites, and one of the best Morgans released. Of all the albums in my collection, I have to say that the Lee Morgan albums stand out as records of supreme quality. The music is so full of life, joy, lyricism and total technical brilliance. I have a few early Morgan albums that I still need to get my hands on. I don't need all of his work, but there's a handful of albums that I really need to find to make the Lee Morgan part of my collection feel a bit more complete. In that sense I'm far from a completist. I just want what I consider the cream of my favorite artists' work to be fully satisfied.

It's always a pleasure to put an original 1st pressing Blue Note from the golden era on the turntable and be totally amazed at the sound and quality of the record. When it's in pristine shape, it's almost what I would call a religious experience.

The 2017 collecting year has just begun and I'm looking forward to acquiring some beautiful historical pieces this year. I finally got my hands on a real Prestige gem back in December which I maybe will post next. It's an album which has eluded me for quite some time and I'm really happy to have secured it in amazing condition. Stay tuned for that.

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Afternoon listening: A beautiful day for some Hank Mobley

December 18, 2016

Today I have some time by myself to listen to jazz. These are rare moments when I'm all alone, so I'm enjoying it to the full. I decided to put on Hank Mobley's "Hank" on Blue Note 1560. I haven't listened to this album on the new, updated system. It sounds phenomenal. The clarity of every possible detail when the band is playing is magical. It's a superb hard bop album. I've got a very clean copy which sounds as new. You could says it's a surreal feeling to put on this 50's original 1st pressing and having it sound as new. The jacket is also as new, just some beautiful patina giving away it's age.

Christmas will soon be here, with some days off work. Looking forward to that. This time of the year is actually one of my favorite times, cause I love Christmas. I love the food and the drinks and being with my family. I will try and find some quality time to relax with some more jazz then as well. A glass of some Christmas ale and a few candles and maybe some Chet Baker or something...

It's been a great moment to soak up some jazz on vinyl. Have a nice Sunday and stay tuned for more rare pieces.

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The Art Pepper Quartet on Tampa RS-1001

December 4, 2016

This is a very rare Art Pepper album. I've seen it only a handful of times for sale during my time collecting jazz vinyl. All the early Pepper albums on the smaller labels are rare, but this one is probably one of the rarest, especially when it comes complete with the two music sheets. I dig that concept, as with the Transition LP's with the booklets.

My copy of this record has a pretty beat up jacket, but almost all Tampa jackets of this particular title seems to have splits and so on. I don't mind, because the vinyl is pristine and it comes with the rare music sheets as mentioned. To me, it seems very difficult to find this title complete with music sheets. I know I've seen it a couple of times only. Can any of you guys recall seeing it more than a couple of times? It's a superb session as with all the early Art Pepper albums. He is, as I've probably mentioned before one of my most beloved jazz musicians. I now have almost all of his early titles that interest me the most. A couple are missing, but I'm on the case.

I highly recommend this LP. The music is beautifully executed. Art Pepper just seems to breeze through the tunes as he delivers one beautiful note after the other. He's such a natural player. Everything sounds so easy and pleasant when he plays. He can improvise with astonishing technical brilliance and lyricism from the first second to the end of time. All the tunes are a pleasure to listen and relax to. If you haven't got around to this album yet, don't linger. Try and seek it out as soon as possible. Don't miss this gem.

The current collecting status is as follows; I've been trying to get my hands on a particular Prestige title that is one of my favorites, a superb album. I bought a copy, but it didn't quite measure up to my high standards. It's in ok condition, but for what I paid for it, it didn't meet expectations. But I have just now, today, about an hour ago bought another copy, which should be in great condition. Can't wait for it to land on my doorstep. I will post that, if I'm happy with the condition, as soon as I can. I will also try and get my hands on one more collectible before the year is over. Stay tuned for those updates. Now, go and put some Art Pepper on the turntable. Have a great rest of the weekend. Cheers!

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Kenny Drew "Undercurrent" on Blue Note 4059

October 29, 2016

There are a lot of great Blue Notes sessions. For me, this is one of the best. A superb date. You get a great taste right from the get-go with the opening title tune. It's just so flowing and brilliantly executed by all of the players. The one that sticks out is Freddie Hubbard, who is a virtuoso, plain and simple. His improvisational brilliance and clear, beautiful tone is something else. Probably almost equal to Lee Morgan in my view. Great punch and technique. This is, for me, essential music to own in any form. My preferred form is of course a 1st pressing vinyl copy, which I show here, in fantastic condition.

This is the first album post from the new apartment. 4059 sounds absolutely wonderful on the new, updated system. Every detail is present and audible. I've found for example that the cymbal and hi-hat work is coming through with such more clarity with the new stuff. Louis Hayes brings it to me with such style. I really dig his drum work. I'm over the moon to have this new setup and will not feel the need to upgrade anything ever again.

This album is truly one to set your sights on if you haven't got it yet in your collection. It's the latest released Blue Note which I have an original 1st pressing of, so far. My focus has been earlier releases first and foremost. I haven't really explored many titles post this release. There are so many titles I want released pre this one so I think this is as far as I'll go for a while now in the Blue Note catalogue and I will instead focus on some earlier titles. But the early 4000 series is absolutely amazing, no doubt. I have only a handful of titles from this series and I intend to get a few more. First though, I'm keen on adding a few more from the 1500 series.

At this moment I'm waiting on a new album. It's a sweet one for sure. It's a Prestige this time. Stay tuned, and you'll find out which one. Right now, it's about 9 P.M. here in Stockholm and I have just put The Return Of Art Pepper on Jazz:West on the turntable. Have a great, jazzy rest of the weekend. I know I will.

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New apartment, new equipment

October 22, 2016

We have now settled in the new place, at last. All the hard work is done and I have been able to set up my turntable today and brought my records home from storage. Today I've also had the pleasure to finally upgrade my speakers, mono cartridge, amplifier and tube box. I already have a top notch turntable, but the other stuff was ok but now, everything is top of the line. Which is the right way to go of course to get the most out of all of my wonderful albums. I have tested the setup a couple of hours ago with several albums and the sound is nothing short of magical. What a difference compared to the last setup! The clarity and the details are phenomenal. The speakers are superb, made in Sweden from Ino Audio, and the new mono cartridge is one of the best in the world, handmade in Japan from Miyajima Lab. My old cartridge is also a Miyajima Lab which is called "Kotetu" (0.7 mil), but this new one is their top of the line and it's called "Zero" and has a 0.7 mil nude pure diamond stylus. Like I said, the details and clarity it produces together with the rest of the new stuff is amazing. I've added images under the equipment post in the menu.

Here are the details:

Turntable: Modified Lenco L75 with oak plinth, Cartridge: Miyajima Lab "Zero" mono 0.7 mil conical pure diamond, Tonearm: Newly constructed Ortofon RF297, Speakers: Ino Audio piP in oak, Amplifier: Dynavox VR-307BT, Tube phono preamplifier: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS.

Stay tuned for some great, rare jazz LP's very soon.

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The Gerry Mulligan Quartet on Pacific Jazz (PJLP-1)

August 28, 2016

Just look at the cover, one of my absolute favorites. Chet Baker looks so young and untainted. The very first 10" that Pacific Jazz released. A classic line-up with Mulligan and Baker together with Bob Whitlock and Chico Hamilton. This album is truly a piece of jazz history. An important album, cause it represents the beginning of two great artists' careers. For me, especially Bakers as he is one of my all time favorites. This music is very special, it sounds like nothing else. Together, Mulligan and Baker created magic. They play off each other with such precision, ease and feeling. A cool version of jazz that sounds as fresh today as it did then. This album was recorded in 1952 and released in 1952 or 1953. It is therefore probably one of the earliest record I have.

It's cool, it's smooth, it's melancholy, it sets an old-timey vibe. It makes you wanna sit there at The Haig in L.A. at a small table with a drink and a cigarette and just relax to this splendid, ground-breaking quartet that is truly one of a kind. The first tune "Bernie's Tune" lays the foundation to a superb little ten-incher. It's smooth, moody and sweet. I can just touch upon the feeling and reason why I listen to jazz and love it so much. The sound is warm and very pleasant when the LP continues with the tune "Walkin' Shoes", and it just continues this way, tune after tune. Great, calming cool jazz with a distinct originality. My favorite song on the whole album is got to be the beautiful ballad "Lullaby Of The Leaves" where Chet plays the way only he can.

This is a wonderful album which is not that hard to get your hands on at a fair price. Many of the Pacific Jazz albums can be found at a reasonable price. Which is great news for once, but maybe these little 10" gems will rise in price as the years go by, so get them while you can.

The weather is turning autumnish here in Stockholm, and I'm looking forward to the fall with great excitement because I have some nice albums on the purchase list which will be dropping by in the coming months. One of them is already on it's way and should be here in the beginning of next week. It's a great album, very rare and in pristine shape. Hold your breath...

Cheers!

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"Portrait in Jazz" by the Bill Evans Trio on Riverside 315

July 23, 2016

A top jazz piano trio album, perhaps my favorite to date.

I started this morning with a dose of Art Pepper. Side 2 of Modern Art on Intro. A nice way to get this beautiful Saturday afternoon on track. A bit of interesting information; the alto intro on the tune "Stompin' at the Savoy" is a bit longer on this original 1st pressing than on other issues or formats I believe. Don't know about the Score issue. On other issues, it seems that the unaccompanied alto solo in the beginning of "Stompin'..." has been cut shorter. That's pretty cool, to think that you actually need the original pressing to get to hear that, as it was supposed to be. Just another reason to stick to 1st pressings.

It's been a while since I posted last. I've been on vacation to California with the family. But let's get things going here again...

My relation to piano trios in jazz has grown very strong in the last couple of years. I truly dig that format, even though if I would choose one record to take with me to a desert island, it would probably have a horn or two on it. One of the best jazz piano trio albums I've heard to date is the one on display, Bill Evan's "Portrait in Jazz" on Riverside 315. It's a 1st pressing in nice shape. The cover is a bit worn but the vinyl is in M- condition. Sounds phenomenal. The drum sound for example is some of the best I've heard. Every detail is clear. You really need these kind of delicate, quieter albums to have the vinyl in top condition, so nothing distracts from the smooth tones of, in this case, the piano master Bill Evans. To be honest I haven't dug deep into his catalogue as of yet, but this album is a perfect way to start. I've listened to some other early stuff as well, and it's very good indeed.

This is just the first of many Bill Evans records to find their way into my collection I would think. The rhythm section is one of the best I've heard with Scott LaFaro on double bass and Paul Motian on drums. They gel unbelievably well together and also gel and compliments Bill Evans with 100% feeling and accuracy. I would say, if you're just starting to appreciate jazz piano in trio form, then this is the album to pick up. It's so smooth and flowing, and with a superb sound mix. Jack Higgins was the engineer on this. What a great job he did, flawless. Right now, as I write this, I've just put on Side 2, and what a smokin' tune, it's "What is This Thing Called Love?". I really feel that I want to invest in some other piano trio albums. This LP just makes you forget about horns of all kinds. It's that good. I have a few on the list that comes to mind, for example Tommy Flanagan's "Overseas" on Prestige and the Sonny Clark Trio on Blue Note. Also, some more early Bill Evans on Riverside is really appealing.

I'll look forward to the autumn with great joy, cause I have some real gems waiting for me. I will soon be able to purchase the first one. It's a wonderful, rare album. Tune in for that. But I will put up some other stuff from the collection in the mean time. Stay cool in the shade, sip on a cold one and listen to some jazz. Enjoy your weekend. Cheers.

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"Byrd's Eye View" by Donald Byrd on Transition 4

May 29, 2016

One of the titles the small, charming Transition label put out.

Here's a nice copy of Donald Byrd's early album "Byrd's Eye View" on the Transition label. It comes complete with the booklet. This is the only Transition record I have to date. I will aim for some other ones later as well. The problem though with these Transition records is that they are made of styrene instead of vinyl. This material is lighter than vinyl and supposedly wears out much quicker. This means I will play this record a bit less than the others I have, because I want it to be relatively fresh for a long time. I have it on the turntable as I write this, and it sounds quite good. It's been a while since I played it last. A great set of tunes played by a sextet consisting of Byrd and Joe Gordon on trumpets, Hank Mobley on tenor sax, Horace Silver on piano, Doug Watkins on bass and Art Blakey on the drums.

The Transition label had the policy of recording with a "Live Concert Fidelity", meaning this; and I quote from the booklet... "We at Transition believe that the best jazz results from an optimum combination of musicianly skills and ethusiastic audience response. Each recording is made under the most authentic conditions: in the jazz club, at jazz concerts, or in the studio with a live audience in attendance. Few retakes are made, even at studio sessions, in order to preserve the freshness and spontaneity of the jazz improvisations"...pretty damn cool I'd say.

This is for me, a must for any Donald Byrd fan. It's great example of his early work and a highly enjoyable session. The recorded sound isn't really comparable to the Blue Note albums of the same era, but this more primitive sound adds to the charm of the albums on this short-lived label. As well, the styrene compound maybe wasn't the best material for producing great sounding records. The labels on these styrene records are glued on and will eventually fall off. On my copy the labels are, amazingly, still attached. On one side the label has started to lift a bit but that's the way it goes. I'm happy with my copy of this very rare piece of jazz history. I'd like to get my hands on the highly desirable "Byrd Blows on Beacon Hill", also on Transition (17) at a later stage. I love these smaller jazz labels with rare records. The logotype of the Transition label is very cool, together with the special artwork of the front cover and the blank blue back. The booklet is a very nice feature as well, to make the package complete. To me, this record has to have the booklet with it. Amazing that my booklet is in such astonishing condition still, after all these years.

If you come across this album don't hesitate to add it to your collection. It's a piece worth having for sure. Just don't play it too much... stay tuned for other great records from my beloved collection. The sun is shining here in Stockholm today, have a great Sunday!

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An evening with Art

May 27, 2016

Friday evening, at last. Sitting here and listening to side 2 of Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section on Contemporary. What an album. One of my absolute favorites and in my top 5 jazz albums of all time. A nice album to relax with after a long working week. Aiming to post another collectible this weekend, stay tuned. Enjoy your evening folks.

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A painted wall and the music room got a new lease on life...

May 15, 2016

... but I have only 3 months to enjoy it now, as we're moving apartments after the summer. But it's light, bright and crisp now. The ugly green paint is gone. Later, it will be fun to set it all up in the new apartment. But that's gonna take a while as we're renovating it all before we move in. Looking forward to the move and to put the first album on the turntable at the new place.

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Afternoon listening: on the brink to the month of May with Sonny's Crib

April 30, 2016

The soundtrack to the last day of April.

Just checking in. Spring is in the air here in Stockholm and today I got around to listening to one side of Sonny's Crib. Beautiful album. The copy I have is a nice 1st pressing and it's spinning as I write this. This is one of those truly great Blue Notes. I'm lucky to have a copy, especially the version with both sides NY23. Coltrane is present on this which makes it a tad more interesting than your average Blue Note. A great soundtrack for this day which is the last day of April as we're sliding into May with not too long to go until the summer begins and vacation time is here. We have booked a trip to California which I'm looking forward to tremendously. I have some awesome stuff lined up for purchase after the summer and through the autumn and winter. Stay tuned for that, but in the mean time I will post records from my collection for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy your day/night and be sure to listen to some jazz. Cheers!

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"Cliff Craft" by Cliff Jordan on Blue Note 1582

April 16, 2016

One of the best Blue Notes ever released.

This is one of the very best Blue Notes if you ask me, and one of the rarest. It's a superb flowing effort by Cliff Jordan, playing together here with the brilliant Art Farmer (trumpet), Sonny Clark (piano), George Tucker (bass) and Louis Hayes (drums). This is one of those truly sweet jazz pralines that the Blue Note 1500 series has to offer. The 1500 series is special. For me, it's the definite jazz go-to series. So many superb albums. The sound is very nice on the ones I have, so tasteful, organic, vibrant and full of soul.

"Cliff Craft" starts off with one of Cliff Jordan's own compositions "Laconia", and once the first few notes have made their way from the speakers to your ears you know this album is going to be something special. This music is smooth, relaxing and it makes you forget your troubles in a jiffy. This is my kind of jazz. I'm highly impressed by the craftmanship of Jordan on this one. After that superb first tune it's time for another Jordan original. A bluesy, very enjoyable tune called "Soul-Lo Blues". I really appreciate this kind of jazz tune that contains a good portion of bluesy aspects. This Jordan guy can sure write some good stuff. I dig him a lot. Have really just started to explore his albums. This album is an extremely good example of his work for anyone looking to get into his music. I'm listening to my original 1st pressing as I write this. Very nice copy. The tune is coming to an end now. Soon, the title track, also a Jordan original will start. Ok, now it's on it's way... Fast tempo stuff here. Classic harb-bop. The tenor sound of Cliff Jordan is full and rich. He plays really well. Already up there with my favorites. The rhythm section is superb. Side 1 = very, very good stuff.

Now for Side 2, which holds three standards. Ah, Bird... you hear it straight away. "Confirmation" is the tune and it's wonderful. A medium-tempo effort which really speaks to me. Jordan plays superbly. Art Farmer then comes in with a relaxed solo. He has a sweet tone. Very laid back. The Blue Notes he plays on are all worth trying to get. Sonny Clark is a favorite and his solo on this is smooth and flowing. Of course, his stuff on Blue Note is highly regarded among collectors for a good reason and I'm aiming to try and get it all. I'm quite keen on the Trio album with Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones on Blue Note 1579. The theme rounds off the song and I love it. Next up is the ballad "Sophisticated Lady" composed by Duke Ellington in the early 1930's. A beautiful tune which is already among my favorite slow ones. This extremely nice album concludes with Parker and Gillespie's classic composition "Anthropology". Doesn't get much better than this folks. A very nice theme. A driving tune which leaves you wanting more. Such a great sign off to this album. If you haven't got it, you should buy it right now. Today. For me, one of the best Blue Note records ever made.

It's a grey and dull day here in Stockholm, but listening to this masterpiece sure lightened things up a bit. Have a great rest of the weekend and stay tuned for more jazz history.

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Chet Baker & Crew on Pacific Jazz 1224

March 20, 2016

Chet and his Crew will take you on a cool, smooth ride.

Here's a classic Chet Baker album on the Pacific Jazz label. It's a highly enjoyable album, with Chet in excellent form. He plays cool as usual. You put this on, and dream away to sunny California in the 1950's. Maybe relaxing on a boat like the one with the Crew on the front cover. I truly dig these early Chet albums. He's got a clearer more urgent sound than in his later days. I appreciate his whole career and output though, even his later stuff on small European labels when he was down and out.

I dig Phil Urso on tenor sax. He's got a really nice sound. I had totally forgotten that Bobby Timmons (piano) was on this. I love his playing. He's on some other very nice albums that I have. This album's got a nice feel to it which is great to experience again since it's been quite a long time since I listened to it last. There are a lot of nice tunes. Overall, I think I prefer Side 2. I think this album is quite rare. I haven't seen a bunch of copies each year from what I can remember. You should definitely check it out if you're unfamiliar with it. For any Chet fan it's essential. Have you got any opinion on this album? Please, share.

I actually got some sweet minutes of listening this weekend which was very nice. I listened to this Chet gem and also an exciting, newly purchased Blue Note rarity which I will post here on the site in due time. Next week it's Easter and I will have a few days off. Then I will try and get some more listening done. Have a wonderful day/night and stay tuned for more hot/cool jazz vinyl.

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Afternoon listening: A moment of relaxation with Jackie McLean's rarest effort

February 26, 2016

What an absolute pleasure it is to be able to put this record on the turntable. An outstanding original 1st pressing in beautiful condition. It's a dream to own this. I thought I'd have a listen to this baby on this grey friday afternoon while my son is sleeping. This is one of my favorite albums for sure. I always get positive vibes from the tunes on this rarest of jazz collectibles. The tunes are nice and have a very laid back feeling to them even on the faster ones. Just wanted to check in with one of these posts where I write about some moment where I put a record on the turntable or something else in the daily life. But back to the beauty that is playing on the turntable as I write this. The sound is stunning on this. It plays like new, with zero noise. Clean, crisp and smooth sound.

I'm very grateful that I was able to purchase this album, cause when I follow the market there hasn't been one single copy available in this condition since then. Jackie McLean has a sound of his own, that's for sure. He always plays with a lot of lyricism and smoothness. It's a silky, pleasant sound. The pianist Mal Waldron is a cat that I really like as well, and I need to check him out more. The drummer Ronald Tucker I haven't heard much from or about. He plays very laid back, very unintrusive. he just flows with the music. Simple drummer, with a simple sound that fits perfectly with the make-up of the tunes here. "Lover Man" is the last tune on which McLean plays great and a nice ending to a sweet, rare album. It's a record which I will treasure forever.

I've posted this LP earlier. If you missed that post you'll find it here: http://www.fwrarejazzvinylcollector.com/blog/2015/3/1/jackie-mclean-on-ad-lib-6601

Currently saving up a war chest for buying some albums. You will see which ones I end up buying here on the site. Stay tuned. Have a great Friday and weekend. Have a drink, listen to some jazz and relax. That's my plan anyway. Cheers!

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Steamin' with The Miles Davis Quintet on PRLP 7200

February 21, 2016

A classic Miles album, a pleasurable experience.

The Miles classics on Prestige were among the first records I acquired 1st pressings of. I don't have them all, just a few. It was quite some time ago I listened to them, especially the featured album "Steamin' With The Miles Davis Quintet". It's a very nice album, and I really should listen to these Miles albums more, cause it's truly beautiful music. The copy I have is in superb condition and it sounds accordingly. It's actually one of the few albums I've bought in a real physical record store. I got a very nice price on it and the condition was perfect. Listening as I write to the first side of the album. A very good mix of tunes here, with the laid back opening track "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" paving the way for a medium-tempo, relaxing few minutes, and then that half-sleepy, sweet moment is shattered with a great, high energy take on Dizzy's classic "Salt Peanuts". Then a wonderful, brushy ballad appears named "Something I Dreamed Last Night", on which Miles plays beautifully. A highly satisfying and complete Side 1.

Now, let's flip the disc. First tune, "Diane", it's unmistakable Miles. His tight, yet lush muted trumpet work is a pleasure to experience, especially when my system makes it feel like he's in the room with me. Coltrane then comes in and takes a solo which only he can. A perfect start to Side 2. Next tune is Monk's standard "Well, You Needn't", a nice tune, which is highlighted by Miles' unmuted trumpet playing, no point in denying it, while muted trumpet is quite nice sometimes, the unmuted instrument is more appealing to me. But if someone can make a muted trumpet sound absolutely beautiful and interesting, it's the leader of this album. And, the last tune "When I Fall In Love" is a testament to that, another sweet ballad with the trumpet muted. It's all good, cause it's Miles Davis.

I'll try and post more frequently, but I've found free time hard to come by in the last few months. I'm currently in the process of saving up a sizeable budget to buy more albums. I've already acquired an original copy of "True Blue" earlier this year, so the 2016 collecting year went off with a bang. Now it's time to get to work on getting some other nice stuff as soon as possible.

Have a nice Sunday, stay tuned for more great LP's from my personal collection and I'll concentrate on getting over the cold I've been stuck with for over a week.

Cheers!

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Afternoon listening: The Sound of Sonny

January 31, 2016

My son took an afternoon nap today, so I decided to seize the moment and listen to some jazz vinyl. I flipped through the collection, and in the end picked Sonny Rollins - The Sound of Sonny on Riverside. I haven't listened to this in a while, and boy is it good. My original 1st pressing sounds absolutely superb. It's quite a relaxing album. I only listened to Side 1, and I enjoyed it very much. A great choice for a lazy Sunday afternoon. I love Sonny Rollins, and he is one of the main reasons I started listening to jazz for real. I have some very nice albums with him, but there's an ocean of stuff I'm missing still. I need to try and secure some more great Rollins LP's soon. It's just that those albums need to become available at the right time, when the funds are there. Also, there are so many albums that I want, I don't always go for a particular artist next, it's more like; I check what's available and go with something I can't resist at that moment. Anyway, a new Rollins album will surely be high on the wishlist after being reminded once more, that he's one of the very best.

Have a great Sunday!

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Tina Brooks - "True Blue" on Blue Note 4041

January 17, 2016

Splendid album here with the highly underrated tenor saxophonist Tina Brooks. This is, I guess, considered a "holy grail". Which to me means it has to be musical-wise outstanding, very rare, highly priced and very sought after. This record has all of those attributes. All the tunes are a pleasure to listen to, and the album has a good mix of tunes which makes it interesting. An absolutely outstanding ensemble work their magic on this, and they consist of Tina Brooks on tenor sax, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Duke Jordan on piano, Sam Jones on double bass and Art Taylor on drums. Very difficult to pick favorite tunes, as they are all so good, but my picks for the moment are "Good Old Soul" and "Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You".

Tina Brooks was a very gifted musician who made a few very nice recordings during a far too brief career, which was cut short by heroin dependency, gradually deteriorating health and ultimately death, caused by liver failure at age 42. I'm just starting to get into this magnificent artists work, and "True Blue" is a nice way to start. Freddie Hubbard is another artist which I'm really getting into at the moment, though I have listened to him before. But now, I hold him in very high regard and I'm planning to buy a lot more stuff with him. What a trumpeter. A virtuoso. Clean, brilliant sound and a lot of amazing technical abilities. The other cats are top notch as well.

There are a lot of albums in the early Blue Note 4000 series which are very, very good and superbly recorded. The sound quality is outstanding. The copy I have is very nice, with a VG++ cover and a NM record. It's the first catch of 2016, and a pretty sweet way to start another year full of collecting rare jazz vinyl. I'm extremely happy to have been able to add this masterpiece to the collection. I'm aiming to secure some more pieces from the 4000 series very soon.

If you have the chance to buy an original pressing of this baby, don't hesitate for one second. It'll be worth every penny spent and a joy to slide off the shelf and put on the turntable and listen to. If you don't have it and if you're not able to purchase a 1st pressing, buy another version as soon as possible. This album should be on the shelf of every jazz lover.

It's cold and frosty here in Stockholm tonight, about -10°C. But the warmth of playing a few jazz tunes and looking at the collection makes it quite cozy.

I'll be back soon with another post, so stay tuned and have a good day/night. Cheers!

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