"Point of Departure" by Andrew Hill on Blue Note BLP 4167

October 3, 2021

This is one of the real gems of the later Blue Note catalogue. The lineup is unreal, with Hill on the piano, Kenny Dorham on the trumpet, Eric Dolphy on the alto sax, bass clarinet and flute, Joe Henderson on the tenor sax, Richard Davis on the double bass and Tony Williams on the drums. I mean, that’s jazz royalty right there.

The album contains some progressive stuff that keeps you alert and interested all the way through. It’s avant-garde mixed with post bop to my ears. For me, very accessible though. Tony Williams is fantastic as always and pushes the music forward with superb control, finesse and energy. I never get tired of his inventive approach. Richard Davis keeps up with him and delivers some memorable double bass candy. The rest of the group plays on a very high plane as well, with Hill’s progressive and imaginative playing, Dolphy’s mastery of all the instruments he plays and the way he makes jazz so very interesting, Henderson’s beautiful but edgy tenor playing and full, rich sound, and then Dorham, who I think really holds his own in this kind of setting, despite maybe not being the most celebrated post bop/avant-garde player.

This is a wonderful and very interesting album which you should check out if you enjoy a bit more explorative jazz than hard bop for example, to mix it up a bit. And this is not free jazz, it’s controlled, but searching and full of imagination.

Some questions: Any thoughts on this album? The lineup on this, like I mentioned, is quite unreal. Do you have a favorite small group lineup from the 50’s-60’s..? Mine is probably, at this moment anyway, the cats who played together at the Five Spot with Dolphy, Booker Little, Mal Waldron, Richard Davis and Ed Blackwell. That, or the classic Coltrane quartet. Or maybe the Bill Evans trio with La Faro and Motian. You see.. it’s very, very difficult to choose. Maybe you can choose your top three?

I’m on a little pause when it comes to buying new records. I need to save up some vacation money first, and actually enjoy all the albums I have, with quite a few newcomers in the collection I haven’t listened to a lot.

Like I’ve mentioned, I’m on Instagram now (@fwrarejazzvinylcollector), where I at the moment post albums that I’ve already posted here through the years. So for new albums this is the place to look. I always post the latests albums here first.

Stay tuned for more vintage vinyl treasures coming up… cheers!

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Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus by Charles Mingus on Impulse! A-54

September 4, 2021

I never get tired of Mingus music. It’s so rich and full of contrasts. I have managed to add a few of his masterpieces to the collection, but there are several albums missing for sure. The album on display is a great one. Recorded on two different dates in 1963 with two large ensembles, including such jazz luminaries as Dolphy, Byard, Ervin, Richmond and Mariano, to name but a few.

Perfect music for a lazy Saturday afternoon such as this. I’m actually all alone in the apartment right now, so I can indulge myself a bit and play a few records from the collection, write a post and just relax with some coffee. One of my favorite tunes from this album is Ellington/Bigard’s “Mood Indigo”. A fabulous, calm piece of music which soothes the soul and feels quite warm and pleasing. Great double bass by Mingus.

This album is a nice Mingus-experience. If you haven’t heard this but enjoy Mingus and his large ensemble stuff I can highly recommend this album. Most of the tunes recorded for this album had been previously recorded and appear on other Mingus albums, some with different titles.

Some questions: do you have a favorite Mingus recording, single song or entire album? Thoughts on the album on display? Are you a fan of these large ensemble recordings or do you prefer smaller groups, or both?

It’s starting to get colder here in Stockholm…autumn is on it’s way for sure. Feels like the summer went away far too fast. Well, looking forward to some cozy evenings with warm coffee and jazz… cheers!

PS. I’ve now joined the vinyl community on Instagram. The handle is “fwrarejazzvinylcollector”. :-)

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"Mal-1" by the Mal Waldron Quintet on Prestige PRLP 7090

August 11, 2021

Great debut by Mal Waldron, recorded in 1956.

Highly enjoyable debut by one of my favorite pianists in jazz, Mal Waldron. The rendition of the tune “Yesterdays” is really good. Slow, smooth with a bit of melancholy. Right up my alley. A favorite tune for sure. This album feels like it’s rehearsed and tight. Everyone plays for each other and everything seems very cohesive. Great solos throughout by Gryce, Sulieman and Waldron. Best Waldron moment, for me, is his solo on “Dee’s Dilemma”. He makes every note count, so lyrical, it’s brilliant. It gives me hope about the world, you know?

All in all a very good album which can be enjoyed with a nice cup of coffee in the early evening in the middle of August, like I’m doing right now. Not entirely easy to find an original of unfortunately. Really happy with my copy. Great cover by Reid Miles.

There’s a lot of Waldron albums that I’m missing, but I’m aiming to find some more of them. A lot more. Almost had a copy of one of his titles on New Jazz before the summer, but decided to return it cause it had some substantial marks on one side. They didn’t sound apparently according to my friend when he play graded it, but they looked nastier than I thought they would, so I decided not to play it and instead opted to return it. Hoping to find another copy. Waldron released some really good stuff on the New Jazz label.

Some questions: maybe I’ve asked this before, but.. favorite Waldron album? Thoughts on Mal-1? Top 3 Prestige albums in the 7000 - 7100 span?

Right now I’m pondering on joining the Instagram vinyl community and also to have another crack at a YouTube channel where I can show some records. We’ll see what happens. Would that be something you guys would be interested in following? Let me know.

Have a great rest of the week and stay tuned for more original vintage jazz vinyl… cheers.

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Tommy Flanagan or a walk in the rain...?

August 7, 2021

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"Fuchsia Swing Song" by Sam Rivers on BLP 4184

July 19, 2021

One of my favorite Blue Notes, which says a lot.

I’ve gravitated heavily towards post bop in the last couple of years and I’ve been discovering a lot of superb albums and quite a few new artists as well. Sam Rivers I hadn’t listened to at all before, until I discovered the album on display earlier this year and fell in love with it. It’s jazz right up my alley. I love this stuff. It’s post bop, stretching the scope of your regular hard bop a bit, but I feel it’s still rooted in bop. Not flying too far away from that. It has quickly become one of my favorite Blue Notes, yet another superb title in the 4100 series. Loving the cover art as well, quite different.

Sam Rivers is a wonderful tenor player with a powerful tone, and he plays with such an inventive approach. It’s always very fulfilling when you find a new cat playing so great, that you haven’t heard before, and you are just at the very beginning of discovering his/her catalogue.

The other musicians are for me some of the best of the best; Jaki Byard on piano, Ron Carter on double bass and the great Tony Williams on drums, who I hold in very high regard. As a drummer myself I always listen intently to the drums in jazz, and Tony Williams is always so brilliant. His touch on the drums and cymbals is magic, especially the ride cymbal, and I always marvel at his overall approach to playing the drums. He’s probably in my top 3 list of favorite drummers of all time.

This is Sam Rivers debut as a leader and it’s the only album by him I’ve explored thoroughly. I’ll dive deeper into his catalogue, which will be interesting. Maybe his other stuff is a bit more free? I love his style on this LP though. For me it’s perfect, and the tunes are so enjoyable. Like I said, my kind of jazz.

Some questions: Maybe you guys have some tips on some other great Sam Rivers albums? If you’ve heard “Fuchsia Swing Song”, please, share your thoughts on it.

I hope you guys are having a wonderful summer and that you are enjoying your collections. At the moment I’m in Mexico, soaking up some much needed sun. Stay tuned for more vintage original 1st pressings from the collection coming up. Cheers!

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"The Blues and the Abstract Truth" by Oliver Nelson on Impulse! A-5

June 29, 2021

A classic Impulse! title that you should own.

“Stolen Moments” is the opening tune of this album and it stands out. Freddie Hubbard plays such a wonderful solo on this beautiful, soothing and calm piece of music. It’s composed, like all the other tunes on this album, by Oliver Nelson. The personnel on this session is a dream line-up, consisting of Nelson on tenor and alto, Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Eric Dolphy on alto and flute, George Barrow on baritone, Bill Evans on piano, Paul Chambers on double bass and Roy Haynes on drums.

Another favorite tune is “Cascades” which is a great up-tempo piece, with very nice arrangements in the opening theme, and it features a sweet solo by Bill Evans. The whole album is very enjoyable and Nelsons compositional skills are impressive. It’s a nice mix of tunes. I dig Oliver Nelson a lot and I’ve added a couple of more titles with him as a leader to the collection during the last year, both on New Jazz.

I’ve been after this title for quite a while. I purchased a copy a couple of years ago but it had a skip, so back it went. Have been keeping an eye out for a long time. It seems that it’s not easy to get your hands on a copy. Not many nice original copies surfaces. My copy is in beautiful condition, both the vinyl and the jacket, so I’m a happy boy. It definitely is a title to have from the Impulse! catalogue. If you don’t have it yet, do yourself a favor and try and find a copy, any copy or pressing. This music is worth having for sure.

Some questions: Your take on this particular album? Other favorite Oliver Nelson albums? Also, we’re at the halfway point of the calendar year. Up to this point, what are some of your favorite acquisitions?

I’ve had some very good few months lately, where I’ve been able to add some new stuff to the collection. A lot of Blue Notes and this Nelson LP. Excited to share them here on the site with you guys, together with all the other titles I haven’t posted yet. So, stay tuned for more vintage jazz vinyl coming up.

Until next time, stay cool in the heat… cheers!

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"One Flight Up" by Dexter Gordon on Blue Note 4176

June 15, 2021

Another superb Reid Miles cover design. Highly recommended album.

This is actually my first album with Dexter Gordon as a leader and it’s a great one. Been after a couple of Dexter albums before, “Go” for example, but never pulled the trigger. So I’m happy to have added this title to the collection. Recorded in 1964 in Paris. Gordon lived in Europe for an extended period of time. The album features fellow Americans Donald Byrd on trumpet, Kenny Drew on piano and Art Taylor on drums. The double bass is played by Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and he’s Danish.

The over 18 minute long tune “Tanya” kicks off the album and it’s nothing short of superb. Very bluesy, swaying, and contains a wonderful solo by Gordon. He just plays from the heart and it seems to last forever. Very nice. Byrd then plays an inspiring solo as well. The two other tunes are great too. Gordon was a master when it came to playing the ballad and shows that here on the sweet “Darn That Dream“. Beautiful stuff.

Haven’t focused a lot on Dexter Gordon in the past. I’ve listened a bit to his albums but not much at all. One Flight Up really leaves me with a sense that I want to explore Gordon a lot more in depth. All of his Blue Note releases first and foremost maybe. I’ve listened to some of them and they are very enjoyable.

Question: Maybe you can give me some hot tips on some of your favorite Dexter Gordon albums?

Been on a real Blue Note kick lately and I’m happy to have been able to add several new titles to the collection. Some really good stuff in the 4000 series. And a landmark title in the 1500 series as well. Stay tuned for those. Have several albums from other labels as well that I haven’t posted, and I’ll maybe try and mix them in between all the new Blue Notes.

Summer is a beautiful season here in Sweden and the warmth and sunshine is really making life a bit easier. Vacation time is coming up soon as well so it’s all good. Have a great rest of the week, cheers!

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"Black Fire" by Andrew Hill on BLP 4151

May 30, 2021

A lot of the later Blue Note material is superb, and this title is no exception.

I got myself a couple of original Andrew Hill LP’s on Blue Note. This is one of them, “Black Fire”. Great album and great line-up consisting of some of the very best of the later Blue Note roster: Andrew Hill on piano, Joe Henderson on tenor sax, Richard Davis on double bass and Roy Haynes on drums. The music is very interesting, like many other later Blue Note titles. It’s post bop, which I really love. Andrew Hill is a wonderful pianist. Has his own unique style. A very inventive and progressive player. I’ve dived into Joe Henderson’s stuff lately and he has quickly become a favorite of mine. I really need to bolster the collection with his outstanding albums as a leader on Blue Note.

I have explored the later Blue Note 4000 series for some time now. It’s a lovely part of the catalogue and many superb titles and different artists that I haven’t listened to a lot has popped up. I have found some outstanding music there which I’m very excited about. Artists like Andrew Hill, Joe Henderson, Tony Williams, Bobby Hutcherson, Grachan Moncur III, Joe Chambers, Herbie Hancock, Sam Rivers, Wayne Shorter and so on, are featured on these great Blue Notes. I’m searching for a plethora of titles from this period and the search has really just begun. I’ve been after Blue Note titles specifically lately, cause I feel there are so many great albums there, that I need to go after. So many artists that I’ve discovered and enjoy are featured very heavily in the 4000 series. They always sound great and a lot of the cover art is of course fantastic. Also, I’ve been concentrating on other labels for quite some time now and the lure of the Blue Note label just came calling I guess. So, as a result I’ve been able to add a few Blue Notes to the collection which I’m very happy about.

Back to “Black Fire”. If you haven’t listened to this album and you enjoy a bit more challenging tones and rhythms than you get from your standard hard bop stuff, then give this a try. It’s quite accessible I think. It’s one of those great titles from the later 4000 series for sure.

Some questions: I wonder what my readers think of this title? Do you have any other favorite titles that feature Andrew Hill? Let me know.

I’ll try to post a bit more often, so stay tuned for more great LP’s from the collection coming up. Stay safe everyone. Cheers!

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"Hi-Fly" by Jaki Byard on New Jazz NJLP 8273

April 8, 2021

The first notes are intriguing, not your usual hard bop piano. Then we’re off, and the piano lines are very interesting and fresh. I love the piano in jazz, and I usually appreciate some character to the instrument, like the leader on this album produces. His name is Jaki Byard and I first noticed him when I was watching videos of the Mingus concerts in Europe in ‘64 on YouTube. I immediately enjoyed his unique style. After that I looked him up, and started to explore his output a bit. I haven’t gotten very far since then, but I have already found some titles that I enjoy very much. He’s already become one of my absolute favorite piano players in jazz, just by hearing a handful of albums. Other pianists I enjoy a lot are Mal Waldron, Monk, McCoy Tyner, Bill Evans, Tommy Flanagan, Bobby Timmons etc.

A bit of Monk shines through in his playing on this record. But it’s a flavor all of his own. It’s quite unique. His compositional skills are very impressive as well, as this album contains several high quality pieces of his. Very interesting piano trio jazz. I think the format itself is wonderful. I love piano trios. The cats on this are Byard on piano, Ron Carter on double bass and Pete La Roca on drums. Superb group.

The second side begins with a very special tune. It starts quite soothing with piano candy by Byard. After a while all hell breaks loose with some propulsive drums and double bass. The piano just flies over the chaotic rhythm section and sprinkles Byard’s magic over it. Then it settles down again and we get some outstanding lyrical playing by Byard… it’s brilliant.

If, for some reason, you haven’t discovered Byard yet I would highly recommend you start exploring his work. I think “Hi-Fly” is a great introduction to his genius. Check it out.

Quite a few questions for my readers: If you’ve heard this album, what’s your take on it? Your thoughts on Jaki Byard in general? Favorite Jaki Byard album? Top 5 jazz pianists of all time? Please, write away.

At the moment I’m in the process of trying to find my next addition to the collection. I have one title for example that I have the chance to acquire, but it will take some luck and some dough. Let’s see how that pans out, fingers crossed. Stay tuned for more great, vintage pieces of vinyl coming up… cheers!

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"Impressions" by John Coltrane on Impulse! A-42

April 1, 2021

Any Coltrane LP on Impulse! will offer the listener some very special jazz. These are classic albums. I’m aiming to collect quite a few more. This one is “Impressions”, and it features both live takes and studio recordings spanning about one and a half years. Outside of the the classic Coltrane quartet, three other cats are featured. On the first tune “India”, Eric Dolphy plays the bass clarinet, which is always a good thing. Reggie Workman also make an appearance on the first tune. On the final tune Roy Haynes plays the drums. All the tunes are great but if I had to choose a favorite it would probably be the ferocious title track. It’s a brilliant display of improvisational prowess. Of course, “India” is very engaging as well. I love Coltrane’s playing on this and Eric Dolphy really brings the music to an even higher plane. The sound on the live takes feels quite natural. It feels like you sit there in the club with the band in front of you. It’s not perfect by any means. It just feels honest.

Like I said, this is a classic and I’m very happy to have been able to find it. These original first pressing Impulse! titles are not entirely easy to find. But, they are at least a bit cheaper than many original Blue Notes and Prestige titles for example. I guess they have risen in value quite a bit in recent years though. This particular copy was not cheap. I feel Impulse! is just as important as Blue Note, Prestige or Riverside. The label promoted new exciting paths for jazz, going into the future.

Questions for my readers: If we’re talking important record labels that helped shape modern jazz, do you have a favorite? Of all the recorded live material featuring Coltrane as a leader, which albums or tunes stand out to you the most?

Feels like spring is here in Stockholm and I’m happy to spend some relaxing days now together with my family over Easter. I hope you guys will have a nice Easter and keep safe. Stay tuned for more great titles from my shelves, cheers!

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"Out Front" by Booker Little on Candid CJM 8027

March 19, 2021

Here’s some unique and highly pleasurable jazz.

This albums contains quite a special brand of jazz. It’s very suggestive and creative. It’s smooth but challenging and full of inspiring passages. Booker Little has composed all the tunes, very impressive. These originals are highly interesting and far from your regular hard bop tunes. What a great trumpeter Booker is. Eric Dolphy is also present, and we know what a fabulous combination those two cats are together. Both are true masters of their craft and they complement each other in a superb way. Just listen to this album, Far Cry and the Five Spot albums to get a sense of what that partnership was all about. I also dig the playing and approach by Max Roach and his tympani. The other cats are Julian Priester on trombone, Art Davis and Ron Carter on double bass and Don Friedman on piano. A very nice group.

I have two copies of this album. Both copies has some flaws but I’m just happy to own this music on original vinyl. Maybe I’ll be able to upgrade to a NM copy someday, but for now these copies will do and they are very enjoyable to listen to. Loud and clear sound with superb detail, just some intermittent pops and clicks. After all, we’re talking 60 year old vintage vinyl…

I‘ll keep my eye out for an even better copy of this title, and also some other Booker Little titles on other labels. I’ve always held the trumpet as my favorite instrument in jazz and Booker Little is in my top 10 list of greatest trumpeters of all time, despite his short career. And in addition to being a master trumpeter this album really displays his wonderful compositional skills as well. A set of very unique tunes for sure. Another instrument that I find very interesting in jazz is the double bass. I find it very expressive, I love the sound and I’m so in awe of all the master bassists and their skills on this big instrument. Just now for example I’ve watched some instructional videos on YouTube featuring Gary Peacock and I’ve watched “An Evening with Eddie Gomez” as well, and I find it fascinating.

Question for my readers: As this is a trumpeter-led session, could you give me your top 5 albums which features a trumpeter as a leader? Think I’ve asked this before, but let’s do it again; favorite instrument in jazz?

I have 3 new albums coming to me on Tuesday next week. Looking forward to that. Some new blood into the collection. I hope you guys have added some great stuff to your collections so far this year as well. Enjoy your weekend, stay safe and stay tuned for more original vintage jazz vinyl… cheers!

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Cecil Payne Quartet & Quintet on Signal (S 1203)

March 12, 2021

A really rare find and a wonderful album.

Beautiful copy of this rare Cecil Payne LP (recorded in 1956) released on the small Signal label. I only have one other album on this label and that would be the wonderful Red Rodney session. These records are very hard to find. You almost never see them for sale. The music on this album is nice, very smooth hard bop. Cecil Payne has a lovely tone. Dark, sultry, like molasses, and he plays very lyrical. I have a couple of 7” on the Metronome label with him and he’s on Kenny Dorham’s “Afro-Cuban” album on Blue Note, but that’s it. I must check out more stuff that he released. The album is made up of two sessions, one with a quartet setting and one with a quintet. The quartet is: Payne on baritone, Duke Jordan on piano, Tommy Potter on double bass and Art Taylor on drums. Kenny Dorham on trumpet is added and completes the quintet. The two sessions have each their own flavor. Dorham making the difference. Both the quartet and quintet sounds wonderful though.

I must say, this record is in astonishing condition. It sounds like new. And the cover is in amazing condition, which for these Signals is pretty unusual I believe. Love the design of the jacket and the clean deep groove labels. It always feels pretty unreal when a vintage jazz LP from the 50’s is in this condition. Dreamy.

All tunes on this album are great, and if you haven’t heard this one do yourself a favor and check it out. I think you’ll dig it. If you like lyrical, smooth hard bop then you’ll not be disappointed.

I have just concluded a deal for three new records and I’m very excited about that. Two Blue Notes and one Prestige. I wanted to make sure I added some Blue Notes to the collection, cause it’s been a while since I did that. There are a plethora of titles that I want from the Blue Note catalogue and it’s time to try and secure some of them. The Prestige title is a long time want that I finally pulled the trigger on. It’s been waiting for me. Look out for these titles which will be posted on the site in due time.

Questions for my readers: Are you familiar with the work of Cecil Payne? If so, what are some of your favorite titles with him playing as a sideman or leader? Have you got any other albums on the Signal label that you can recommend?

I have the album on display on the turntable, it’s Friday and the weekend starts now which is so nice. I’m aiming to get some rest and enjoy time with my family. Enjoy your weekend guys and stay tuned for more vintage treasures from the collection. Cheers… and stay safe!

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McCoy Tyner live at Newport on Impulse! A-48

February 27, 2021

Wonderful live set by McCoy Tyner at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1963. The first track is “Newport Romp”, and what a romp it is. Up-tempo stuff here with a Clark Terry on fire. He is a guy I haven’t explored much at all. I will try and remedy that, cause he’s great. Plays with a lot of energy, soul, passion and fire, on this outing at least. Another guy I haven’t listen to much at all is Charlie Mariano on the alto sax. Very good player. He’s a cat I definitely will look into more. He’s on a couple of Mingus albums I have and I will listen to them again and concentrate a bit on him. I really like his playing. Very lyrical. His playing on the wonderful rendition of “My Funny Valentine” is absolutely beautiful. The two guys completing the rhythm section together with McCoy are also guys I haven’t heard much from. Namely, Bob Cranshaw on the bass and Mickey Roker on the drums. They both contribute with some really solid playing here.

I must say McCoy Tyner plays brilliantly on this album. He’s a hot favorite when it comes to pianists in jazz. He plays with so much lyricism, power, soul and passion. Technically brilliant, but it’s all feeling. I have a couple of titles of his work as a leader now, but there is so much more to discover when it comes to him. Looking forward to exploring even more in depth.

I think this LP captures the live feeling in a great way. You imagine being there seeing this live, and what a thrill it would have been. Having these cats improvising right in front of your eyes. That’s a sadness I have, not to be able to see many of my favorite jazz artists live. Those days are gone and chances to see them live never existed, being born in the mid 70’s. Imagine to have seen Coltrane, Dolphy, Mingus, Morgan, Bird, Evans etc. live, back in the day… what’s left for me is to watch old videos and listen to a live album like this Tyner session, to try and capture the feeling of what it would have been like, watching this first hand. Sure, you can see a really good band live nowadays as well, but it’s just not the same, is it?

Which brings me to my question for you guys: If you could choose one artist, alive or passed away that you haven’t seen live, who would it be? Got some other questions as well; do you have any tips on great LP’s with Charlie Mariano? Favorite McCoy Tyner LP?

All the snow and the cold is gone here in Stockholm, for now at least. Feels a little like spring is in the air when the sun is shining, the birds are singing and snowdrops are now visible on the ground. There’s hope…

Stay tuned for more vintage jazz vinyl from my shelves. Stay safe everyone… cheers!

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"Olé Coltrane" by John Coltrane on Atlantic 1373

February 9, 2021

An eastern, oriental vibe fills the room when I put this Coltrane album on the turntable. Wonderful flute sounds emerges, which accents and complements the oriental flavor of this masterpiece, which is the title track. The flute player is one “George Lane”, who of course is the great Eric Dolphy. Freddie Hubbard plays trumpet on this which is always a treat. He’s always brilliantly tuned on. McCoy Tyner, another favorite, handles the piano duties with his usual passion. Unusually and interestingly, there are two bassists in Reggie Workman and Art Davis. It creates a special vibe, with one playing over the other one with the bow for example. It fits the whole concept great. Elvin Jones plays the drums which always adds that awesome energy.

The second side is quite a different style. No oriental stuff here. Very pleasing, bluesy stuff though. Hubbard plays superb on Dahomey Dance. The last tune is “Aisha“, which offers some soothing notes to close the album.

I have acquired three Coltrane Atlantics so far; “Giant Steps”, “Olé” and “Bags & Trane”. Aiming to add a couple more. “My Favorite Things” is probably next. I almost got my hands on a deep groove version of that one not too long ago. The search continues…

Some questions for my readers, as per usual: What’s your take on this album? Is “Olé” in your Coltrane top ten list? Do you have a favorite Coltrane on Atlantic?

Right now I’m contemplating adding a Blue Note to the collection. It’s been a long while since I bought one. I have been concentrating on other labels for quite a while. There are so many great titles that have been on the want list forever. I’ll try and pick one title and see if I can get it. The problem is picking only one though. But only one is probably what I can afford right now. It depends on the title of course, but the ones I’m looking at are not cheap. And of course, all original Blue Notes commands some dough. We’ll see what happens.

It’s cold and snowy here in Stockholm. I’m longing for the spring now. Longing for this pandemic to end… stay safe everybody, and stay tuned for more original vintage jazz albums from the collection.

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"Out There" by Eric Dolphy on New Jazz NJLP 8252

January 15, 2021

Eric Dolphy recorded some wonderful stuff on the New Jazz label. “Out There” is a superb session. It’s one of those albums that feels fresh every time you put it on the turntable. It’s a brand of jazz that I thoroughly enjoy. It’s not your average hard bop session. It’s unique, full of imagination and features some great work by all musicians involved. For me, an outstanding line-up consisting of Dolphy on alto sax, flute, Bb and bass clarinets, Ron Carter on cello, George Duvivier on double bass and Roy Haynes on drums. I love the concept of the cello in jazz, which I’ve touched on before. That together with all of the instruments that Dolphy plays, which adds so many different flavors, makes the whole thing very interesting. The way Dolphy plays is very special and it makes you want to really listen to him. It’s so full of fire, passion, lyricism, technical brilliance and you can listen to him over and over again, and it feels fresh every time. I feel he is a complete musician. With is vision and innovation, mastery of many different instruments and highly advanced compositional skills.

Like Coltrane and so many other masters one can’t help but wonder what musical paths Dolphy would have taken if he had only lived longer. Still, he left us a great treasure to enjoy and I treasure the albums I have by him very much. If you haven’t listened a lot to Dolphy I can highly recommend you start exploring his work. He is one of the main persons in jazz history for me. He had a very unique voice.

All the tunes on “Out There” are great and each brings a different flavor. It keeps you interested all the way through. My favorite tune is the beautiful “Sketch of Melba” on which Dolphy plays the flute so amazingly. The flute really lends itself well to a ballad setting. And Dolphy takes the instrument to another level.

Like for Dolphy’s previous effort “Outward Bound” the artwork is a painting by Richard "Prophet" Jennings. It really suits the music to a tee.

If you’re looking for the true 1st pressing of this title it can be a bit difficult. Many pressings, as with other New Jazz titles, don’t have the wide deep grooves and the Abbey pressing ring on one side, that signifies a true 1st pressing. A copy having these features means there’s none of the notorious New Jazz hiss. But if you do find a copy, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. My copy sounds great and the cover is nice but with, what it seems to be, a sun bleached spine. I’ll try and secure more Dolphy records, there are many great ones left to acquire.

Some questions: If you could choose only one Dolphy album that you could take with you to a desert island, which one would it be? Have you collected all the Dolphy albums you’re looking for or do you have some title/titles that still eludes you? What are your thoughts on this album and Dolphy’s music in general? Please share.

Stay tuned for more beautiful vintage jazz records… cheers guys and stay safe!

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"Hush" by the Duke Pearson Quintet on Jazzline JAZ-3302

January 8, 2021

Another year has begun. Let’s hope this year will be better than the last one. There’s so much wrong with the world, but let’s keep it all about the jazz here. This record is quite rare from what I’ve gathered. You don’t see it often on the market. Duke Pearson is a cat I haven’t listened to much at all. This is my first album with him on the piano from what I can remember. It’s a mellow and enjoyable album. Not very adventurous, but with some nice and smooth tunes that are easily likeable. It features an unusual pairing of Donald Byrd and Johnny Coles, both trumpeters, as the only horns. I’m a trumpet kind of guy so that’s allright with me.

I can recommend this album if you enjoy straight ahead, lyrical jazz. It features a sweet, melancholy ballad called “Angel Eyes”, where Pearson’s lyrical playing really is on full display.

Last year, in terms of collecting vintage jazz vinyl, was great for me. I got some nice records onto my shelves. A few that were on top of the want-list. This one on display was more of a impulse buy. I saw it being offered on auction and I listened to it digitally first and thought it was great, so I jumped on the chance to try and secure it. Got it for a fair price as well.

I think the sound of the album is a bit muffled and dull. Quite low fidelity. Still, it’s enjoyable. It’s just not blowing my mind away sound-wise, like so many of my other albums do. When you get that energy, that punch and the details of everything makes you marvel over how this could have been recorded so long ago and been preserved so beautifully. This album sounds more like it was recorded in the early 50’s with not the best of equipment, even though it was actually recorded in 1962. It’s a good album and it’s a scarce historical artifact that I’m very happy to own. I now own two albums on the small Jazzline label, this one and “Bash” by Dave Bailey, which is a very good album indeed.

A couple of questions: What was your top find of last year? Favorite Duke Pearson album?

I hope you are staying safe and I like to wish you all a happy new year. Let me just say that I appreciate you guys visiting and commenting on my site very, very much. I love to interact with you guys and I hope we will continue to have some great exchanges during 2021 and beyond. I hope you all will find some great albums this year. Cheers!

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"Far Cry" by Eric Dolphy with Booker Little on New Jazz NJLP 8270

December 11, 2020

For me, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Continuing the Dolphy/Booker theme here with an album that I thought would take me forever to find as a true 1st pressing with the deep grooves and Abbey pressing ring on one side. The condition is like new, cover and vinyl. Absolutely amazing. To find the delicate 1st art textured cover in this condition is tough, to say the least. The LP sounds like new. Extremely happy to now own this title.

The music on this session is like you’d expect when it’s Dolphy and Booker sharing the stage, it’s wonderful and full of depth and passion. The album features one of my favorite rhythm sections, consisting of Ron Carter on double bass, Jaki Byard on piano and Roy Haynes on drums. Haynes plays the drums so tastefully, and his sound is always top notch. The snare and cymbal work is so delicate and airy. Jaki Byard is one of my favorite piano players. Him, along with Mal Waldron, Monk, Tommy Flanagan, McCoy Tyner to name but a few. Carter is a wonderful double bassist and cellist. Playing the bass here exclusively.

This is my kind of jazz for sure. There are a few wonderful titles in this kind of vein on the New Jazz label. Looking to acquire them all. Some of them are very difficult to find, like the title on display. Also, one that I really like to find is Mal Waldron’s “The Quest”. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for that one. I have Ron Carter’s “Where”, also very rare. Dolphy’s “Out There” is another one.

Favorite tune on “Far Cry” has to be “Left Alone” where Dolphy’s playing is sweet and melancholy. He sure knows how to play the flute. Another great one is “Miss Ann” where Dolphy and Booker both take superb solos. Booker’s solo on the opening track of Side 1, the Jaki Byard penned composition “Mrs. Parker of K.C. (Bird's Mother)”, is a joy to behold. And Dolphy’s unaccompanied alto solo on “Tenderly” is magical. The whole album is great, and keeps you interested all the way through. Highly recommended.

Got a question for you guys, as Christmas is coming soon: if you could choose one jazz LP from your want list/wish list, which one would you like to find under the Christmas tree this year?

Stay tuned for more vintage jazz vinyl treasures from the 50’s and 60’s… cheers and stay safe!

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"Eric Dolphy at the Five Spot - Volume 2" on Prestige PRLP 7294

November 29, 2020

It’s Dolphy and Booker. It’s live. It’s wonderful.

I’ve been on a Eric Dolphy and Booker Little high for quite a while. Both cats are way up there on the list over favorite jazz musicians of all time. They are both total masters of their respective instruments. And in Dolphy’s case there’s quite a few of them. I’ve long been a trumpet kind of guy. I am fascinated with that instrument, it’s sound and what can be created with it. Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard, Chet Baker… they all have amazed me. And Booker Little is up there together with all of them. He had an absolutely amazing style of his own, a beautiful tone and technical brilliance. As well as a wonderful sense of lyricism. He died far too young like Dolphy, and so many other jazz greats, at the tender age of 23. His career was brief but he left us a number of great recordings to be treasured and enjoyed.

To have both Dolphy and Booker Little playing together on the same album is a great treat. And add Mal Waldron, who is one of my favorite pianists in jazz, together with Richard Davis, a wonderful bassist who’s output I will explore further, and a superb drummer in Ed Blackwell who has become a strong favorite of mine, elevating himself to stake a claim of being in my top three drummers of all time. You have here an amazing line-up that is hard to beat.

Like this album is hard to beat. It’s truly one of my favorite albums. It’s so brilliantly executed by these five amazing musicians. And it’s live, which is the most natural setting for jazz in my opinion. To have been there at the Five Spot back in the day, witnessing these tunes being played in front of you… what a dream. The LP just sounds incredible. Like new. And the recording is flawless to my mind.

The two tunes featured here is the fantastic, up-tempo whirlwind ”Aggression”, penned by Booker and the soothing, laid back “Like Someone In Love”. Both tunes feature wonderful solos throughout, but my favorite moment of the entire album is Booker’s superbly taken solo on “Like Someone In Love”.

I’ve been trying to find originals of both Dolphy and Booker albums which are musically outstanding, but equally rare, and thus very hard to find as 1st pressings in great shape. Lately I got lucky though and had the chance to acquire several of them, and this album on display is one of them. I actually found two copies in a short space of time. Both in superb shape. This one on display feels like it’s freshly picked up in an 60’s record store, except maybe for one of the labels which shows some age. Stunning condition, jacket and vinyl. Plays like new. The other copy that I purchased first is in great condition as well and sounds like new as well, but has a little warp. So I upgraded and couldn’t be happier. Never expected to find another copy so quickly and in such flawless condition. And it’s flat as a pancake.

Another album that I thought I had to wait forever on to secure as a true 1st pressing I also managed to find lately and place on my shelves. A very difficult to find album with all the 1st pressing details present. And in the condition it was in, almost impossible it seemed. I’m very happy to say the least. It’s a Dolphy album, stay tuned to find out which one it is. And another one, by Booker Little that I have been looking for also made it’s way into my collection. Actually two copies, one is coming next week hopefully. I bought one copy first and it’s a great copy, but I had the chance to upgrade almost straight away, so I couldn’t miss that opportunity. It’s also a rare album that you don’t see often. A musically very interesting and highly enjoyable album. Stay tuned for that one as well coming up.

Then there are several other albums I’ve secured which are all great. It’s been a very exciting time these past months, cause I’ve been able to acquire quite a few titles. Many more than I usually do in that time frame. I’ve been able to beef up the record budget some more to expand the collection. Cause there’s so many albums on the want list and I’d like my collection to grow a bit. Haven’t been focusing on the most expensive of Blue Notes either. Instead I’ve been buying wonderful stuff on labels such as Candid, Impulse!, Atlantic, New Jazz and Prestige. So, plenty of great albums to be posted here on the site in the coming months.

A few questions for my readers: What’s your take on this album? Top 3 live jazz albums of all time? Top 3 albums that feature Eric Dolphy? Top 3 albums that feature Booker Little? Write away guys.

From a vinyl junkie to all of you; have a great rest of the weekend and stay safe. Enjoy your collections. Maybe put a Dolphy or Booker Little album on the turntable? Cheers…

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"Fire Music" by Archie Shepp on Impulse! A-86

November 11, 2020

I’ve only started to scratch the surface of Archie Shepps’ body of work. This is my only album of his to date. So, I have a lot to discover, which is very exciting. I’ve been close to acquiring his debut as a leader on Savoy together with Bill Dixon and also the “New Thing at Newport” and the “…Live in San Franscisco” albums on Impulse!. His debut on Savoy is great, and I should have pulled the trigger when I had the chance. But I’ll keep my eyes open for another copy.

“Hambone” kicks off this fiery album. There’s plenty of interesting changes, choice of notes and I get an overall feeling of excitement when I listen to this stuff. It’s like nothing else really. Nothing that I have in my collection anyway. It’s a flavor all of it’s own. The sound of this vintage 1st pressing on Impulse! is superb. Like all of my other Impulse! albums it has a very revealing, organic and detailed sound.

I’ve been drawn to the more experimental or freer kind of jazz for quite a while. But I’m digesting things slowly. Coltrane’s later period on Atlantic and Impulse!. Enjoying the work of Mingus and Eric Dolphy. Also some of the Ornette Coleman output on Atlantic. Time to check out some more Archie Shepp albums for sure.

I think this Shepp record is quite beautiful and accessible. If you haven’t listened to it before I can highly recommend it. If you’re interested in something other than your regular hard bop session. Something with a lot of fire and passion. There’s even some poetry in there so look out. Favorite tune is “Prelude to a Kiss”. It’s beautifully haunting. Another favorite is a very nice rendition of “The Girl from Ipanema”.

Questions for my readers: I’m hoping that you guys can give me some tips on some great Archie Shepp albums. Could you give me your top 5? What’s your take on this particular album on display?

I’ve been able to purchase a variety of great albums lately. Several that have been very high on my want list. Very happy to have been able to add them to the collection. Excited to post them here on the site soon. Stay tuned for those coming up.

Stay safe and have a great rest of the week. Cheers!

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"Mingus" by Charles Mingus on Candid CJM 8021

October 5, 2020

Listening to Mingus is always a very rewarding experience.

Eric Dolphy with Mingus, it’s sublime. I can watch the live videos on YouTube from Mingus’ 1964 European Tour over and over again. It’s such a passionate, fiery and deeply interesting brand of jazz. This is my first Candid LP. The label has some great titles to be enjoyed. I have already secured another one just a few days ago. I’m still looking for two very special titles; one with Booker Little as a leader and one with Booker Ervin. I’m sure there are more great titles on Candid which I will of course investigate.

Very happy to have secured the album on display here. It features a couple of wonderful Mingus originals. The band consists of some great musicians, like Eric Dolphy, Ted Curson, Booker Ervin and Dannie Richmond to name a few. I truly love Mingus’ music. It’s so full of life, joy, anger, fire, romance, empathy, artistic expression, compositional excellence and so on. This album is no exception. A wonderful session worth seeking out. I’m aiming to collect a lot more of Mingus’ work. I have a couple more albums of his which I haven’t posted yet, stay tuned for those. I have posted “The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady” and “Mingus Ah Um” before, so check those two posts out if you haven’t already.

This year has been quite productive in getting more titles onto my shelves. I have been fortunate enough to been able to add some great titles in superb condition. I’ve largely stayed away from super high-end stuff on Blue Note for example, and instead focused on some cheaper originals (relatively, compared to the more expensive Blue Notes) like this Candid release and other stuff on New Jazz, Atlantic and Impulse. I have managed to add some heavy hitters as well. It’s been a nice mix of interesting albums from different labels. I’m expecting a couple of newcomers. One hopefully today or tomorrow and one later in the week. Both are superb albums, but one is so outstanding that I can’t wait for it to arrive, so I can put it on the turntable and be blown away. It’s a live session and it has become one of my absolute favorite albums. Stay tuned for that one coming up.

Some questions for my readers: What’s your take on this album? Does it make your Mingus top 10? Top 3 Candid releases? Please share your thoughts guys.

As I write this I just got a note that one of my incoming albums has arrived. I will go out and fetch it. This turned out to be a really good Monday. Stay safe and enjoy your records. Cheers!

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