It’s been a while since I’ve done a ‘Record Storing’ feature, not because I haven’t been to a record store (as my wallet laughs..) but because I haven’t had the time.
I now have some time.
(All photos of me taken by my friend Rachel)
I’ve just come back from my first foray into the section of the United States known as the Pacific Northwest, specifically Seattle, Washington. Naturally while I was there, I sought out some record stores. Seattle being Seattle, there were quite a few record stores; I went to two, which ended up technically being the same one. Explanation forth-coming. Whenever I’m on the West Coast, I always try and find some good old West Coast jazz from the main artists and labels. I was successful in both endeavors. As usual, I’ve included the album and a brief reason why I got it. I grabbed a quite a few records, so put an album on, grab a drink, and sit in your favorite chair. To the records!
The Record Store
- Jive Time Records
- Fremont (Seattle), WA
The Records
Jazz Impressions of New York // Dave Brubeck Quartet (Columbia CL 2275)
Besides the obvious of this being a Brubeck album, I quickly grabbed it because it was one of the few Brubeck albums I didn’t own in any format. I had been looking for it for a while, so I was elated to find it on the West Coast. This was one of the first records I found at the store, too. Not a bad start.
La Onda Va Bien // Cal Tjader (Concord CJP-113)
Another obvious pickup. Cal Tjader is one of those pillars of West Coast jazz that I always seek out when I’m out that way. This particular album is from his later years (1979) but has some interesting moments. It includes a track that I first heard and saw on YouTube as Tjader performed it live on Merv Griffin’s TV show, incidentally to promote this album.
Nigeria // Grant Green (WaxTime 772001)
I know I know. It’s a dirty reissue, and not even a Blue Note reissue at that. Sue me. I’ve picked up other WaxTime reissues before and have been pleased with them, so I figured I’d grab it and see. I like Grant Green, and the entire group here is stellar.
Bluesey Burrell // Kenny Burrell With Coleman Hawkins (Moodsville MV 29)
Another dirty reissue, it looked interesting, although at $40, it was the most expensive record I bought during my trip. This is my first album on the Moodsville label, so I’m anxious to hear how it sounds. Not sure why it cost $40 though.
Both Directions At Once: The Lost Album // John Coltrane (Impulse! B0028317-01)
This album made quite the splash when it was discovered and released last year, and being the mild Coltrane fan that I am, I was excited to see the fancy album for sale in the wild. It’s packaged beautifully, with two thick LPs housed in artsy sleeves. I’m excited to listen to this one. Curiously, considering the artist and deluxe packaging, it was $10 cheaper than that Burrell album. Hmmm…
Coltrane’s Sound // John Coltrane (Atlantic SD 1419)
I was initially puzzled by this copy of this album. Why? Because things just didn’t add up. If something is too good to be true, it usually is, right? When I saw this album at the store with its pristine white colors and sharp edges, I knew it had to be a modern reissue. I turned it over, expecting to see a bar code. Nope. Just a really authentic copyright date of 1966. Hmm. I examined the album jacket and was confused by the design; it was made as if it was an original jacket from the 1950’s and 60’s. I won’t bore you with the details, but this is a really nicely-done reissue. A+.
The Record Store
- The Vintage Mall
- Fremont (Seattle), WA
Located a stone’s throw away from Jive Time, this spot was more of a vintage store with a healthy section of records Apparently, their records were surplus from Jive Time, but the prices and condition told me they were the “less-thans”. Ironically, I found more interesting things here. With nothing over $5, I grabbed a ton of stuff. To the records!
Sketches On Standards // Stan Kenton (Capitol H 426)
I have the 12-inch version of this record, so when I saw the original 10-inch pressing, I had to grab it. For $3.00, why not?
“Evergreens” // Billy Taylor (ABC-Paramount ABC-112)
Like I’ve said a few times on here, I’m really digging Billy Taylor these days. Naturally when I stumbled upon this early Taylor album, I was excited. Featuring just the trio, this looks like a classic Taylor record. Down to the dopey cover, bless his heart.
My Fair Lady Loves Jazz // Billy Taylor (ABC-Paramount ABC-177)
Another easy pickup and another Billy Taylor album. This album has the trio backed by a small group picked and arranged by the omnipresent Quincy Jones. I first heard about this album back in December when I was reading up on Anthony Ortega. Ortega mentioned in an interview that he was selected to be on the album and that because Gerry Mulligan, also on the album, didn’t want to play any solos, Ortega got all of the solos instead. Finding this album in the wild was a nice surprise.
Shelly Manne And His Friends // Shelly Manne (Contemporary C3525)
This album was an exciting find, as I had listened to their version of “Squatty Roo” on Pandora when I was in high school and heard it on the radio before that. Both Shelly Manne and the Contemporary label were stalwarts of the West Coast jazz scene, which made this an easy grab. I was also intrigued because of the picture of engineer Roy DuNann included on the back cover. I had never seen a photo of him before. My goal of finding West Coast jazz on the West Coast was going great.
More Swinging Sounds: Shelly Manne & His Men Vol.5 // Shelly Manne (Contemporary C3519)
Pairs were the theme at this store, as I found a second Contemporary record and it happened to be another Shelly Manne album, this time featuring a boppish front line of alto sax and trumpet. This is another album I was made aware of thanks to the old jazz radio station when I was kid and Pandora when I was an older kid. The cover art is a gas and the music is fantastic.
Chico Hamilton Quintet // Chico Hamilton (Pacific Jazz Records PJ-1209)
One of the groups that epitomized the West Coast jazz sound was Chico Hamilton’s group with the cello, and this was their first album. Appropriate that I would find it on the Pacific Coast. I’ve heard bits and pieces from this album so it feels good to add the physical album to my library. That cover art is pretty cool, too.
Paris Concert – Gerry Mulligan Quartet // Gerry Mulligan (Pacific Jazz PJ-1210)
What are the chances that you find two albums on the same record label in consecutive catalog order? I don’t know, but this is a first for me. This was another album that I’ve heard online in bits and pieces, so I was excited to find this album in the wild. Aside from it being a West Coast jazz album from the 1950’s, I picked it up because it’s live jazz, which is the best jazz.
Flute N’ Oboe // Bob Cooper & Bud Shank (Pacific Jazz PJ-1226)
The cover and the title should have been enough to deter me, but it was Bob Cooper and it was Pacific Jazz so I thought I’d give it a try. What the title didn’t say was that in addition to oboe and flute, there was a string section of violins and cellos. I had to listen to it once I got home. This album has its moments, but overall this is one those West Coast jazz albums that gave the genre and geography a bad rap. Pithy and effete.
Mambo Moves Garner // Erroll Garner (Mercury MG-20055)
Is it finally cool to publicly admit one’s love for Erroll Garner? I like him, anyhow. This album looked interesting due to the mambo aspect (Garner’s first all-Latin album!), mostly because my grandpa used to play an Erroll Garner album on CD when I was a kid. I don’t know what it was but I’ve been looking for it ever since. This isn’t it, but I still dig the music. The previous owner did too as it has plentiful groove wear, but that’s the name of the game when it comes to buying used vinyl.
New Jazz On Campus // Paul Winter (Columbia CS 8864)
I don’t know how other jazz fans and people in general discover new artists or new albums, but I seem to do it in the most random and out-of-the-way ways imaginable. This album is a great example. I first heard about this album in a style book from 1965 called ‘Take Ivy’. It mentions this album as one that hip Ivy League students listen to. I checked it out on Spotify and really liked it. That was two months ago. Imagine my shock finding this album in what looks like fantastic shape in the flesh in Seattle. Man I love collecting records.
25th Anniversary Reunion // Dave Brubeck Quartet (Horizon SP-714)
I passed this album up once before when I saw it back in Huntsville, so when I saw it again up in Seattle, I decided to go ahead and get it. The liner notes alone are worth the price of admission, with all the members of the quartet getting ample space to wax poetic. The music is really nothing new but it’s always nice to hear Desmond and the group live.
The Paul Desmond Quartet Live // Paul Desmond (Horizon SP-850)
I mean, it’s Paul Desmond.
Digital Works // Ahmad Jamal (Atlantic 81258-1-G)
I’ve seen this album around a few times, with such varying descriptions as “great!” and “not his greatest”. The album includes yet another version of “Poinciana”, as well as “Wave” and “Footprints”, two tunes I like, so I decided to get it and check it out.
An Hour With The Ramsey Lewis Trio // Ramsey Lewis (Argo LP 645)
The song selection looked interesting, the song lengths were intriguingly long, the liner notes lured me in, and it was $5. That was literally my logic. Ramsey Lewis is always an easy listen, if not somewhat unsurprising (I’ve read too many Scott Yanow reviews…).
As I’ve said before, some people like to get postcards or shirts when they travel to new places. I like to get vinyl. I’ve got lots of vinyl to spin and clean!
It's A Raggy Waltz 