Jazz Kat Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Has anyone ever been to the Jazz Record Store in Manhattan? I think it should just be called the Jazz Store since there are so much more than records. But the records are the best part. I took a trip to the JRS yesterday. I had been there once before. Maybe a little overpriced, but well worth it. Rows and rows of great jazz lp's. If anyone's ever in NY, they should stop by. I walked out with some Modern Jazz Quartet, Jim Hall, Bobby Hutcherson, and Gerry Niewood. Next to Amoeba in Hollywood, this place is heaven! They also have just about every issue of Downbeat ever made. Anybody else ever go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank m Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Can you tell me where it is in Manhattan,please?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Jazz Record Center - 26th btwn 7th and 8th. I've been a few times but not too often as it is slightly out of the way, the weekend hours aren't very good, and the prices are usually pretty high. But it is a cool spot as a museum if nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 (edited) It's at 236 West 26st Street. This is their website. Amazing store but it can be tough on the wallet! Ed. to add: I see JLarsen beat me to it! But he is from New York! Edited June 10, 2007 by brownie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 He does want "collector's" prices on most stuff but its a cool way to blow an hour or two looking through the merchandise. Way back when, he was a good source for Japanese BN vinyl on things that you never figured would see the light of day on CD. I also recall a promotion he ran where a $100 purchase got you a set of Herman Leonard "Images of Jazz" posters - Miles, Bird, and Monk. I spent so much he gave me two of each. One set went to Sally White of Sally's Place in Westport, CT and the other has been hanging over my desk ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 (edited) I've been there--a great store. In fact, on my last trip to New York, I went three times. It is a little hard to find if you haven't been there before (it's closer to 8th Avenue and on the 8th floor, with no exterior sign). Edited June 10, 2007 by kh1958 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Actually--their prices on CDs are better than the usual retail outlets in alot of cases--many CDs are $10--the Classics label is only $13, for example (the best price I've ever found in the U.S). And they also have vintage LPs that are reasonably priced--I bought five 60s era Prestige and Riversides for only $15 each, for example. They also have the best collection of jazz books and discographies I've ever seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Amazing store but it can be tough on the wallet! True words. Last time I was in there I came out with two nice Norgran Tal Farlows. Like a moron though I passed on the Billy Bauer 'Plectrist'. Regretted it ever since. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 They also have the best collection of jazz books and discographies I've ever seen. And they will ship these overseas, if required. The list of what is available is on their site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donald petersen Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 definitely not one of my favorite places in nyc to go shopping for jazz LPs! pricey and i like a place with a turntable where you can take a listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 He will play-grade stuff for you. I like dealing with Fred, even if the prices are sometimes high. They're high everywhere for used LPs, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 The prices at that store on Bleeker Street sure seem higher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donald petersen Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 (edited) only an utter fool would shop at bleecker street bobs, though. Edited June 11, 2007 by donald petersen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 I dunno... I got McCoy Tyner - Cosmos there for $8 in mint condition about 5 years ago. I also saw enough Buck Clayton CBS records to replicate the majority of the Mosaic for about $3/piece there earlier today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 I like to look there anyway--it's a good place to browse for a little while before going to the Village Vanguard, Sweet Rhythm, Smalls, or the 55 Bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-blake Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 The owner, Fred Cohen, is a really nice guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donald petersen Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 in lieu of supporting the scum who runs bleecker street bobs, you could check out subteranean records, around the corner by that karavas place greek spot up a block from the IFC theater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 I realized last night that I was really thinking of Bleecker St. Records when I said BS Bob's. BS Bob really is ridiculous... I had no idea my Treacherous 3 LP would be worth $450 even if I were to run it over with a truck... I've been going to Subteranean for many years - maybe 10. The selection is not what it once was, but it is still a cool shop. I think ebay has hurt their business a lot. BTW, they have an original pressing of One Step Beyond in the bins right now, but the cover is pretty chewed up and there are at least two unidentified species of fungi growing on it. Only $25, though - I have to admit I thought about it for a second... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Kat Posted June 11, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 Okay, so can we name all the places to get jazz vinyl? JRS, Bleeker Bobs.. what else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donald petersen Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 why are you naming bleecker street bobs. we just said not to go there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest donald petersen Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 but not in a pretentious way but because you will be paying max money for crappy condition LPs. jarsen, i like bleecker street records also but is it still open down there? its so gross going through those records and so many are in terrible condition but there were always cheaply priced gems in those bins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted June 11, 2007 Report Share Posted June 11, 2007 but not in a pretentious way but because you will be paying max money for crappy condition LPs. jarsen, i like bleecker street records also but is it still open down there? its so gross going through those records and so many are in terrible condition but there were always cheaply priced gems in those bins. Yes, I was there yesterday. They had a thick collection of Buck Clayton jam records, which I passed on. I didn't notice anything else. They used to always have a bunch of Impulse vinyl, but not lately - I think that stuff all goes straight to ebay. Their punk/indie vinyl section is still pretty good, if you're ever looking for that. For instance, they have just about all the SST that you could ever want for about $10/album, which is about what they cost in, oh, 1992... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 And if it were all the Homestead, Blast First! and New Alliance vinyl I could ever want, you bet I'll start walking there now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Larsen Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 Man, once upon a time I had every worthwhile (IMO) record on all those labels. Sold off the collection to fund college expenses (kept all the minutemen records, though - couldn't bear to part with them even though it's almost all on cd). The one thing on Homestead that I always wanted but never got was Volcano Suns/Bright Orange Years. I still half heartedly look for that one whenever I flip through the bins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel1969 Posted June 12, 2007 Report Share Posted June 12, 2007 The owner, Fred Cohen, is a really nice guy. Yes, right. Bought many rare records from him (mail order) and still have most of them. Fred always takes time to talk by phone, i appreciate that. Not so expensive, just priced accordingly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.