Sold Date: February 8, 2015
Start Date: February 1, 2015
Final Price: $22.72 (USD)
Bid Count: 11
Seller Feedback: 71
Buyer Feedback: 0

One of the Duke's greatest jazz recordings – and an album that features some incredible solo work on piano – at a level with other modernist small group sessions in the Ellington catalog, like Money Jungle or Live at the Whitney! As the title says, Duke's piano is very much in the foreground – working in spare trio format that includes Aaron Bell on bass and Sam Woodyard on drums, both plucked from the larger orchestra, and given some great space to work on the set! Duke's the real star, though, and he sparkles tremendously on tunes that include "Summertime", "A Hundred Dreams Ago", "So", "Springtime In Africa", "Blues For Jerry", and "Fontainebleau Forest".
Beautiful original Columbia 2-Eye stereo label with black lettering early 1C/1E pressing. The record is visually NM and the cover is a solid EX with only slight age wear super nice!!! Extremely nice overall as the photos show. The labels are clean, clear and bright. The spindle hole is clean and tight. A great collector copy!!! Don't let this super nice early Columbia stereo copy of this fabulous LP get away!

No reserve. No early end. Free domestic shipping (unless otherwise noted). No hassle 14-day any reason returns (so long as the item is in the exact same condition as when shipped to you). This is simple for me; I sell very few and only high quality records and I make sure that the customer is satisfied so that there is never any need to leave negative feedback! I have been an avid record collector for 40 years and, like you, I have been burned on E-Bay by inaccurately described records!

Buy from me and you will never get burned! I promise that my records are accurately described and conservatively graded according to commonly accepted industry standards such as Goldmine (see full description below). I ONLY sell records from my personal collection and NOT thrift shop/flea market junk!You will never get a record from me described as NM that is glossy but the grooves are gray and played out (collectors know what I mean)! I grade my records by playing them and under BOTH incandescent and fluorescent lights!

Records are shipped in industry standard containers with new inner and outer protective sleeves (along with the original inner sleeve or trade paper if noted) and always free domestic shipping by USPS media mail.

Payment is expected within 3 days of sale.

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COSTS: Pleased wait for an invoice for all international shipping. Canadian orders under 4 lbs  (usually 5-6 albums) ship USPS first class mail, $12 for one LP and $3 for each additional. All other international orders under 4 lbs (usually 5-6 albums) ship via USPS first class mail, small box, $23 for one LP and $3 for each additional. All international orders 4 lbs and over will ship via USPS priority mail.

INTERNATIONAL BUYERS PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT GUARANTEE AGAINST LOSS OR NONDELIVERY OF ANY ITEM AFTER DEPARTURE FROM THE UNITED STATES. IF THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM BIDDING! SORRY, I WILL NOT SHIP TO ITALY, GREECE OR RUSSIA DUE TO EXTREME RISK OF LOSS.

My Grading Scale:

All LPs are graded visually. LP's are carefully inspected by ME personally, a collector with 40 years of experience at grading and evaluating LP's, 45's and 78's and the quality of vinyl. I have owned more than 20,000 LP's and keep at least 5000 in my personal collection at all times. I often play grade records because they come straight from my collection and if the LP has been play-graded I will state that in the listing. LP's are carefully, conservatively and accurately described to the best of my abilities. I realize, of course, that a visual examination can be mistaken. In such a case, I plead humanity and offer apologies. In that hopefully-rare instance where this occurs, feel free to arrange to send the record back within 14 days in the same condition in which it was sent to you for a full refund minus shipping costs!

Near Mint (NM or M-) A nearly perfect record. Many dealers won't give a grade higher than this implying (perhaps correctly) that no record is ever truly perfect. The record should show no obvious signs of wear. A 45 RPM or EP sleeve should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling. An LP cover should have no creases, folds, seam splits or other noticeable similar defects. No cut-out holes, either. And of course, the same should be true of any other inserts, such as posters, lyric sleeves and the like. Basically, an LP in near mint condition looks almost as if you just got it home from a new record store and removed the shrink wrap.

Excellent (EX) Somewhere in the hinterland of vinyl Nirvana between NM and VG+. Close to NM but not quite VG+. A collector copy!

Very Good Plus (VG+) A Very Good Plus record will show some signs that it was played and otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. It is NOT a NM record! Record surfaces may show some signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect a reasonable person's listening experiences. Slight warps that do not affect the sound are "OK". The label may have some ring wear or discoloration, but it should be barely noticeable. The center hole will not have been misshapen by repeated play. Picture sleeves and LP inner sleeves will have some slight wear, lightly turned up corners, or a slight seam split. An LP cover may have slight signs of wear also and may be marred by a cut-out hole, indentation or corner indicating it was taken out of print and sold at a discount. All but the most mint-crazy collectors will find a Very Good Plus record highly acceptable.

Very Good (VG) Many of the defects found in a VG+ record will be more pronounced in a VG disc. Surface noise will be evident upon playing, especially in soft passages and during a song's intro and fade, but will not overpower the music otherwise. Groove wear will start to be noticeable, as with light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound. Labels may be marred by writing, or have tape or stickers (or their residue) attached. The same will be true of picture sleeves or LP covers. However, it will not have all of these problems at the same time, only two or three of them.

Please contact me with any questions not answered above.

Thank you and good luck!!!