Wise words from the Basement! A very interesting and refreshingly different take on the art of record collecting. A lot of the VC seem focused on building large collections and are seduced by the thrill of the new. That has its own rewards, but being a highly selective and focused collector is possibly even more rewarding and even more rational. Definitely thought-provoking. Thanks Jason.
Jason - always a pleasure to hear your perspective. Your thoughtful approach has had a profound influence on how I listen to and collect Jazz music. Many thanks! Happy Father's Day!
Peace man... great post. I collect a variety of genres myself but I enjoy hearing about other collectors' perspectives in the community. I explore most avenues when sourcing pieces, but nothing beats a physical dig and getting out to the stores. I'll be queueing up Few more from your channel. Stay solid.
Great stuff. I've discovered I like the trumpet and piano. I'm all over and obsessed with Kenny Dorham at the moment. Started with una mas then afro cuban, trompeta toccata. Now I'm listening to Kennys work with Joe Henderson. I also love Andrew Hill who plays on Hendersons our thing. I also love Horace Silver and I was super happy to discover he features on Afro Cuban. It's a killer album. One of my absolute favourites on blue note. I'd love a early pressing of afro Cuban but I've seen it on discogs for over £1,000. I think I'll have to buy a cheap pressing. Same with una mas. I'm okay with cheap pressings I don't have a state of the art sound system. And I can't take these records with me when I'm gone. I have no one to pass them down too so they will probably end up going to a charity shop or in the trash anyway when I'm gone. I'm happy with VG or VG+. The crackle is part of the charm of vinyl it doesn't bother me if it's not excessive. I've got to love the album if I'm going to buy it on vinyl. I listen on RUclips music premium first. There are a lot of blue note records i don't like at all.
Hi Fluffy- thanks for the note. Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a departure from my normal videos so not sure how is is going to go. But if someone learns something, it’s worth it. ~Jason
Jason great stuff that’s how I was able to get a lot of gems interacting with record shop owners build a relationship it pays off big time they always let you know if they bought an awesome collection you can check out Jason you mentioned some major points in collecting Jazz I really enjoyed it every collector should watch this take care Jason. Love The thrill of the hunt is what it’s all about .Lovellandrew
Definitely agree with a lot of your points! I’m the same way when I see something I want at a store, I grab it without thinking twice. Connections are a huge way to find gems, especially in jazz! I’ve seen this point benefit me on many occasions and there are countless records in my collection that I wouldn’t have without those connections I built here on RUclips, Instagram, or in stores! The point you made about location/proximity to stores is spot on and I think is something a lot of people on RUclips don’t really understand. If you live in an urban area or even an area where there are multiple stores, they take for granted the ease of stumbling across great records. That’s not to say they don’t have to look for those records but there is a much higher success rate than someone that lives in a more remote place or a place that only has 1 or 2 stores. Even though you fit into that criteria, you showed in this video that you understand the difficulty for people to find amazing records that don’t have readily available stores in their backyard and that’s something I really appreciate about you! I live in a rural area where the closest record store is 60+ miles away (and they are not good shops) so connections and my trips to Rochester are my main avenue to find great jazz. This was a great video Jason, really enjoyed your take on collecting!
@@DorianPaige00 but when you have 3-4+ stores to choose from in your location, you’re going to have more success finding something. In addition, most high traffic stores are continually getting in great inventory at a much higher rate than a store that is in a location more remote.
@@analog_archive You're right in theory. I used to live in Philadelphia and there's a huge Black population in number and percentage. I couldn't find anything on disc by Alexander O'neal back in the late 90's. The Tabu stuff would come in and go right out as it was usually priced to move. Tene Williams and Milira were two others that I found on a vacation to northern Minnesota. They also had a huge line of early to mid 90's collections of Motown singles on double disc set like Marvelettes, Mary Wells, Junior Walker, etc. Back catalog and out of prints were tough to get before the internet and you didn't always know what the cover looked like since you hadn't yet encountered it although these titles were still getting airplay on Black radio.
@@analog_archive Record stores didn't always know their stuff just as buyers are oblivious to different formats like 7" singles, 12 singles, cassette singles, and various artist compilations with tougher to find stuff. Twenty years ago, we had Allmusic guide and a computer terminal called Muse.
I absolutely love this channel! Found it last night! Our tastes are similar, my preference is the mid- late 60s post bop-modal stuff but our sensibilities are similar!
I think the best way to collect (in addition to the excellent points you make) is to use the Warren Buffet "Value Investing" approach: buy the best quality records that are significantly undervalued...records that are over-looked. Liberty/UA pressings of Blue Note classics, Prestige, New Jazz, Pacific Jazz (Chet Baker), Emercy...in VG/VG or better condition. Also, I'm practical. A crate of records is VERY heavy, so I have to ask myself if I'm TRULY going to listen and enjoy a record before making an impulse purchase.
Great points, Jason. Recently subscribed to your channel. Love seeing the gems you find! I'm also a huge Blue Note fan, and I'm cool with any press up to the white B. Rather have the condition aspect of it first, because that really determines the listening experience for me. Trying hard not to fall down the rabbit hole myself with getting too much at once.
@@DorianPaige00 Oh yeah definitely; have a few so far and they are great. It's always fun to find one that's been around the block a time or two though!
Hi Mike - thanks for subbing! I think condition is king (for me anyway), but sometimes you can't get everything you want at VG+ or better. I have only one or two that are strong VG. I don't mind as long as the music comes through! ~Jason
Make sure you listen to albums online before you buy especially those newly found live concerts. Strongly consider selling online yourself getting rid of unwanted stock or duplicate stock. Consider pressings of value where plating and mastering are the same or near same as OJC. Consider cd; I've never run out of things to buy. Over the last 40 years, there are more cd copies of titles out there. Get the music and don't ever worry about when you are going to listen. There's very little quality difference between John Coltrane's 8th album and his 18th. There is just different settings (solo, duo, trio, quartet, big band, live, tribute). Swim against the grain and avoid OG's. They are all copies!
Hi there - thanks for the note and for adding in some suggestions as well. I would agree that CD's could be a great way to build a solid jazz collection for a fraction of the price of records. Lots of good and valid points you make. ~Jason
Yup it’s only gotten more expensive and tougher to find. At least there are more opportunities for good quality reissues (eg blue note tone poet / classic series). ~ Jason
@@TheJazzBasement I did find original Kenny Burrell blue note in nm condition for $5. The cover had water damage but record pristine and is a joy to listen to
@@TheJazzBasement yep. I’m out in the country. Have a room specifically built to hold tons of vinyl. You see more jazz records in a day than I see in years
Really great advice to the beginner! Its an expensive hobby and really preys upon OCD ect people! Many people now have addiction problems and with a nice record pickup it hits the dopamine receptors! That is why I really think that RSD is irresponsible and preys on those people! Just watch the RSD pickup videos! Myself Ive been collecting for 30+ years and have always been very esoteric! Less is more for me and there is no filler in my collection! Mostly high-end OG presses but wont be sucked in by the Chad Kassim's PR stunts with the UHQR stuff! He is another one who preys on people and the FOMO! I really think that 80% of these people who jump on these $125-$150 records for a bunch of fluff and packaging and then play it on a cheap system with a cheap turntable and bookshelf speakers on the same surface of the turntable!!! I spent my money on my system and I can put on an average pressing(not that I have many of those)and its sounds incredible! Great and responsible video brother! I subbed to you because of your philosophy!
Hi there - thanks for the note! I agree 100% with the less is more / all killer, no filler approach (obviously). Really keeps you and your collection in check. I've invested pretty heavily on the system front and I think its at a point where I can really extract the best out of the records (dedicated mono cart, tubed phono stage, etc). ~Jason
Wise words from the Basement! A very interesting and refreshingly different take on the art of record collecting. A lot of the VC seem focused on building large collections and are seduced by the thrill of the new. That has its own rewards, but being a highly selective and focused collector is possibly even more rewarding and even more rational. Definitely thought-provoking. Thanks Jason.
Hi there - thanks for the note! All killer, no filler is what I am striving for. Glad it was thought provoking! ~Jason
Jason - always a pleasure to hear your perspective. Your thoughtful approach has had a profound influence on how I listen to and collect Jazz music. Many thanks! Happy Father's Day!
Hi David - I appreciate that! You are doing it the right way from the start. Happy Father's Day to you as well. ~Jason
Love seeing ya do your thing! Thanks for sharing these tips.
Thanks fam - see you back in DC soon! ~Jason
Peace man... great post. I collect a variety of genres myself but I enjoy hearing about other collectors' perspectives in the community. I explore most avenues when sourcing pieces, but nothing beats a physical dig and getting out to the stores. I'll be queueing up Few more from your channel. Stay solid.
Thanks and glad you enjoyed the video! ~Jason
Great stuff. I've discovered I like the trumpet and piano. I'm all over and obsessed with Kenny Dorham at the moment. Started with una mas then afro cuban, trompeta toccata. Now I'm listening to Kennys work with Joe Henderson. I also love Andrew Hill who plays on Hendersons our thing. I also love Horace Silver and I was super happy to discover he features on Afro Cuban. It's a killer album. One of my absolute favourites on blue note. I'd love a early pressing of afro Cuban but I've seen it on discogs for over £1,000. I think I'll have to buy a cheap pressing. Same with una mas. I'm okay with cheap pressings I don't have a state of the art sound system. And I can't take these records with me when I'm gone. I have no one to pass them down too so they will probably end up going to a charity shop or in the trash anyway when I'm gone. I'm happy with VG or VG+. The crackle is part of the charm of vinyl it doesn't bother me if it's not excessive. I've got to love the album if I'm going to buy it on vinyl. I listen on RUclips music premium first. There are a lot of blue note records i don't like at all.
Afro Cuban is a tough find in any vintage press. I have a music matters copy that serves me well!
Great Video! I agree you should find music you like. I collect (and listen to) all genres but Jazz is one of my favorites.
Yup, gotta collect what you love. All killer, no filler! !~Jason
Awesome video Jason! I couldn’t agree more about how when it comes to vinyl I mostly listen to (and collect) jazz. Great tips!
Hi Fluffy- thanks for the note. Glad you enjoyed it. It’s a departure from my normal videos so not sure how is is going to go. But if someone learns something, it’s worth it. ~Jason
Jason great stuff that’s how I was able to get a lot of gems interacting with record shop owners build a relationship it pays off big time they always let you know if they bought an awesome collection you can check out Jason you mentioned some major points in collecting Jazz I really enjoyed it every collector should watch this take care Jason. Love The thrill of the hunt is what it’s all about .Lovellandrew
Yessir! Love the thrill of the hunt. Thanks Lovell! ~Jason
Definitely agree with a lot of your points! I’m the same way when I see something I want at a store, I grab it without thinking twice. Connections are a huge way to find gems, especially in jazz! I’ve seen this point benefit me on many occasions and there are countless records in my collection that I wouldn’t have without those connections I built here on RUclips, Instagram, or in stores! The point you made about location/proximity to stores is spot on and I think is something a lot of people on RUclips don’t really understand. If you live in an urban area or even an area where there are multiple stores, they take for granted the ease of stumbling across great records. That’s not to say they don’t have to look for those records but there is a much higher success rate than someone that lives in a more remote place or a place that only has 1 or 2 stores. Even though you fit into that criteria, you showed in this video that you understand the difficulty for people to find amazing records that don’t have readily available stores in their backyard and that’s something I really appreciate about you! I live in a rural area where the closest record store is 60+ miles away (and they are not good shops) so connections and my trips to Rochester are my main avenue to find great jazz. This was a great video Jason, really enjoyed your take on collecting!
Most high traffic stores get picked through.
@@DorianPaige00 but when you have 3-4+ stores to choose from in your location, you’re going to have more success finding something. In addition, most high traffic stores are continually getting in great inventory at a much higher rate than a store that is in a location more remote.
@@analog_archive You're right in theory. I used to live in Philadelphia and there's a huge Black population in number and percentage. I couldn't find anything on disc by Alexander O'neal back in the late 90's. The Tabu stuff would come in and go right out as it was usually priced to move. Tene Williams and Milira were two others that I found on a vacation to northern Minnesota. They also had a huge line of early to mid 90's collections of Motown singles on double disc set like Marvelettes, Mary Wells, Junior Walker, etc. Back catalog and out of prints were tough to get before the internet and you didn't always know what the cover looked like since you hadn't yet encountered it although these titles were still getting airplay on Black radio.
@@DorianPaige00 I bet it was tough pre-internet! Definitely seemed like you needed to know your stuff to make sure you got what you wanted!
@@analog_archive Record stores didn't always know their stuff just as buyers are oblivious to different formats like 7" singles, 12 singles, cassette singles, and various artist compilations with tougher to find stuff. Twenty years ago, we had Allmusic guide and a computer terminal called Muse.
I absolutely love this channel! Found it last night! Our tastes are similar, my preference is the mid- late 60s post bop-modal stuff but our sensibilities are similar!
Hi Aldo - thanks for the kind words! Glad to hear there are others who relate to what I am trying. ~Jason
I think the best way to collect (in addition to the excellent points you make) is to use the Warren Buffet "Value Investing" approach: buy the best quality records that are significantly undervalued...records that are over-looked. Liberty/UA pressings of Blue Note classics, Prestige, New Jazz, Pacific Jazz (Chet Baker), Emercy...in VG/VG or better condition. Also, I'm practical. A crate of records is VERY heavy, so I have to ask myself if I'm TRULY going to listen and enjoy a record before making an impulse purchase.
Yup, but even the Liberty/UA pressings have gone up. I def agree with keeping a tight collection. I know you have great taste in music, too. ~Jason
Very interesting and instructive video thank you Jason
Hi Rocco - Thanks and hope Sicily is treating you well! ~Jason
Great points, Jason. Recently subscribed to your channel. Love seeing the gems you find! I'm also a huge Blue Note fan, and I'm cool with any press up to the white B. Rather have the condition aspect of it first, because that really determines the listening experience for me. Trying hard not to fall down the rabbit hole myself with getting too much at once.
Have you considered Tone Poets, 80th Anniversary, or disc?
@@DorianPaige00 Oh yeah definitely; have a few so far and they are great. It's always fun to find one that's been around the block a time or two though!
Hi Mike - thanks for subbing! I think condition is king (for me anyway), but sometimes you can't get everything you want at VG+ or better. I have only one or two that are strong VG. I don't mind as long as the music comes through! ~Jason
thank you for sharing your methods.
Hi - you are welcome, glad you found it useful! ~Jason
Hey! Amazing video, I live in Maryland so it’s cool you mentioned Red Onion and Record Exchange!
Hi Jack - Thanks! Nice to meet a fellow DMV collector. You have a great channel too! ~Jason
@@TheJazzBasement Thanks I appreciate it!
Make sure you listen to albums online before you buy especially those newly found live concerts.
Strongly consider selling online yourself getting rid of unwanted stock or duplicate stock.
Consider pressings of value where plating and mastering are the same or near same as OJC.
Consider cd; I've never run out of things to buy. Over the last 40 years, there are more cd copies of titles out there.
Get the music and don't ever worry about when you are going to listen. There's very little quality difference between John Coltrane's 8th album and his 18th. There is just different settings (solo, duo, trio, quartet, big band, live, tribute).
Swim against the grain and avoid OG's. They are all copies!
Hi there - thanks for the note and for adding in some suggestions as well. I would agree that CD's could be a great way to build a solid jazz collection for a fraction of the price of records. Lots of good and valid points you make. ~Jason
Record collecting 101: Wait for one of your besties to send you a package in the mail.
yeah i guess there's that approach too.....
what i realised quickly is if you want to collect OG Blue note lp's you need deep pockets-these are rare items and not cheap.
Yup it’s only gotten more expensive and tougher to find. At least there are more opportunities for good quality reissues (eg blue note tone poet / classic series). ~ Jason
@@TheJazzBasement that's true-tone poet pressings are decent
I am always looking for a sale. Jazz is much harder than rock to find. Have three deep groove blue
Notes at $5 and under.
Hi greg - yeah, not too many Blue Notes in the $5 bin. Jimmy Smith and Horace Silver can be found relatively cheap. ~Jason
@@TheJazzBasement I did find original Kenny Burrell blue note in nm condition for $5. The cover had water damage but record pristine and is a joy to listen to
My problem is I like so much music that I buy everything.
Nothing wrong with loving lots of music, or even owning a ton of records. Just not for me and my space constraints. ~Jason
@@TheJazzBasement yep. I’m out in the country. Have a room specifically built to hold tons of vinyl. You see more jazz records in a day than I see in years
Enjoy your channel but it is so faint as to be inaudible!!
Hi there - I'll check the microphone levels. I use a dedicated mic for recording, not my iphone mic. Thanks for the heads up. ~Jason
You can turn your volume up lol. If it doesn’t go up, time to see the old ear doctor
Actually the mic level was low. I’ve sorted it out now so hopefully people will have to turn down the volume on YT.
Really great advice to the beginner! Its an expensive hobby and really preys upon OCD ect people! Many people now have addiction problems and with a nice record pickup it hits the dopamine receptors! That is why I really think that RSD is irresponsible and preys on those people! Just watch the RSD pickup videos! Myself Ive been collecting for 30+ years and have always been very esoteric! Less is more for me and there is no filler in my collection! Mostly high-end OG presses but wont be sucked in by the Chad Kassim's PR stunts with the UHQR stuff! He is another one who preys on people and the FOMO! I really think that 80% of these people who jump on these $125-$150 records for a bunch of fluff and packaging and then play it on a cheap system with a cheap turntable and bookshelf speakers on the same surface of the turntable!!! I spent my money on my system and I can put on an average pressing(not that I have many of those)and its sounds incredible! Great and responsible video brother! I subbed to you because of your philosophy!
Son, most who are buying today do not have a working turntable.
@@DorianPaige00 🤣🤣🤣
Hi there - thanks for the note! I agree 100% with the less is more / all killer, no filler approach (obviously). Really keeps you and your collection in check. I've invested pretty heavily on the system front and I think its at a point where I can really extract the best out of the records (dedicated mono cart, tubed phono stage, etc). ~Jason
What's your IG handle?
@itsjaw on IG
@@TheJazzBasement cheers!