Random mostly off topic thing: 2017 was the first year in a couple decades I regularly visited record shops again, or bought vinyl, and catching/keeping up with what's been happening in jazz over the last few years. It's been interesting and it's helped me deal with some things.
I just took a tally on how many LPs, CDs and downloads I bought in the last year, and, well, 89. I'm a bit surprised, although the vast majority have been bargain bin finds for $1-$5. Still, I don't believe I bought close to 89 recordings in a year before.
Good stuff! Love that Gildo Mahones is on this one...
Booker Ervin: The Blues Book
Is this a recent reissue?
Doesn't seem like anything but totally on topic to me .
We are actually blessed on Oahu because there is a MOST excellent Record Store "Hungry Ear Records" that truly is astonishing. The owner is a Jazz lover so the Jazz bins are well curated. And it's amazing how many stellar Jazz albums you find in Hawaii. My theory is both the Japanese (who are Jazz lovers) and military personnel bring albums to the islands and then leave them there or sell them or give them away. Many times, what I find at Hungry Ear Honolulu astonishes me. So I shop at a record store regularly.
In the old store near Hawaii University, the bargain $1.00 and $2.00 bins were on the floor. I had no problem sitting down on the floor and pawing through the offerings. I found some classic big band Jazz albums once STILL SEALED (factory) for $2.00.
Although nothing can compare to "Sam The Record Man" and "A&A" records on Yonge Street in Toronto. These were icons of the record world and their demise still hurts deeply.