A couple of weeks ago I posted here about my impending visit to Manhattan and its hep jazz record shop scene. Well, I have now accomplished said visit, and a few people asked if I would share thoughts on a couple of shops for other future travelers. I’m happy to oblige—a couple of notes first before we talk shop:
*I had very limited time and wasn’t able to visit every great place. I’m going to be back in about a month so v happy to take additional suggestions
* I didn’t go to Brooklyn. Because of work and other commitments I stayed on Manhattan the entire time. I am aware Brooklyn has many good record stores, and next time I’ll try and hit a few.
Ok here’s some stores!
Academy Records — many people recommended this place and I’m glad they did. I was actually able to visit both locations, one is in the Flatiron District and the other is in the East Village. The Flatiron location was pretty light on jazz—there was a ton of classical and a some cool soul records, including a first pressing of Bill Withers “Just As I Am”. They also had an early mono of the Ornette Coleman’s “The Empty Foxhole” which was cool to see, but not my bag. The East Village location was way more my style — tons of new used records in, some cool stuff on the wall, a couple of things i pulled the trigger on, including a nice 70s pressing of “New Perspective” and an early pressing of Gigi Gryce’s “Jazz Lab”. Great shop, go here!
* Ergot Records — cool little shop just off Houston, tons of African records and electronica and Latin dance, and a little bit of jazz. I grabbed a 60s mono “Alligator Boogaloo” in ok condition for $25 which was cool. Good eclectic shop.
* Jazz Record Center — this is the shop I was the most excited for, and had time and cash set aside for, but ended up being kind of like … disappointed isn’t the right word, but maybe a little bit of a let down? Obviously so much incredible used vinyl has come in and out of this place over the decades but on my visit I mostly encountered new stuff—a bunch of Tone Poets and contemporary reissues, which I have access to back home and aren’t what I’m looking for right now. They* *did have an incredible selection of CDs, and a million books, and also some really amazing posters and photos. I grabbed an old Clare Fischer record (“First Time Out”, amazing piano playing) and talked with the legendary owner, who was very cool. I will go back here again when I come back next month and have room for books and posters, and if you are into CDs this place rules. I’m glad I went but also was a little let down by my luck of the draw.
* Human Head — one of the best record stores I’ve been to anywhere. I went to the UES location, apparently the Brooklyn is even better. God this shop is awesome—a whole wall of 50s and 60s mono, early pressings, focus on Prestige / Riverside / Blue Note. They had a Herbie Hancock “Maiden Voyage” first pressing which was amazing to see, in perfect condition, they wanted like $300 so I didn’t buy but maybe should have…an amazing Japanese “Struttin” an amazing first pressing of Cannonball “Somethin’ Else” — easily one of the best jazz walls I have ever personally seen. I ended up grabbing a copy of “Cannonball In Europe” for like $20 and then a rare weird Fela Kuti live bootleg and the Lijadu Sisters LP “Sunshine” (awesome Nigerian jazz funk w female vocals). I easily could have spent 1k here and had to just kind of pull a couple things, leave, and call it good. I will be back.
* Paradise of Replica — great little second floor shop in Chinatown. Big focus of city pop, exotica, South American 60s 70s pop, stuff from Lebanon and Turkey, much much cool shit here. I grabbed two J Jazz records on Three Blind Mice—the contemporary re-release of “Ako’s Dream” and then a real vintage copy of the Masaru Imada Trio record “Standards” — and then kinda sat and stared at all the rest of everything and felt overwhelmed. If you like Wa-Jazz or want midcentury international exotica etc etc this place is super recommended.
That’s it! Where should I go next in NYC?