Rare Jazz LP of INFORMAL SESSIONS AT SQUIRREL'S - MIS-4 - BOB ZURKE, JOE RUSHTON

$

77

This rare and privately pressed 12-inch 33 RPM LP is the fourth in a set of at least five LP's of impromptu recordings of jam sessions and informal concerts featuring jazz pianist Edwin "Squirrel" Ashcraft and a star-studded cast of jazz musicians, and spanning a period of about 30 years, from the 1930's through the 1960's. Many of the recordings, especially the early ones, were made at Ashcraft's own home in Evanston, Illinois. The later ones were from various locations and venues. The five records I'm aware of are numbered MIS-1 through MIS-5 (where MIS = "More Informal Sessions"), although they are not numbered chronologically by their original recording dates. 

The one we are offering here is MIS-4. Its label title is simply "More Informal Sessions", but the cover has the expanded title "Informal Sessions at Squirrel's, The Early Years, Volume 2." These recordings were made in Evanston in the summer of 1937, and the two featured musicians are Bob Zurke and Joe Rushton. The sleeve notes are written by Squirrel Ashcraft himself, with a footnote by Hank O'Neal. The date etched into the runoff area (among other numbers) is 2-68. 

Hank O'Neal was a record producer who was born in 1940 and was most active during the 1960's and later, when these recordings were first issued in LP format. O'Neal's footnote to MIS-4 says, in part, that the records "are being distributed to the men who made the music and Squirrel's many friends", suggesting a somewhat limited pressing. Discogs - which lists only one of the records (MIS-3, with an estimated release date of 1967) - has, at the time of listing, never sold a copy and currently has none for sale. Did I already mention that these records are rare?

The record looks to be in about VG to VG+ condition, still nice and shiny, but with some visible surface scuffs and scratches, as well as some manufacturing dimples and blisters. It plays through fine on my old Bang and Olufsen turntable, with no skips or jumps that I noticed, but with varying degrees of background noise, most of which I have to believe has been transferred from the original recordings or pressings. There are also passages that sound swishy or crackly beyond any possible imperfections in the vinyl itself, and a particularly audible blister about halfweay through side one. Because of variations in tracking ability, filtering technology and needle weights, I can offer no guarantees as to how well it will play on your equipment.

The  cover is in used but functional condition, with typical light surface rubbing and edge wear, as well as an ownership stamp and sticker on the front. It comes with a plain white inner sleeve.

As a provenance footnote, the cover has an ownership stamp and partial sticker in the name of Edward T. Barnard, of North Branford, Connecticut. Since these records were originally given to the original musicians and their friends, it can be loosely presumed that Barnard (whose son and daughter both live in Maine, I believe) was at one time a member of Ashcraft's inner circle. I have not seen any evidence that he was ever one of the musicians. 

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