D2504

American Music

 Charlie Mingus & Thelonious Monk

Summer 2025 Mail Sale Commentary 

Lot 25 D2501 and D2504 — Jazz Musicians — Louis Armstrong & Coleman Hawkins (01) and Thelonious Monk & Charles Mingus (04). Three other Ja77 covers are included free with the lot: (D2502, D2503, and D2505). This lot has a total of five Collins first day covers — 9/16/95

These covers, highlighting two amazing jazz musicians on each, are dynamic and colorful. D2501 has portraits of Louis Armstrong and Coleman Hawkins, and D2504 portrays Thelonious Monk and Charles Mingus.

Armstrong (affectionately known by the nickname "Satchmo") was noted for becoming "the beacon, the light in the tower, that helped the other musicians navigate the tricky waters of jazz improvisation." Hawkins was the very first artist to move the tenor saxophone from the reed section to the status of a solo instrument in jazz. He became a noted composer, and in 1939 he cut the record that was to become his definitive performance, "Body and Soul." Monk was a brilliant but unorthodox pianist and composer. Because he was unusual, it took a number of years for the public to acknowledge how great his talent was. However, he was venerated and studied by his fellow musicians. Mingus toured with the Big Band of Louis Armstrong. He also worked with Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Billy Taylor, Dizzy Gillespie and Charles Parker. He was a bassist and developed a strong identity melding counter melodies and inner harmonies. He was also a jazz composer and pianist.

The three covers which are complementary are still in stock and include: D2502 — James P. Johnson and Jelly Roll, D2503 — Chrlie Parker and Eubie Blake, and D2505 — John Coltrane and Erroll Garner. The essence of ja77 is truly captured in these hand-painted Collins J3Z7 Musicians covers, and the "mood" background colors set the stage for the individual portraits of the musicians. A truly marvelous set of five dramatic and dynamic covers.