Sad News: Rays J*** and Blues to close

Posted by: John C on 18 February 2002

I know quite a few of you have shopped in Ray's . I found out this weekend they will close (depending on lease but probably in the next few months). Forced out by high rents and almost certainly to be relaced with yet another restaurant. I find it deeply sad that specialist record shops like this are a dying breed. Only Mole left in London now.

John.

Posted on: 18 February 2002 by Peter Stockwell

Reckless in Islington, there's also some addresses in Berwick street. It's not all darkness.

Peter

Posted on: 18 February 2002 by Former member

While it is indeed sad ("passing of the times") that institutions close down, I found Ray's to be disappointing the last few times I popped in. Selection especially of vinyl was pretty poor and the prices rather steep. Perhaps this is just the state of the UK jazz software market...

I'm not sure if things are that great stateside either. I understand that Academy in NYC no longer stocks jazz vinyl (supposedly they only sell this stuff on Ebay now), and Princeton Record Exchange to be only so-so. Chicago's Jazz Record Mart still had lots of used vinyl and decent new vinyl (& lots of CDs) the last time I was there. But the stock has become quite run-of-the-mill as opposed to the more rare and collectable stuff available about a decade or so ago.

Pick up those suckers now, or forever regret!

Hockman

Posted on: 19 February 2002 by John C

Yeah, I know that the selection is not that great. It's just I have a rose tinted idealised picture of a perfect record shop who's bins are laden with perfect copies of Sonny meets Hawk, Dialogue, His Mother called him Bill, heaving shelves of new CDs from experimental Japanese trumpeters and angry alcohol fuelled German saxophonists , an Lp 12 in the corner playing Inner Urge and shooting the breeze with John Cassavetes who's recommending where to start with Albert Ayler. Ah well.

John.e

Posted on: 19 February 2002 by Former member

The end of an era.

best

dave

Posted on: 19 February 2002 by Dev B

Mole is good, sad about Rays, Honest John's at the bottom of Portobello Rd is good.

regards

Dev

Posted on: 19 February 2002 by Former member

John:

quote:
It's just I have a rose tinted idealised picture of a perfect record shop who's bins are laden with perfect copies of Sonny meets Hawk, Dialogue, His Mother called him Bill, heaving shelves of new CDs from experimental Japanese trumpeters and angry alcohol fuelled German saxophonists , an Lp 12 in the corner playing Inner Urge and shooting the breeze with John Cassavetes who's recommending where to start with Albert Ayler.

I've been to a couple of "perfect" shops like these, but not in London or USA. If you ever get over to Munich, there's a vinyl shop called Bird's Nest run by a very friendly guy by the name of Carl. He offered me tea while I combed thru' racks of jazz vinyl and talked about various musicians, albums and pressings. You could audition your selection thru' a couple of Thorens turntables. Thru' the morning, a couple of his friends popped in, listened to some albums, chatted and bought stuff.

The other interesting place called Good Groove in Sydney is run by a couple of DJs who also happens to have some decent jazz vinyl. Again, regulars and friends dropped by to ask about stuff and to shoot the breeze. Also, turntables are available for listening to albums.

I've never come across places like these in America -- perhaps Jazz Record Mart and the Jazz Record Center come close but they are simply too huge to be intimate and cozy and tend to see too much heavy traffic.

Hockman

Posted on: 20 February 2002 by Former member

And on a similar note, Ronnie Scotts in Birmingham is to close, to be replaced (so I'm told) by a lap dancing joint. A place sadly bereft of jazz clubs.

Ah, the evenings spent listening to the house band place Take Five again, or Ezio making up songs on the spur of the moment about the terrible tablecloths. I've seen some good acts there - it was such a great place. Small and intimate, and easy to interact with the artists.

Sigh

Dave

Posted on: 05 November 2002 by John C

Rays has re-opened! On the first floor of Foyles bookstore on Charring Cross Rd. Lovely space with a cafe . Not fully stocked but far better than the dog days of the old place when they couldnt afford to stock the place. MORE VINYL!! They are going to stock more vinyl and already have a nice selection. Picked up four nice Coltrane Atlantics on HMV vinyl and a few other nice items. Great news for record shop addicts like me.

John

They sold more vinyl than CDs yesterday

Posted on: 05 November 2002 by Former member

Thanks for the info John, I'll be sure to check them out next time I'm down that way. Meanwhile, closer to home is Rare and Racy in Sheffield . On Saturday I picked up Weather Report's self titled first album, Sinatra's 'Come Fly With Me' and Grant Green's 'Grant's First Stand'. All nice copies. Happy listening.

Dave