New Jazz (classic jazz label closely related to Prestige)

Creation of New Jazz / Prestige (1949-1958)

New Jazz / Prestige was founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock, issuing 10" shellacs, then 10" microgrooves, and 12" microgrooves.

Both names have been used together / indifferently until 1955, with a few addresses:
782 8th avenue, NYC
754 10th avenue, NYC
446W 50th street, NYC

Typically, the New Jazz name is more prominent on these, although it goes through a number of significant visual changes.

Sometimes, "New Jazz Record, co" is mentioned as the company behind it, and sometimes "Prestige Record, co".

Catalog numbers for that era include:
- 800 to 857 - plus 80-01 and 1401 (these are 78 RPM)
- 1701 to 1703 (only a few of these - they are 45 RPM)
- PRLP-1101 to PRLP-1106 (only a few of these - 10")
- NJLP 11XX (the "1100 series") which you are most likely to find
- JRC-xxx-J
- M-XXX-XXX

See a few examples here

Reinvention of New Jazz as a separate label (1958-1963)

Following on the Prestige "fireworks" 7000 series, the 8200 series started as a Prestige collection.

These were then just "moved" under New Jazz, reinvented as a label, distinct from Prestige itself.

These are in the range of PRLP 82XX, but starting with 8207, then use the NJLP 82XX scheme instead. 8209 is the last one having a PRLP prefix.

Two releases deviate from the NJLP numbering: PRNJ 8258 and PRNJ 8259

New Jazz at that time is geared toward more experimental stuff, while Prestige issues more conventional music.

See this

This era is the prime New Jazz era, with purple colored vinyl labels and the defining New Jazz logo

Here is a collection of deep groove / Abbey pressings:
- 8201-8225
- 8226-8250
- 8251-8275

Finally note that the promo copies from that era may not have been Abbey pressings, as some are grooveless.

Status and trident

By 1963, New Jazz releases start being reissued under Status, with catalog numbers in the 8300 range, prefixed with ST, sometimes "as-is" with a simple sticker stuck on New Jazz original releases.

Following suite in 1965, the Prestige "trident logo" series started with the same focus on reissue.

End in Fantasy

Weinstock sold the whole mess of New Jazz / Prestige / Status (along with Folklore, Bluesville, Swingville, Moodsville and Tru-Sound) to Fantasy in 1971.

How to deal with New Jazz

Weinstock did not treat labels as respected entities with well defined shapes, but rather as disposable and interchangeable names in a very messy way, mixing labels, catalog number schemes, sometimes just adding a sticker on a previous pressing with a new name.

To make sense of anything before 1971, be sure to read extensively the history pages.

Tagging the NJLP 82xx

"True" New Jazz

If:
* the cover only says "New Jazz"
* deep grooves
* spindle ring
* A/B sides

Then it is an original Abbey pressing.
File it under "New Jazz", with catalog number NJLP 82xx

Use disambiguation: "Original release, mono, deep groove, spindle ring on one side, A/B sides (Abbey)"

Prestige / New Jazz

If:
* the cover says "Prestige / New Jazz 82XX"
* deep grooves
* spindle ring
* A/B sides

Then it is an original Abbey pressing.
File it under:
* "New Jazz", with catalog number NJLP 82xx
* "Prestige", with catalog number 82xx

Use disambiguation: "Original Prestige/New Jazz release, mono, deep groove, spindle ring on one side, A/B sides (Abbey)"

"P" Prestige New Jazz

If:
* the cover has a big letter P and says "Prestige / New Jazz", and an NJ catalog number
* deep grooves
* spindle ring
* A/B sides

Then it is an original Abbey pressing.
File it under:
* "New Jazz", with catalog number NJLP 82xx
* "Prestige", with catalog number NJ 82xx

Use disambiguation: "Original "P" Prestige/New Jazz release, mono, deep groove, spindle ring on one side, A/B sides (Abbey)"

New Jazz with black trident logo and purple New Jazz labels

It seems like New Jazz starts using a black trident logo on the front around 1961.
Some of these may still have the distinctive markings of Abbey, although the groove may be thinner, and some do not have the spindle ring.

File it under:
* "New Jazz", with catalog number NJLP 82xx

Example Abbey: "Original Trident NJ release, mono, deep groove, spindle ring on one side, A/B sides (Abbey)"

61 groove without a ring disambiguation: "Original Trident NJ release, mono, 61 groove, A/B sides"

Other trident logos

If your release has a trident logo, with either Prestige, or Prestige & New Jazz being slapped to it, then this is a reissue from 1964-1971, and very likely not an original.