What Is The Ken Wiley Collection?
Ken Wiley’s love for jazz began at the early age of seven when he purchased his first record. He described the ensuing years in an email to abstract Trombonist, Roswell Rudd, "There was a record store in Tacoma where I spent hours, starting at about age eight and through high school, listening to disc after disc. There was seemingly no risk to letting a child ride the bus unattended. I thought then that I had a most wonderful mother for giving me a dime for the bus to take me downtown to wander...downtown was my Oz. It was later that I was told by an older kid that my mother only wanted me out of the house! I still have many 78s from that time."
Over his lifetime, his passion for the art only increased, and his collection along with it. The result is a world class collection that boasts rare records including original pressings, limited editions and autographed copies. Keep reading for an overview of the Ken Wiley Collection.
Of all his collections, Ken’s greatest focus went to his over 25,000 78 RPMs. Please click here for more information on the 78 RPM collection.
Ken’s collection of LP Vinyls includes over 12,000 albums as well as over 1,000 ten inch vinyls. Within the vinyl collection one can expect to find original pressings, re-pressings and limited editions of coveted artists like Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Max Roach, Sonny Collins, etc., on labels such as Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside Records, Contemporary Records, Mosaic, etc. There is even an autographed copy of Art Pepper’s Smack Up on Contemporary Records, among a handful of other signed records. Altogether, there are more than 2,000 artists and over 1,000 labels represented in the vinyl collection.
Additionally, there are over 2,000 CD’s, many of which are Mosaic limited edition box sets. He also had a smaller collection of over 500 45 RPMs, a handful of tiny 33.33 vinyls, cassettes, reel to reel productions, and 8-track tapes. There are hundreds of Edison Records, playable on his antique Edison, round "can" records and players, and a hurdy-gurdy player complete with musical cobs. His extensive collection of piano rolls—of which he selectively recorded and played on his radio show, "the Art of Jazz" — includes, for example, a selection by "Thomas" Waller (before he was called "Fats") and many recordings by James P. Johnson, the teacher of "Fats" Waller.
Of all his collections, Ken’s greatest focus went to his over 25,000 78 RPMs. Please click here for more information on the 78 RPM collection.
Ken’s collection of LP Vinyls includes over 12,000 albums as well as over 1,000 ten inch vinyls. Within the vinyl collection one can expect to find original pressings, re-pressings and limited editions of coveted artists like Miles Davis, Lee Morgan, John Coltrane, Chet Baker, Max Roach, Sonny Collins, etc., on labels such as Blue Note, Prestige, Riverside Records, Contemporary Records, Mosaic, etc. There is even an autographed copy of Art Pepper’s Smack Up on Contemporary Records, among a handful of other signed records. Altogether, there are more than 2,000 artists and over 1,000 labels represented in the vinyl collection.
Additionally, there are over 2,000 CD’s, many of which are Mosaic limited edition box sets. He also had a smaller collection of over 500 45 RPMs, a handful of tiny 33.33 vinyls, cassettes, reel to reel productions, and 8-track tapes. There are hundreds of Edison Records, playable on his antique Edison, round "can" records and players, and a hurdy-gurdy player complete with musical cobs. His extensive collection of piano rolls—of which he selectively recorded and played on his radio show, "the Art of Jazz" — includes, for example, a selection by "Thomas" Waller (before he was called "Fats") and many recordings by James P. Johnson, the teacher of "Fats" Waller.
In addition to recordings, Ken collected vintage bikes, rare vintage record players, typewriters and art. His book collection—much of it first editions—focuses on Jazz, literature and poetry. As a prolific composer of abstract poetry, he utilized his collection of antique ink pens; he loved to use his vintage Leica to, as he termed it, "photograph light." He maintained beautifully preserved vintage trombones, all of which he played professionally, along with other beloved instruments. The media, the images, and the poetry were, to him, part of the "art" of jazz.
In Ken's words, as written to cartoonist Marv Newland,
"A childhood friend, Danlee Mitchell, was an early associate of Harry; his mother was my one and only piano teacher. Danlee loved the forties' great drummers so that when I arrived at age seven for a 'lesson' I'd hear the sounds from Danlee's room upstairs. 'What's that?' I asked Mrs. Mitchell. 'What's what?' she replied. My whole life to date has been pretty much a variation of that.
My lessons were, in her estimation, a disaster: I never did do the lesson. I'd tell my mother that what I was banging out at the piano was the lesson. 'That's nice, dear,' my mother would say.
'This simply isn't going to work out," Danlee's mother finally told my mother. Actually it did work out. After a get together with Mrs. Mitchell, I'd pack upstairs and tap on Danlee's door. Needless-to-say Danlee introduced me to 78s, record players, where the rust building record shop was and how to get there on the bus, also the Good Will, the Salvation Army store, Al's Junk Shop...
I was in one recital: all the piano students one at a time moved in to perform for all the gathered mothers. My piece was a forty second work in a John Schamm beginners book. I got lost...but I continued to play for at least two minutes (a lifetime) until I found my way back. the room was dead except for my mother clearing her throat. However, it was a profound moment: I had improvised."
To Ken Wiley, "art" is the improvisation that exists within every individual; he often prodded his listeners to "find your own solo."
All of Ken's collections, poetry, and art memorabilia will be available for sale over the coming months. To stay current with all the Ken Wiley Collection offerings, please be sure sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media.