egroj world: James Moody • Flute 'N The Blues

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

James Moody • Flute 'N The Blues

 



For over six decades, saxophone master James Moody has serenaded lovers with his signature song Moody's Mood for Love an improvisation on the chord progressions of I'm in the Mood for Love.

Born in Savannah, Georgia on March 26, 1925, and raised in Newark, New Jersey, James Moody took up the alto sax, a gift from his uncle, at the age of 16. Within a few years he fell under the spell of the deeper more full- bodied tenor saxophone after hearing Buddy Tate and Don Byas perform with the Count Basie Band at the Adams Theater in Newark, New Jersey.

In 1946, following service in the United States Air Force, Moody joined the seminal bebop big band of Dizzy Gillespie, beginning an association that - on stage and record, in orchestras and small combos - afforded a young Moody worldwide exposure and ample opportunity to shape his improvisational genius. Upon joining Gillespie, Moody was at first awed, he now admits, by the orchestra's incredible array of talent, which included Milt Jackson, Kenny Clark, Ray Brown, Thelonius Monk. The encouragement of the legendary trumpeter-leader, made his mark on the young saxophonist. His now legendary 16-bar solo on Gillespie's Emanon alerted jazz fans to an emerging world-class soloist.

During his initial stay with Gillespie, Moody also recorded with Milt Jackson for Dial Records in 1947. One year later he made his recording debut as a leader James Moody and His Bop Men for (Blue Note).

In 1949 Moody moved to Europe where in Sweden he recorded the masterpiece of improvisation for which he is renowned, Moody's Mood for Love.

Returning to the States in 1952 with a huge "hit" on his hands, Moody employed vocalist Eddie Jefferson. Also, working with him during that period were Dinah Washington and Brook Benton.

In 1963 he rejoined Gillespie and performed off and on in the trumpeter's quintet for the remainder of the decade.

Moody moved to Las Vegas in 1973 and had a seven year stint in the Las Vegas Hilton Orchestra, doing shows for Bill Cosby, Ann-Margaret, John Davidson, Glen Campbell, Liberace, Elvis Presley, The Osmonds, Milton Berle, Redd Foxx, Charlie Rich, and Lou Rawls to name a few.

Moody returned to the East Coast and put together his own band again - much to the delight of his dedicated fans. In 1985, Moody received a Grammy Award Nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance for his playing on Manhattan Transfer's Vocalese album thus setting the stage for his re-emergence as a major recording artist.

Moody's 1986 (RCA/NOVUS) debut Something Special ended a decade-long major label recording hiatus for the versatile reedman. His follow-up recording, Moving Forward showcased his hearty vocals on What Do You Do and his interpretive woodwind wizardry on such tunes as Giant Steps and Autumn Leaves.

Music is more than a livelihood to Moody, so much so that portions of Sweet and Lovely, dedicated to his wife, Linda, figured prominently in the saxophonist's wedding ceremony on April 3, 1989. As well as being on the album, Gillespie was best man at the wedding for his longtime friend. The bride and groom walked down the aisle to Gillespie's solo on Con Alma then everyone exited the church to the vamp on Melancholy Baby. As their first act of marriage Linda and James Moody took communion accompanied by the groom's recording of Sweet and Lovely. In 1990, Moody and Gillespie received a Grammy Award Nomination for their rendition of Gillespie's Get the Booty, which showcases scatting at its best. Moody returns the soprano sax to his woodwind arsenal on Honey, his nickname for his wife, Linda, and Moody's last recording for (RCA/NOVUS).

On March 26th, 1995 Moody got the surprise of his life with a birthday party in New York. It was an evening of historical significance for Jazz with many guest stars and Bill Cosby as the emcee. It can be heard on Telarc's recording, Moody's Party— James Moody's 70th, Birthday Celebration, Live at the Blue Note.

In 1995 Moody's (Warner Bros.) release of Young at Heart, was a tribute to songs that are associated with Frank Sinatra. With an orchestra and strings many people feel this is among the most beautiful of all James Moody recordings.

Moody's last recording for Warner Bros. is Moody Plays Mancini which showcases Moody on all of his horns and flute. A tribute to the American icon Henry Mancini.

Moody's 2004 release of Homage on the Savoy Label has been a great cause for celebration. His first new studio album in 6 years, the aptly named Homage is a tribute to Moody featuring new tunes specially written for him by the likes of Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Kenny Barron, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, David Hazeltine and Marc Copland. Bob Belden produced the project.

Whether Moody is playing the soprano, alto, tenor, or flute, he does so with deep resonance and wit. Moody has a healthy respect for tradition, but takes great delight in discovering new musical paths, which makes him one of the most consistently expressive and enduring figures in modern jazz today. To quote Peter Watrous of the New York Times, "As a musical explorer, performer, collaborator and composer he has made an indelible contribution to the rise of American music as the dominant musical force of the twentieth century."
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/james-moody/

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Durante más de seis décadas, el maestro del saxofón James Moody ha dado serenatas a los enamorados con su emblemática canción Moody's Mood for Love, una improvisación sobre la progresión de acordes de I'm in the Mood for Love.

Nacido en Savannah (Georgia) el 26 de marzo de 1925 y criado en Newark (Nueva Jersey), James Moody cogió el saxo alto, regalo de su tío, a los 16 años. A los pocos años cayó bajo el hechizo del saxo tenor, más grave y con más cuerpo, tras escuchar a Buddy Tate y Don Byas tocar con la Count Basie Band en el Adams Theater de Newark, Nueva Jersey.

En 1946, tras prestar servicio en las Fuerzas Aéreas de los Estados Unidos, Moody se unió a la seminal big band de bebop de Dizzy Gillespie, iniciando una asociación que -en el escenario y en el disco, en orquestas y pequeños combos- proporcionó al joven Moody una exposición mundial y amplias oportunidades para dar forma a su genio improvisador. Al incorporarse a Gillespie, Moody se sintió impresionado al principio, según admite ahora, por el increíble talento de la orquesta, que incluía a Milt Jackson, Kenny Clark, Ray Brown y Thelonius Monk. El estímulo del legendario líder trompetista dejó huella en el joven saxofonista. Su ya legendario solo de 16 compases en el Emanon de Gillespie alertó a los aficionados al jazz sobre un solista emergente de talla mundial.

Durante su estancia inicial con Gillespie, Moody también grabó con Milt Jackson para Dial Records en 1947. Un año más tarde hizo su debut discográfico como líder James Moody and His Bop Men para (Blue Note).

En 1949 Moody se trasladó a Europa, donde grabó en Suecia la obra maestra de improvisación por la que es conocido, Moody's Mood for Love.

De vuelta a Estados Unidos en 1952 con un gran "éxito" entre manos, Moody contrató al vocalista Eddie Jefferson. También trabajaron con él durante ese periodo Dinah Washington y Brook Benton.

En 1963 volvió a unirse a Gillespie y actuó de forma intermitente en el quinteto del trompetista durante el resto de la década.

Moody se trasladó a Las Vegas en 1973 y durante siete años formó parte de la orquesta del Hilton de Las Vegas, donde actuó para Bill Cosby, Ann-Margaret, John Davidson, Glen Campbell, Liberace, Elvis Presley, The Osmonds, Milton Berle, Redd Foxx, Charlie Rich y Lou Rawls, entre otros.

Moody regresó a la Costa Este y volvió a formar su propia banda, para deleite de sus entregados fans. En 1985, Moody recibió una nominación a los premios Grammy a la mejor interpretación instrumental de jazz por su participación en el álbum Vocalese de Manhattan Transfer, sentando así las bases para su resurgimiento como gran artista discográfico.

El debut de Moody en 1986 (RCA/NOVUS), Something Special, puso fin a una década de parón discográfico en los grandes sellos. Su siguiente disco, Moving Forward, mostró su potente voz en What Do You Do y su habilidad interpretativa con el viento en temas como Giant Steps y Autumn Leaves.

La música es más que un medio de vida para Moody, hasta el punto de que partes de Sweet and Lovely, dedicada a su esposa Linda, ocuparon un lugar destacado en la ceremonia de boda del saxofonista el 3 de abril de 1989. Además de participar en el álbum, Gillespie fue el padrino de boda de su viejo amigo. Los novios caminaron hacia el altar al son del solo de Gillespie en Con Alma, y todos salieron de la iglesia al ritmo de Melancholy Baby. Como primer acto de matrimonio, Linda y James Moody tomaron la comunión acompañados por la grabación del novio de Sweet and Lovely. En 1990, Moody y Gillespie recibieron una nominación a los premios Grammy por su interpretación de Get the Booty, de Gillespie, que muestra lo mejor del scatting. Moody devuelve el saxo soprano a su arsenal de viento-madera en Honey, su apodo para su mujer, Linda, y la última grabación de Moody para (RCA/NOVUS).

El 26 de marzo de 1995, Moody recibió la sorpresa de su vida con una fiesta de cumpleaños en Nueva York. Fue una velada de importancia histórica para el jazz, con muchas estrellas invitadas y Bill Cosby como maestro de ceremonias. Puede escucharse en la grabación de Telarc, Moody's Party- James Moody's 70th, Birthday Celebration, Live at the Blue Note.

En 1995, Moody (Warner Bros.) publicó Young at Heart, un homenaje a las canciones asociadas a Frank Sinatra. Con orquesta y cuerdas, muchos opinan que es una de las grabaciones más bellas de James Moody.

La última grabación de Moody para Warner Bros. es Moody Plays Mancini, que muestra a Moody con todos sus instrumentos de viento y flauta. Un homenaje al icono americano Henry Mancini.

El lanzamiento en 2004 de Homage por parte de Moody en el sello Savoy ha sido un gran motivo de celebración. Su primer álbum de estudio en 6 años, Homage, es un tributo a Moody con nuevas melodías escritas especialmente para él por Joe Zawinul, Chick Corea, Kenny Barron, Horace Silver, Herbie Hancock, David Hazeltine y Marc Copland. Bob Belden ha producido el proyecto.

Ya toque la soprano, el alto, el tenor o la flauta, Moody lo hace con profunda resonancia e ingenio. Moody siente un gran respeto por la tradición, pero le encanta descubrir nuevos caminos musicales, lo que le convierte en una de las figuras más expresivas y duraderas del jazz moderno actual. En palabras de Peter Watrous, del New York Times: "Como explorador musical, intérprete, colaborador y compositor, ha hecho una contribución indeleble al auge de la música estadounidense como fuerza musical dominante del siglo XX".
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/james-moody/



Tracklist:
A1 - Flute 'N The Blues - 4:06
A2 - Birdland Story - 2:29
A3 - It Could Happen To You - 2:40
A4 - I Cover The Waterfront - 2:40
A5 - Body And Soul - 7:21
B1 - Breaking The Blues - 4:07
B2 - Parker's Mood - 3:20
B3 - Easy Living - 3:52
B4 - Boo's Tune - 3:42
B5 - Richard's Blues - 4:37


Credits:
Baritone Saxophone – Pee Wee Moore
Bass – John Lathan
Drums – Clarence Johnson
Flute, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – James Moody
Piano – Jimmy Boyd
Trombone – William Shepherd
Trumpet – Johnny Coles
Vocals – Eddie Jefferson (tracks: A2, A4, B2)

1956

 

 

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