James Moody recs please!

[Big Al]

So I've got the self-titled album that Verve released in their LPR series, and it is all sorts of beautiful! What an arranger this guy is!

What else is out there that's worth digging?

[Big Wheel]

Did you get Sangrey's Blindfold Test #4? That track from the album he did with Eddie Gladden on drums is nasty. Worth searching out...I think it was titled "Never Again."

[Tom in RI]

I don't have a lot of Moody but I am partial to some of his Argo material including Last Train From Overbrook which I have on a 70's twofer. I checked at Half.com and I see the cd issue of same is listed for $48!

http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid...=1876&meta_id=2

[sidewinder]

I'm very partial to the 60s material. 'Don't Look Away Now' on Prestige and 'James Moody and The Brass Figures' on Milestone. Both under-rated, thoughtful sessions. The early Blue Note material put out on 10" and that Liberty 'The Beginning and End Of Bop' LP (side 1 is Moody's Modernists) is also an absolute killer.

The 50s Prestige matrial with Dave Burns is also very nice. Very effective jazz/R&B hybrid - must have been great to see this band live.

Certainly one of my candidates for most consistent player in jazz and - as you say - great arranger too.

Particular recommendations with Gillespie - 'Something Old, Something New' and the 'Reunion Big Band' session from 1968 (I think) put out on MPS/Pausa.

Edited November 21, 2004 by sidewinder

[mailman]

I haven't played this old lp in a long time but it's a great one.

James Moody-Never Again!

James Moody-Tenor Saxophone

Mickey Tucker-Organ

Roland Wilson-Fender Bass

Eddie Gladden-Drums

Muse 5001. Recorded June 8, 1972

Produced by Don Schlitten

Engineered by Paul Goodman at RCA

This was Moody's working group of the time. I believe this was the first release on the then brand new Muse label. I bought this at the time of its initial release and have never seen it on CD.

Edited November 21, 2004 by mailman

[J.A.W.]

My recommendations:

Moody's Mood for Blues/James Moody's Moods - Prestige/OJC-1837 (limited edition)

AMG review

Hi-Fi Party - Prestige/OJC-1780 (limited edition)

AMG review

Wail Moody Wail - Prestige/OJC-1791 (limited edition)

AMG review

[robviti]

I don't have a lot of Moody but I am partial to some of his Argo material including Last Train From Overbrook which I have on a 70's twofer. I checked at Half.com and I see the cd issue of same is listed for $48!

http://half.ebay.com/cat/buy/prod.cgi?cpid...=1876&meta_id=2

sorry, but that half.com seller is ca-razy! $45 for Carlos "Patato" Valdes's Masterpiece or Hornucopia by Jon Faddis? Kenny Garrett's Prisoner Of Love for $65?? Then again, maybe he isn't a wack-job. Perhaps that dubious distinction belongs to the poor slob who shells out that kind of money! B-)

[JSngry]

NEVER AGAIN! is my favorite, but the next one on Muse, FEELIN IT TOGETHER, might also be.

[BeBop]

NEVER AGAIN! is my favorite, but the next one on Muse, FEELIN IT TOGETHER, might also be.

Amen!

Also recommended: anything with Eddie Jefferson.

[DrJ]

I like many mentioned here - OVERBROOK, FEELIN' IT TOGETHER especially. I also like that live date released by GRP in a short-lived Chess reissue series a few years back, AT THE JAZZ WORKSHOP (which combined original album COOKIN' THE BLUES with some previously unissued cuts. Some of the edgiest Moody I've heard, razor sharp.

[Brad]

There's also that BN release called Art Blakey’s Messengers & James Moody and His Modernists - New Sounds - Blue Note (Modern Jazz Series)but I don't if it's still available.

[Late]

I also like that live date released by GRP in a short-lived Chess reissue series a few years back, AT THE JAZZ WORKSHOP (which combined the original album COOKIN' THE BLUES with some previously unissued cuts).

Me too.

Sound samples here.

[Dig'Em]

A notch below many of the recordings already IDed (and harder to find), but I was enjoying Runnin' the Gamut last night. As much as I love Moody, he does put out a sub-par album from time to time. Some of this recent stuff - tribute albums, for instance - and the album with The Television Song (anyone heard that?) Dis-com-bu-ba-late Me, Baby (sp?)

[Big Al]

How about the sides on the Chronological Classics discs? Worth checking out?

[sidewinder]

a short-lived Chess reissue series a few years back, AT THE JAZZ WORKSHOP (which combined original album COOKIN' THE BLUES with some previously unissued cuts. Some of the edgiest Moody I've heard, razor sharp.

Thank you for reminding me about this one. I'd forgot that I had it. - agree that Moody is on great form on this one. Good Dave Burns too..

[Jim R]

The other day, I was at a Barnes & Noble store and saw a recent Moody release called HOMAGE. I've been aware lately (thanks to Al) that I need to pick up more (a lOt MorE!) Moody, but I passed on this. The packaging was so uninformative, I wasn't sure when it was recorded, who was on it, etc. I even wondered for a moment if Moody was on it, because of the CD title and the fact that the first (?) track is "A message to Moody"... At any rate, I heard a cut on the radio today ("lazy afternoon") that sounded very nice. Does anybody have this? Thoughts? Opinions? Free burns? I have got to track down some of the above-mentioned OJC's, and that jazz workshop disc, and... sigh...