James Moody - 80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005

[mjzee]

Release date May 16:

It was an unforgettable week of music at the Blue Note in New York City, March 2005, celebrating the legendary saxophonist & flutist James Moody's 80th birthday. "80 Years Young" documents the grand finale of that week, now released for the first time and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth. The club was buzzing that night with jazz legends, sports figures, TV personalities, and alive with love, joy, and the heartbeat of a community united in reverence for a great American cultural icon. Supporting Moody were Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Paquito D'Rivera, and Slide Hampton, with David Hazeltine and Cedar Walton on piano, bassist Todd Coolman, drummer Adam Nussbaum, with a brief introduction by jazz impresario George Wein. Featured in the set was "Moody's Mood for Love," over a half-century since it was a major hit for King Pleasure and Moody's signature tune over the decades. "80 Years Young" is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of his music and exudes the deep joyful connection he created with colleagues and audiences throughout his six-decade career.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

I saw Moody at Ronnie Scott's in 1999 and he was still playing great. With a backing band like these guys, this could be good.

[JSngry]

James Moody was a baaaaaaaaaad man!

[GA Russell]

#2 @NACC #32 @JazzWeek MOODY   JAMES MOODY  - 80 YEARS YOUNG format: Jazz   Recording of  James Moody's 80th birthday concert (March 25, 2005) at NYC's Blue Note Jazz Club     James Moody:  Sax, Flute, Vocals David Hazeltine: Piano: Todd Coolman: Bass Adam Nussbaum: Drums Jon Faddis: Trumpet Paquito D’Rivera: Clarinet, Alto Sax Slide Hampton: Trombone Randy Brecker: Trumpet Cedar Walton Piano (9) George Wein: Master of Ceremonies     "The album captures both a March 2005 birthday party and a victory lap for Moody as he fronts a stellar and rotating cast of musicians that includes trombonist Slide Hampton, pianist Cedar Walton and alto saxophonist and clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera. The vibes are as relaxed as they are humorous as Moody digs into his musical treasure chest and recontextualizes his signature vocal number "Moody's Mood For Love" for the hip-hop generation ... The zigzagging "Bebop" and "Birks' Works" are two examples among many on the album of Moody as a force to be reckoned with as a thrilling saxophonist and flutist."  JOHN MURPH - DOWNBEAT   INTRODUCING JAMES MOODY - :18 BENNY'S FROM HEAVEN - 10:57 CHEROKEE- 7:53 MOODY'S MOOD FOR LOVE - THE TV RAP 4:32 MOODY SPEAKS -:52 BIRK'S WORKS - 13:44 BEBOP -  13:55 HAPPY BIRTHDAY - :31 OW- 9:04 CENTERPIECE - 8:54 DARBEN, THE REDD FOXX - 8:03 POLKA DOTS & MOONBEAMS - 5:13 ST. THOMAS- 7:03     James Moody (1925– 2010) was an American jazz saxophone and flute player and occasional vocalist, playing predominantly in the bebop and hard bop styles. Moody was an international jazz star since 1949. He was born in Savannah, Georgia, and was raised by his single Mother in Newark, New Jersey. He graduated from Arts High School and was drafted into the segregated US Army Air Corp. where he played in the "Negro" band and honed his skills.   In 1949, in Stockholm Moody recorded his first album as a bandleader, "James Moody and His Modernists", which featured the iconic track "Moody's Mood for Love". The song has been covered by Amy Winehouse, Van Morrison, Take 6 and Queen Latifa, to name a few. In 2001 and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.   In the 1960’s, Moody became a member of The Dizzy Gillespie Quintet. The group’s performances and recordings are still considered to be some of the most important and influential in the history of jazz.   In 1997, Moody had the pleasure of playing Mr. Glover in Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. In 1998, he received the NEA Jazz Master Award and in 2000 was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from the Berklee College of Music. Moody was a 4-time Grammy nominee and a recipient posthumously in 2011.       Website: JamesMoody.com Label: OriginArts.com       JAMES MOODY - "JAZZMASTER INTERVIEW"

Edited July 2 by GA Russell

[mikeweil]

Should be one to look for. I love all of the Prestige and Argo albums.

[Peter Friedman]

Saw James Moody with Dizzy Gillespie's Quintet in a club in Toronto.

Also with is own quartet a few times at various Jazz Parties.

[jazzbo]

His 4A and 4B recordings on IPO Records recorded 2008 are very strong, this should be great.