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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMOODY, James(b 26 March 1925, Savannah GA; d 9 December 2010, San Diego CA, of pancreatic cancer) Tenor and alto sax, flute; bandleader. His father played trumpet with Tiny Bradshaw; James played in US Air Force '43-6, joined Dizzy Gillespie '46--8 including a European tour; along with Dexter Gordon he was one of the first bop tenors. His first session as a leader was for Blue Note '48 with the Modernists, the octet including Cecil Payne, also Art Blakey and Chano Pozo on some tracks. He was based in Paris '48-51; on a Swedish date '49 he recorded 'I'm In The Mood For Bop' (aka 'I'm In The Mood For Groovin' ') on tenor and recorded on alto for the first time on 'I'm In The Mood For Love'. Released on Prestige in the USA the latter was a juke box hit, and King Pleasure wrote words to fit Moody's solo and 'Moody's Mood For Love' was a top 5 R&B hit '52, also on a Prestige (the album Moody's Mood For Love '56 on Argo had a vocal by Eddie Jefferson). He led a septet in the USA '51-62, playing flute from mid-'50s; played in a group with three tenors '62 (with Sonny Stitt snd Gene Ammons), with Gillespie again '63-8, worked in Las Vegas late '70s and re-emerged as a touring jazzman in the '80s, occasionally singing a chorus or two: never one of those who doesn't like the audience, his engaging personality made him a delightful club act. The septet included at various times Jefferson, Payne, Babs Gonzales, Benny Green, recorded for Mercury, Prestige '54-6 (LPs Workshop, Wail, Moody's Moods etc), Argo/Chess '56-64. Other LPs included Group Therapy '64 on DJM with Art Farmer, Tommy Flanagan; quartet sets Don't Look Away Now '69 on Prestige, Too Heavy For Words '71 on MPS/Pausa (latter with Al Cohn, second tenor); Never Again with Mickey Tucker on organ, Feelin' It Together with Kenny Barron, both '72 on Muse; two sextet LPs on Vanguard '75-7 included Beyond This World. The intelligently mellow Something Special '87 on Novus had Idris Muhammad on drums, Todd Coolman on bass, Kirk Lightsey on piano; Sweet And Lovely '89 had him singing on some tracks. Quartet Moody's Party '95 on Telarc was made at the Blue Note with guests; tribute to Sinatra Young At Heart '96 on WB saw him restrict singing to one track, but too many guests and too much arranging made a patchy album, while quintet The Two Tenors '97 on WB with Mark Turner was straightahead blowing, pianist Larry Goldings also allowed to shine. He was a favorite and much-loved musician. |