JAMES MOODY - Cookin’ the Blues / Another Bag
Fresh Sounds Records FSR-CD 846
Cookin’ the Blues
Tracks 1 to 9
Howard McGhee ( tpt ) Bernard McKinney ( tmb ) James Moody ( alto / tnr / flute ) Musa Kaleem
( bar ) Sonny Donaldson ( pno ) Steve Davis ( bass ) Arnold Enlow ( drs ) Eddie Jefferson ( vocals ) Tracks 6 & 7
Recorded live at the ‘Jazz Workshop’ San Francisco, June 1961
Anther Bag
Tracks 10 to 11
Paul Serrano ( tpt ) John Avant ( tmb ) James Moody ( tnr / flute ) Kenny Barron ( pno ) Ernest Outlaw ( bass ) Marshall Thompson ( drs ) Tom McIntosh ( arr )
Recorded at Tel-Mar Studio, Chicago, 30th January 1962
James Moody is probably best known for his work with the late Forties Dizzy Gillespie Big Band and for “Moody’s Mood For Love” which had lyrics by Eddie Jefferson and which was his take on James Moody’s 1949 recording of “I’m In The Mood For Love”.
The first album featured on this recording “Cookin’ the Blues” finds Moody with a medium sized group which includes trumpeter Howard McGhee unfortunately none of the group get to solo except pianist Sonny Donaldson. Moody plays alto, tenor and flute, on alto he displays his debt to Parker but on tenor and flute he is more his own man. This is a live recording and may have been exciting in person but this does not transfer to the recording. Apart from “It Might As Well Be Spring” all the compositions are originals and includes to vocals by Eddie Jefferson in his vocalese style.
The second album on this release, “Another Bag” is a much better proposition with interesting arrangements by Tom McIntosh and five out of the seven tracks are his compositions. James Moody plays tenor and flute on these tracks and sounds much more comfortable than on alto and Kenny Barron on piano is a great addition to the line up.
“Sassy Lady” is James Moody on tenor and is work is much more forceful as thogh he is more comfortable with the instrumented to that a fine piano solo and you have a satisfying track.The three part “Ally” starts and ends with some beautiful flute and the central portion has some swinging tenor plus an interesting trumpet solo by Paul Serrano.
“Spastic” is something of a feature for trombonist John Avant but there also worthwhile contribution from Kenny Barron and James Moody.
“Cup Bearers” is very much a group piece with an interesting arrangement and has a brightly burning trumpet solo as well as solos by Kenny Barron and James Moody on tenor.
This release is recommended on the basis of the interesting arrangements on “Another Bag” but you also have a comparison with the live date.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Fresh Sounds Records FSR-CD 846
Cookin’ the Blues
Tracks 1 to 9
Howard McGhee ( tpt ) Bernard McKinney ( tmb ) James Moody ( alto / tnr / flute ) Musa Kaleem
( bar ) Sonny Donaldson ( pno ) Steve Davis ( bass ) Arnold Enlow ( drs ) Eddie Jefferson ( vocals ) Tracks 6 & 7
Recorded live at the ‘Jazz Workshop’ San Francisco, June 1961
Anther Bag
Tracks 10 to 11
Paul Serrano ( tpt ) John Avant ( tmb ) James Moody ( tnr / flute ) Kenny Barron ( pno ) Ernest Outlaw ( bass ) Marshall Thompson ( drs ) Tom McIntosh ( arr )
Recorded at Tel-Mar Studio, Chicago, 30th January 1962
James Moody is probably best known for his work with the late Forties Dizzy Gillespie Big Band and for “Moody’s Mood For Love” which had lyrics by Eddie Jefferson and which was his take on James Moody’s 1949 recording of “I’m In The Mood For Love”.
The first album featured on this recording “Cookin’ the Blues” finds Moody with a medium sized group which includes trumpeter Howard McGhee unfortunately none of the group get to solo except pianist Sonny Donaldson. Moody plays alto, tenor and flute, on alto he displays his debt to Parker but on tenor and flute he is more his own man. This is a live recording and may have been exciting in person but this does not transfer to the recording. Apart from “It Might As Well Be Spring” all the compositions are originals and includes to vocals by Eddie Jefferson in his vocalese style.
The second album on this release, “Another Bag” is a much better proposition with interesting arrangements by Tom McIntosh and five out of the seven tracks are his compositions. James Moody plays tenor and flute on these tracks and sounds much more comfortable than on alto and Kenny Barron on piano is a great addition to the line up.
“Sassy Lady” is James Moody on tenor and is work is much more forceful as thogh he is more comfortable with the instrumented to that a fine piano solo and you have a satisfying track.The three part “Ally” starts and ends with some beautiful flute and the central portion has some swinging tenor plus an interesting trumpet solo by Paul Serrano.
“Spastic” is something of a feature for trombonist John Avant but there also worthwhile contribution from Kenny Barron and James Moody.
“Cup Bearers” is very much a group piece with an interesting arrangement and has a brightly burning trumpet solo as well as solos by Kenny Barron and James Moody on tenor.
This release is recommended on the basis of the interesting arrangements on “Another Bag” but you also have a comparison with the live date.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
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