James Moody - Cookin' The Blues (1961) [vinyl>flac]

The genius of Moody! It's an album like this that you need to prove to your friends that Moody was way more than a simple bopper. The set was recorded live in San Francisco in 1961, and it's got a hip mix of soul jazz, filtered through some modernist ideals, all played by a great little group that includes Bernard McKinny on trombone, Howard McGhee on trumpet, Musa Kaleem on baritone, and Sonny Donaldson on piano. Eddie Jefferson sits in for 2 numbers - "Disappointed" and "Sister Sadie" - and other tracks include "One For Nat", "Bunny Boo", "Moody Flooty", and "Home Fries". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

“Cookin’ the Blues”, features his septet recorded live at the Jazz Workshop in June 1961, during his tour on the West Coast. Moody, wonderfully relaxed and in good form, fronts a band (with trumpeter Howard McGhee in his come back to the coast) offering inspired performances and more musical content than groups with a bigger name. Eddie Jefferson was also was one of the moving forces behind the whole show, with his humorous, and happily frantic singing. ~ Fresh Sound Records.

This album was recorded live in San Francisco and the band sound on good form with well worked and, most likely, well-rehearsed ensembles. The opening blues, The Jazz Twist, has Moody playing alto although he sounds equally at home on this or tenor sax. These are very well cooked blues and Moody is on sparkling form on both this and the studio set that follows. He digs into the blues on the opening selection and again on Bunny Boo, measuring his solo phrasing carefully as the rhythm section pulses along beside him. Moody Flooty has the leader showing how well he can perform on flute, his tone strong and his ideas forming unimpeded. The rhythm section plays well throughout. Arnold Enlow, who is aka Buddy on some discs, is steady on all selections. Moody is the only soloist but the group sound overall, is impressive. ~ Derek Ansell (Jazz Journal, March 2015)

“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. ~ Roy Booth, Jazz Views.

Argo/Cadet Records, LPS-756, 1965

Recorded at the Jazz Workshop, San Francisco, 1961

Musicians:

James Moody - Tenor & Alto Saxophones, Flute (#A4)

Howard McGhee - Trumpet

Bernard McKinney - Trombone

Musa Kalleem - Baritone Saxophone

Sonny Donaldson - Piano

Steve Davis - Bass

Arnold Enlow - Drums

Eddie Jefferson - Vocals (#B2,B3)

Track Listing:

A1. The Jazz Twist {James Moody} (6:36)

A2. One For Nat {Gene Kee} (5:53)

A3. Bunny Boo {James Moody} (5:32)

A4. Moody Flooty {James Moody} (4:16)

B1. It Might As Well Be Spring {Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II} (5:55)

B2. Disappointed {Eddie Jefferson} (2:10)

B3. Sister Sadie {Horace Silver} (2:50)

B4. Little Buck {James Moody} (2:12)

B5. Home Fries {Gene Kee} (6:17)

Credits:

Supervisor, Producer - Jack Tracy

Sound Engineer - Paul Gayten

Photography [Cover] - Don S. Bronstein

Design - Michael Reid Design

Liner Notes - Ira Gitler