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
