James Moody: In the Mood to Celebrate | Playbill

Related Articles
Classic Arts Features James Moody: In the Mood to Celebrate Bob Golden chats with legendary saxophonist-flutist-bandleader-composer James Moody, who will celebrate his 85th birthday with a Carnegie Hall performance. Originally scheduled for April, the event will now be held June 23.


**

Since the dawn of the modern jazz era, Moody continues to be among the most

influential and honored musicians of the genre. An unceasingly active

octogenarian and an in-demand headliner at major nightclubs, concert venues, and

music festivals the world-over, Moody celebrates his 85th birthday with an

all-star lineup at Zankel Hall.

Recently, Moody shared his thoughts with music industry veteran Bob

Golden, reminiscing about his past, his passions, and his ongoing career.

Bob Golden: The jazz world first took notice when you were barely out of your

teens: when you were also the tenor saxophone soloist with the trail-blazing

946 Dizzy Gillespie big band. What was that like?

James Moody: Playing with Dizzy was many things. It was exciting, fun, and a

lot like being in school. Looking back at it, the whole experience was a pretty

amazing time.

BG: Who else was in that incredible band?

JM: Kenny Clarke at the drums, Ray Brown on bass, Milt Jackson at the

vibes, Cecil Payne on baritone, Dave Burns on trumpet, and many others came and went. Even Miles [Davis] was in that band for a hot minute. The

first night I got to the club, Thelonious Monk was the piano player. Then

a few nights later, he was gone and John Lewis was in his place. But you

have to remember that we were all very young and they were not who they

were to become ... yet.

BG: Your personal and musical relationship with Dizzy Gillespie grew from

that time ...

JM: Dizzy once said that, "Playing with James Moody is like playing with a

continuation of myself." I felt the same way about him. He was my mentor,

teacher, my best friend, and my brother. Jimmy Heath wrote a composition

for Dizzy called, "Without You, No Me." That can certainly apply to me,

too. We played together off and on for 47 years until he was too sick

to perform any more. He gave me my first job at the age of 21, he was

best man in my wedding, and I was with him when he died.

BG: What made Dizzy so inspirational?

JM: His musical awareness was so beyond that of

everyone else. Dizzy was everyone's musical father.

To this day, sometimes I pause and remember

something Dizzy told me 40 years ago and it will

be like another lightbulb turning on.

BG: On a 1949 tour in Sweden and with a borrowed

alto saxophone, you recorded an improvisation on

the harmonies of the standard "I'm in the Mood for

Love." Retitled "Moody's Mood for Love," it became a

hit single in the US, your signature and most famous

composition. Two years later, singer Eddie Jefferson

added words to the notes of your improvised solo and

created the celebrated jazz genre of vocalese. How did

you and Eddie first meet?

JM: I hired him in Cleveland to sing with my septet,

not knowing that he wrote the lyrics to "Moody's

Moody for Love." Eddie was a creative genius. He

would get in bed wearing his bathrobe and eat a quart

of ice cream, turn on his Victrola, and write lyrics.

BG: How did it come about that "Moody's Mood for Love" was included in the Jersey Boys musical score?

JM: Frankie Valli grew up in the same neighborhood

as I did in Newark, New Jersey. He told me that he

used to sit in my mother's kitchen and talk to her for

hours. He used to sing "Moody's Moody for Love"

around Newark in small clubs when he was starting

out in his career.

BG: Among some rather interesting collaborations for

a jazz musician, you acted in a Clint Eastwood movie.

JM: When I was asked to audition for Midnight in the

Garden of Good and Evil, I was thrilled beyond words.

The story takes place in Savannah, Georgia, where I

was born. I played Mr. Glover, a man who walked an

invisible dog named Patrick twice a day.

BG: What was it like working with Eastwood?

JM: Because I was born partially deaf and Clint is a very low key guy, when he said "cut," I couldn't hear

him. So I kept on walking and Clint had to station

someone at the other end of the park to give me the

signal to stop. Each day when I came on the set, Clint

would start singing "There I go, there I go, there I

go": the beginning of "Moody's Mood for Love."

BG: Which of your numerous collaborations is most

important to you?

JM: Personally, the most important collaboration

of my life was marrying my wife, Linda. There is

nothing more important than my family. The music

comes second to all of that.

BG: In a still-continuing and achievement-laden

career, which accomplishments are you proudest of?

JM: The ones I haven't accomplished yet. I never

look back. I never take anything for granted and I am

grateful for my wonderful life, my family and special

friends, and my music.

BG: And after all these years, how do you keep music

fresh for yourself?

JM: By practicing. And practicing what I don't

know. It doesn't matter what you know, you can still

improve upon it a billion times. Haven't you heard

that old saying? "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" By practicing!

*

James Moody's 85th Birthday Party is June 23

at 8:30 PM in Zankel Hall. Joining in the

celebration is Renee Rosnes, piano; Todd

Coolman, bass; Adam Nussbaum, drums; and

special guests Randy Brecker, Paquito D'Rivera,

and Roberta Gambarini.

Visit

Carnegie Hall for tickets.

 
RELATED:
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!