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James Moody has had a remarkably long and productive career. Born in 1925, he has been an important and very skilled saxophonist since the mid-1940s and is still playing quite well these days at the age of 85. Known for his good humor and general agelessness, Moody is one of the last significant survivors of the classic bebop era. He has had his own voice on tenor, flute and alto for over 60 years.
After serving in the Air Force (1943-46), Moody began at the top, playing with the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra during 1946-47. After leaving Gillespie, he was in a group led by trumpeter Howard McGhee that also featured Milt Jackson on vibes. Moody spent much of 1948-51 living in France, playing and recording music including taking a famous solo on “I'm In The Mood For Love” that, as “Moody's Mood For Love,” became a vocalese classic. While Eddie Jefferson wrote the words and King Pleasure made the song into a hit, Moody still performs it regularly today.
Back in the United States, Moody led a septet for five years, had a busy solo career, and mastered the flute. He was a key member of the Dizzy Gillespie Quintet during 1963-68 and has always been identified with the trumpeter, with whom he had many reunions. Even though he was off the scene for part of the 1970s, playing primarily with Las Vegas show bands, Moody eventually returned to full time jazz and has not slowed down since, still sounding modern and distinctive.
In The Beginning has Moody's first recordings in Europe from 1949. He had just appeared at the Paris International Jazz Festival (the first important jazz festival) a week earlier with Miles Davis and Tadd Dameron. Another attraction heard at the festival was the Charlie Parker Quintet. The first three selections on In The Beginning features that group with Moody in Parker's place. He fits into the band quite naturally, playing alongside Max Roach (the date's leader), Kenny Dorham, Al Haig and Tommy Potter. In addition, there are two titles by the group without Moody.
The other selections on this CD feature Moody playing live with American servicemen in Zurich, Switzerland. He is showcased with a quartet and leading an octet with vocals by Fats Edwards that includes altoist Marshall Allen, a future longtime member of Sun Ra's Arkestra.
"One of the most beloved of all jazz musicians, James Moody started his career in the late 1940s as a member of the Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra. In 1949 he spent time in Europe where he made a series of excellent recordings. In The Beginning features Moody on both tenor and alto, recording with Charlie Parker’s quintet (taking Parker’s place), and with American servicemen who were stationed in Zurich, Switzerland. On such selections as “Tomorrow” (which is a transformation of “’Round Midnight”) and “Prince Albert,” Moody shows that at the age of 23 he was already a major jazz musician.
The music on this CD as a whole is cool-toned bop with many of the songs being based on the chord changes of standards (“Tomorrow” is really “'Round Midnight,” “Prince Albert” is “All The Things You Are,” etc.). James Moody, who was 23 at the time, shows that he was already a major jazz musician that early in his career." – Scott Yanow
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