Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » James Moody: Moody 4B

170

James Moody: Moody 4B

By

Sign in to view read count
James Moody: Moody 4B
A stellar follow up to Moody 4A (IPO, 2009), saxophone icon James Moody presents the sequel Moody 4B, actually recorded the day after the first session with the same blue chip quartet. Legendary pianist Kenny Barron renowned bassist Todd Coolman and versatile drummer Lewis Nash all lend their collective musical energy for this second date. Much like the first album, 4B introduces a couple of original tunes mixed in with a select number of standards from the Great American Songbook and a few oft recorded classics.

Moody takes a ride on the train for his opener, Billy Strayhorn's "Take the A Train" to be exact, introduced by a few rag-time-like bars from Barron as the train leaves the station propelled by the electrical charge from Moody's tenor. The Kurt Weill/Ogden Nash standard "Speak Low" enjoys a non-traditional Latin jazz treatment providing just the spice to liven the melody a bit. Aside from the saxophonist's own wonderful phrasings, it's Barron and Nash who deliver the kicks on this one. "Polka Dots & Moonbeams" is a ballad piece not to be missed with Nash taking out the brushes as Moody lays down another soulful performance.

Cole Porter's "I Love You," a soft textured ballad, proves to be the charmer on this disc and a featured number for both Moody and Barron who play off each other and fashion the outstanding piece of the recording. Bassist Coolman contributes one fine chart with the bouncy "O.P. Update" in which of course, he takes center stage with tasteful bass work of his own. Barron's "Nikara's Song" is the only other original piece on the album and it offers the pianist space to play his magic.

The set winds up with two familiar classics lending new reads to Benny Golson's "Along Came Betty" and the Gershwin brothers immortal "But Not For Me." Unfortunately there may not be a "4C" waiting in the wings though a trilogy of this kind of music is just the shot in the arm that the jazz world could use more of. Nevertheless, if we must settle for a "sequel" only, then Moody 4B is as good as it gets. At 85 years young, James Moody keeps churning out some of the best straight ahead jazz in the business.

Track Listing

Take the A Train; Hot House; Speak Low; Polka Dots & Moonbeams; I Love You; O.P. Update; Nikara's Song; Along Came Betty; But Not For Me.

Personnel

James Moody
woodwinds

James Moody: tenor saxophone; Kenny Barron: piano; Todd Coolman: bass; Lewis Nash: drums.

Album information

Title: Moody 4B | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: IPO Recordings

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.