James Moody (saxophonist)

Early life

James Moody was born in Savannah, Georgia, and raised by his single mother, Ruby Hann Moody Watters, in Newark, New Jersey. His father, a trumpeter in Tiny Bradshaw's group, was absent. After hearing saxophonists like Lester Young and Don Byas, Moody took up the alto saxophone at age 16, given by his uncle Louis. He was self-taught, learning by ear from records.

Career

Moody joined the US Army Air Corps in 1943, playing in the segregated "negro band" at Greensboro Training Center. After discharge in 1946, he played bebop with Dizzy Gillespie for two years, and later rejoined Gillespie in 1964, collaborating with Kenny Barron and Les Spann. In 1948, he recorded for Blue Note and moved to Europe for three years, citing racism in the U.S. There he added alto saxophone and first recorded "Moody's Mood for Love," which became a hit in 1952.

Returning to the U.S. that year, he recorded for Prestige Records and others. While touring with The Brook Benton Revue, he learned music theory from Tom McIntosh. On July 24, 1955, Moody and his Orchestra performed at the eleventh Cavalcade of Jazz concert at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles. In the 1960s, he worked again with Gillespie and with Mike Longo.

From 1974 into the 1980s, he played in Las Vegas show bands, and later toured with the Gene Harris-led Phillip Morris Super Band. In 1997, he appeared in Clint Eastwood's film adaptation of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, playing a porter who walked an invisible dog. In a 1998 interview, Moody stated that jazz has definite spiritual resonance.

Personal life

Moody was married three times; his first two marriages ended in divorce. He married Linda Petersen McGowan in 1989, and they resided in San Diego, California. He had a daughter and three stepsons. Moody struggled with alcoholism and mental-health issues, and in 1958 he was treated at Overbrook Asylum. He was an active member of the Baháʼí Faith, which he took up after Dizzy Gillespie's death. He also held belief in the ancient astronaut theory from Zecharia Sitchin's book The 12th Planet. In 2005, the Moodys established the Moody Scholarship Fund at SUNY Purchase. He was awarded an NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship in 1998 and was fluent in Italian.

Discography

Moody's discography includes numerous albums from 1949 onward. Notable releases include "Flute 'n the Blues" (1956), "Moody's Mood for Love" (1956), "Last Train from Overbrook" (1958), and "James Moody" (1959), all on Argo. It's James Moody" (1960), "Moody with Strings" (1960–61), "Cookin' the Blues" (1961), "Another Bag" (1962), "Great Day" (1963), and "Comin' On Strong" (1963). He recorded for labels such as Prestige, Blue Note, Milestone, Perception, Muse, Vanguard, Novus, Telarc, Warner Bros., Savoy, Fuel 2000, and IPO. Later albums include "Moody's Party: Live at the Blue Note" (1995), "Young at Heart" (1996), "Moody Plays Mancini" (1997), "Homage" (2003), and "Our Delight" (2008) with Hank Jones. He also appears on recordings with Art Farmer, Gil Fuller, and Dizzy Gillespie, including "The Complete RCA Victor Recordings" and "Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac."