James Moody in Sweden

As you can see from the headline above, James Moody is the tenor saxophonist I cryptically referred to at the end of yesterday's post.  So which superb album is hanging around in the iTunes Store virtually unknown because the folks who tend to business there haven't a clue?

I'll tell you in a second. First a little back story:

Moody began his career in Dizzy Gillespie's ferocious big band of 1946, remaining in the sax section of the orchestra until 1948. Late that year, drug problems caused Moody's mom to write her uncle in Paris asking if he could put up Moody and provide a change of scene for the 23-year-old. The uncle agreed, and Moody went off to Paris, where he played and recorded for a good part of the spring and summer of 1949. [Photo of Dizzy Gillespie in 1948: Herman Leonard]

In September 1949, Moody left for Stockholm, and in October recorded 21 sides for Sweden's Metronome Records. The sessions included Moody's most famous record, I'm In the Mood for Love, which he recorded twice on October 12, once on tenor and again on alto. The alto version became the big hit, solidifying his position on the instrument.

By December 1949, Moody was in Switzerland, and then he was in Paris for much of 1950. He returned to Sweden in January 1951, where he recorded 12 additional sides for Metronome, eventually returning to the States in the fall of 1951.

The album that's languishing at the iTunes Store? It's a fabulous compilation of Moody's October 1949 and January 1951 Swedish dates for Metronome, including the two rare tracks he recorded there with strings. The name of this great phantom set is James Moody: Body and Soul. It features a relatively recent photo of Moody on the cover, and that's it. No mention of the material, where it was recorded or when. Shoppers are left to figure it out for themselves. Or not.

So here's what I'm going to do: With help from Tom Lord's Jazz Discography,  I've listed basic information below about each of the album's 24 tracks. Only a few were released in the U.S. on Prestige Records. Once you download the "iTunes Plus" album, you can rearrange the tracks so they're in chronological order. Enjoy! Here's how the tunes stock up on the album and a bit of information about each one:

1. Out of Nowhere—James Moody's on tenor sax; James Moody and His Swedish Crowns; October 7, 1949.

2. Am I Blue—alto sax; James Moody's Boptet; January 23, 1951.

3. Good Bait—tenor sax; James Moody's Sextet; October 12, 1949.

4. Two Fathers (also known as Two Feathers)—tenor sax; James Moody/Lars Gullin; January 24, 1951.

5. I'm in the Mood for Love—alto sax; James Moody Quintet; October 12, 1949.

6. Body and Soul—alto sax; James Moody and His Swedish Crowns; October 12, 1949.

7. Lester Leaps In—same as above.

8. Love Walked In—tenor sax; James Moody Sextet; January 24, 1951.

9. The Man I Love—alto sax; James Moody Boptet; January 23, 1951.

10. Embraceable You—same as above.

11. Blue and Moody—tenor sax; James Moody and His Cool Cats; October 18, 1949.

12. Again—alto sax; James Moody Boptet; January 23, 1951.

13. Cherokee—tenor sax; James Moody With Strings; January 25, 1951.

14. Moody's Got Rhythm (also known as Andrew Got Married)—tenor sax; James Moody Sextet; January 24, 1951.

15. These Foolish Things—tenor sax; James Moody and His Swedish Crowns; October 7, 1949.

16. I'll Get By—alto sax; James Moody's Boptet; January 23, 1951.

17. Pennies from Heaven—tenor sax; James Moody With Strings; January 25, 1951.

18. Dexterious—tenor sax; James Moody's Sextet; October 12, 1949.

19. How Deep Is the Ocean?—alto sax; James Moody Boptet; January 23, 1951.

20. Hey Jim (also known as Moody's Bounce)—tenor sax; James Moody/Lars Gullin; January 24, 1951.

21. Flight of the Bopple Bee—tenor sax; James Moody Quartet; October 12, 1949.

22. Indiana—tenor sax; James Moody's Sextet; October 12, 1949.

23. Over the Rainbow—tenor sax; James Moody and His Cool Cats; October 18, 1949.

24. I'm in the Mood for Groovin' (also known as I'm in the Mood for Love, with Moody on tenor sax); October 12, 1949 (recorded earlier in the session than famous alto sax version).

Comments

[Jeff Rzepiela]

Thank you for bringing these tracks to people's attention. They are some of Moody's best work from his early days. For musicians that read your blog, I have transcribed a number of Moody's solos from these recording dates. The transcriptions are available for study on my website, www.scooby-sax.com

[Jason]

I just picked this up from iTunes. So nice. So very, very nice.

Thanks for the tip!

Jason from The Jazz Session

[DAVID SMART III]

MY NAME IS DAVID SMART III AND I AM JAMES MOODY'S NEPHEW I LOVE MY UNCLE AND SUPPORT HIM IN ANY WAY. FOR MORE WONDERFULL INFORMATION ON THE MAN WHO IS LOVE PLEASE E MAIL ME

[David Smart III]

My uncle Moody, and his lovely wife linda were the coolest couple of grown up kids you ever wanted to meet. While he was on most stages, she was backstage keeping business right with a smile on her face, the money in an envolope and Diamond on her finger so big it would blind you. I asked her once if she was afraid to wear such a big diamond. She responded say, "you don't know who your uncle is"? I did'nt. I learned of his greatness and of their philanthropic activities, and of all the meals on wheels she prepaired and deliveried with that same smile, the same money and the same diamond wedding ring that she is. James Moody lives!