James Moody - Flute 'N The Blues

When a musician as high up on the musical ladder of success as James Moody completes a two-day recording session, sandwiched between two distant in-person engagements, with a glowing look of satisfaction, you listeners and legion fans can be assured that the finished product, herewith enclosed, is a real "gasser"...

The true essence of Jazz is maintained throughout the 10 tunes on this LP... Swing... Creativeness... Individuality of Conception... Positive, Professional approach... AND... The ability to Interpret the Composers Original Idea, so that even he may recognize it!!! How rare this last talent, Indeed...

Material-wise, the music here-in is either "Blues" or a "Standard". The title tune of the album, "Flute 'N The Blues" showcases MOODY on his newly conquered instrument, the ever-lovin' Flute... (Evidently a new-found necessity in todays Modern Jazz Scene). The way James gets down into it should have "flautists" galore hitting the wood-shed trail. On "Flute N'", and "BOO'S TUNE", with just the rhythm section him, J. Moody really does what he so aptly calls, "The Thing"... I Think you'll agree that, "The Thing" is really it!

"CREATIVE" is the most happy to welcome JAMES MOODY his FLUTE, TENOR, ALTO, MIND, and BAND into our select group of JAZZ ARTISTS... The recording date was a ball to do, and I'm sure those of you "ear" this LP, the finished High Fidelity Product, will also have a glowing look of satisfaction upon your happy faces. *Joe Segal (liner notes)*

Recorded soon after Moody had taken up the flute demonstrate that he could already put the instrument to rewarding jazz use. This album advertises the instrument’s presence in its title, Flute ‘n’ The Blues, although there is also plenty of the Moody tenor (as on "Body and Soul") and alto (e.g. "Richard’s Blues") to be heard too. Johnny Coles is a distinctive and imaginative musician and his playing, on tracks such as "The Birdland Story" and "Body and Soul", is one of the pleasures of this recording. How far the presence of vocalist Eddie Jefferson on some tracks is to be regarded as a bonus is probably a matter of subjective taste. I must say, I found him more enjoyable in small doses, as here, than I have generally done on albums issued under his own name, where he is heard more extensively. *Glyn Pursglove*

This fairly rare LP features James Moody's septet of 1956, a fine bop-based unit that also includes trumpeter Johnny Coles and pianist Jimmy Boyd. Moody, who had just begun to play flute, is heard on that instrument along with tenor and alto; an added plus are Eddie Jefferson's three vocals (including his alternate lyrics for "Parker's Mood"). The basic material (mostly standards and blues) are given spirited and swinging treatment by the underrated group. *Scott Yanow*

1 - Flute 'N The Blues

(Harold Newboldt, James Moody, Arthur Boyd)

2 - Birdland Story

(Eddie Jefferson, Moody)

3 - It Could Happen To You

(Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke)

4 - I Cover The Waterfront

(Edward Heyman, Johnny Green)

5 - Body And Soul

(Heyman, Green, Robert Sour, Frank Eyton)

6 - Breaking The Blues

(John Adriano Acea)

7 - Parker's Mood

(Charlie Parker)

8 - Easy Living

(Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger)

9 - Boo's Tune

(Florence Pleasant)

10 - Richard's Blues

(Moody, Newboldt)

James Moody (tenor sax, alto sax, flute), Johnny Coles (trumpet), William Shepherd (trombone), Pee Wee Moore (baritone sax), Jimmy Boyd (piano), John Lathan (bass), Clarence Johnston (drums), Eddie Jefferson (vocal [#2, #4, #7]).

Recorded in Chicago, Illinois, February 1956 [other source gives November 1956].