Sunday, December 12, 2010

James Moody, 1925-2010



















The first album I reached for when I had time to mourn the death of James Moody was Young At Heart. I hadn't listened to the 1996 collection of standards associated with Frank Sinatra in a decade. It floored me. Gil Goldstein's arrangement of "That Old Black Magic" is especially stunning. It opens with Mulgrew Miller quoting Thelonious Monk's "Mysterioso" before Moody brilliantly solos without interruption for four enthralling minutes. Authoritative appreciations of Moody can be found elsewhere. I'll simply suggest the obvious- the world has lost one of the rare serious jazz artists with universal appeal.

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Sam Billen has a new Christmas album available as a free download. RIYL: snowflakes and Sufjan Stevens. (Tip via Wayward Blog.)

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I reviewed Mark Lowrey's Live at Jardine's solo piano album.

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Last night's old-school R&B concert by Keith Sweat, Con Funk Shun, the S.O.S. band and SWV was excellent. Here's my review.

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A couple misguided comments aside, I'm impressed by the discussion that's followed this Plastic Sax post.

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Kansas City Click: The Hearts of Darkness, Audiovox and New Riddim are among the bands playing at the Beaumont Club on Sunday. There's no cover. The catch? Formal attire is required.

Mini Mansions is at the Riot Room on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)

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