One of my all-time favorites. Before he died, I asked Herb Ellis about him. Herb just told me to call him up. His home phone number was on his web site.

I enjoyed our visit, but he was almost def, and it was hard to understand what he was saying.

I met him in 1962 when he appeared on the Steve Allen show. The last time I saw him play was at the WNOP jazz festival-Cincinnati, about 1989. He had just gotten of a plane with Jimmy Smith. They had wrapped a tour of Japan the night before.

Jimmy was sitting on the B-3 bench. James was standing. They were exactly the same height.


James devoted his life to jazz education the last 20 years or so.

"There I go, there I go, there I go...".

The world was a better place for having such a massive, innovative talent.


Russ

Russ - thanks for posting - you are so right! James Moody was a stalwart and he was instrumental (no pun intended) in molding the future of jazz - particularly the sax arena. He is glowing evidence that bumps along the road of life can be overcome. I was lucky enough to hear him live in San Francisco. He played "Nancy With the Smiling Face" and it brought the house to total silence. Wow. A very modest and kind person yet a monster on the horn! He will be recognized for eternity as a true soldier and leader of the sax community. I have several of his albums and will always treasure that Moody sound.

Randy

Ditto to both of you. I think if any one of us could come up with just one definitive solo like 'Moody's mood for love', we would die happy with our musical accomplishment. He'll be joining Bird, 'Trane, Cannonball, Prez, Hawk, Getz, and all the other great jazz innovators on Sax, in that great jam session in the sky (I'm thinking Bill Evans on piano, Miles on horn, and Ray Brown or Mingus on bass). RIP.

chas

Another great, gone ... RIP ...
t.

Beautiful, Bernie. Just beautiful. Thanks.

chas

That interview says it all. My contacts with him were all so joyous. He was a humble "jazz" giant.

To me, he was what jazz was all about.


Russ