2 Goldstar Member Reviews

cobi narita

Because James Moody, saxophonist, flautist, composer. vocalist and one of the world's finest jazz musicians, is still recovering from surgery on the West Coast and is not allowed by his doctors to travel, his scheduled week at The Bue Note jazz club, August 24-29, 2010, was filled with top saxophonists: "Saxophone Summit Salute to James Moody".
The evening I went, August 26, I took in a party of 8. The special guest artist was Jimmy Heath. He was absolutely wonderful! He played with Moody’s extraordinary group: David Hazeltine, piano; Todd Coolman, bass; and Adam Nussbaum, drums, who had invited strong young saxophonists Eric Alexander and Antonio Hart to sit in with them every night that week. Flanked by Eric and Antonio, Jimmy grinned as he listened to them play - oh, how he enjoys listening to fine young players - and he took out his handkerchief and waved it with both hands to cool the room down after a particularly “hot” solo by Hart. Jimmy, each time he played, relaxed and in control, free-wheeling and joyous, thoughtful yet contemporary and exuberant, proved he is still the master. Oh, my goodness, Jimmy, what an absolute pleasure it is to watch you and to hear you play!
Thank you, Goldstar! The lovely Mona Heath graced our table as well as jazz bassist Carline Ray - and we all thoroughly enjoyed the evening!

Written on Aug 29 2010

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charles katz

my wife and l attended, and throughly enjoyed the
evening, expecially the audience feedback and the
mingling of the musicians with the audience after
the performance,and for a longtime fan some face to
face conversation really meant alot

Written on Aug 31 2010

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More Information About Saxophone Summit: A Salute to James Moody

Website

http://www.bluenote.net/newyork/schedule/moreinfo.cgi?id=8182

Description

Eric Alexander, tenor saxophone
Antonio Hart, alto saxophone & flute
David Hazeltine, piano
Todd Coolman, bass
Adam Nussbaum, drums
Special guests  

Saxophonist, flautist, composer, and vocalist James Moody has longed been considered one of the world's finest jazz musicians. In a career that has spanned seven decades, Moody has performed with most of jazz's biggest names, including Dizzy Gillespie, who employed him as the band's saxophonist from 1946 until Gillespie's death in 1993.  

Though originally booked to play this week, Moody has been advised by his doctors to stay at home and rest while he continues to recuperate from gallbladder surgery.  

This week's performance will instead be a tribute to Moody, and fittingly, some of today's top saxophonists have rallied together to show their appreciation for his life's work and support for a speedy recovery.   In the “Saxophone Summit: Salute To James Moody,” pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Todd Coolman and drummer Adam Nussbaum will be joined by saxophonists Eric Alexander and Antonio Hart each night. Special guest saxophonists will be joining the band throughout the week.  

Moody has always been a part of the Blue Note family, and along with the incredible artists coming out to support him this week, we wish him a speedy recovery and good health in the future.  

Considered to be one of the most consistently expressive and enduring figures in modern jazz, Moody began playing jazz professionally at the age of 21 — following service in the United States Air Force — when he joined Dizzy Gillespie’s seminal bebop big band. The experience gave him the opportunity to work with and learn from jazz legends including Milt Jackson, Kenny Clark, Ray Brown, and Thelonious Monk. Moody made his debut recording as a leader in 1948 for Blue Note Records. The following year he moved to Europe where he recorded the masterpiece of improvisation for which he is renowned, “Moody's Mood for Love.”  

After a stint performing with the Las Vegas Hilton Orchestra in the 1970s for luminaries such as Bill Cosby and Ann-Margret to Elvis Presley and The Osmonds, Moody returned to performing and recording with his own band. He has released over 60 records, received three Grammy Award nominations, and is the recipient of a host of honors including an induction into the International Jazz Hall of Fame (1996), as well as awards like Jazz Master by the National Endowment of the Arts (1998), and a Kennedy Center Living Jazz legend Award (2007), among many others.

Moody performed at the White House in 2004 for President Bush and twice in the 1990s for President Clinton. He has also performed twice in Bangkok for the King of Thailand, who is a devoted fan.   Even in his 80s, Moody continues to travel and perform globally, both as a featured guest and as a leader of his own group, the James Moody Quartet (with pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Todd Coolman, and drummer Adam Nussbaum). Moody plays regularly with the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars and the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars Big Band, and also often collaborates with trumpeter, composer, and conductor Jon Faddis — also a Gillespie alumnus.