80 Years Young: Live at the Blue Note, March 26, 2005

Short introduction to the current album from the point of view of Origin Records: "It was an unforgettable week of music at the Blue Note in New York City, March 2005, celebrating the legendary saxophonist & flutist James Moody's 80th birthday. 80 Years Young documents the grand finale of that week, now released for the first time and in celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth. The club was buzzing that night with jazz legends, sports figures, TV personalities, and alive with love, joy, and the heartbeat of a community united in reverence for a great American cultural icon. Supporting Moody were Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Paquito D'Rivera, and Slide Hampton, with David Hazeltine and Cedar Walton on, piano, bassist Todd Coolman, and drummer Adam Nussbaum, with a brief introduction by jazz impresario George Wein. Featured in the set was "Moody's Mood for Love," over a half-century since it was a major hit for King Pleasure and Moody's signature tune over the decades. 80 Years Young is a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of his music and exudes the deep joyful connection he created with colleagues and audiences throughout his six-decade career."

The fact that jazz can also be combined with humor and irony is underlined by James Moody in the piece "Benny's from Heaven", among other things, in which the saxophonist and vocalist also lets us hear a veritable yodel. In addition, he plays with different vocal registers as well as with scat vocals and gospel singing during the lecture. Without question, the element of parody is also clearly audible. Of course, Moody shines not only as a powerful-voiced singer, but also as a saxophonist who brings out the sonorous as well as the roaring end of the instrument.

We experience Moody in "Cherokee" with delicate flute sounds, sometimes quite fast-paced and accompanied by a few piano chords and rushing percussion. Moody, who was part of Dizzy Gillespie's ensemble, presented this title together with the Dizzy Gillespie Reunion Band in Copenhagen in 1968 and now on this live album. In addition to Moody's flute playing, David Hazeltine's rapid keyboard playing should be pointed out, which makes us believe that a raging "waterfall of sound" is pouring out. Shortly before the lecture of "Moody Speak", Moody welcomed former heavyweight world champion Joe Frazier to the audience. In addition, he announced Jon Faddis as soloist, who plays a major role in determining the tonal coloration of the piece. If you like, Bop came alive in all its facets on one evening in 2005. Faddis' solo is one of the highlights of the live recording, isn't it? On the recording of "Moody Speak", the well-known reed player Paquito D'Rivera can be heard on the clarinet. He gives the piece a certain swing note. And there are also references to klezmer here and there, aren't they? Certainly, Moody can also be experienced in this piece. He lets his saxophone sound in soft lines.

Yes, and then we hear "Bebop" with a tutti of the winds that is very worth listening to. Faddis then breaks away from this tutti with his provocative trumpet solo. The play is fast-paced. It is believed that the journey of an express train is musically implemented. The pianist sets strong accents to the trumpet blower. And won't we hear the ensemble's clarinetist again with his paraphrasing that seems to fly away?

In view of Moody's 80th birthday, "Happy Birthday" was briefly sung, before "Ow" follows the triumphant final chord of an album worth listening to. As I said, "Ow" is the actual conclusion of the album, which brings us closer to a piece of jazz history. This is followed by digital bonus tracks, in which singer Roberta Gamberini is also involved. She can be heard in the jazz classic "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", among others.