Search - James Moody :: Blues & Other Colors

Colorful arrangements

Michael St John | St. Paul, MN | 11/22/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded in '68-69 with somewhat larger ensembles (two different dectets), all tunes featuring Moody on soprano sax (#1-4) or flute (#4-8). Tom McIntosh, who wrote for Dizzy's NEW CONTINENT and SOMETHING OLD/SOMETHING NEW, arranged all the music here. Johnny Coles, Joe Farrell, Cecil Payne, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, and Connie Kay are some of the most prominent musicians who play on the album.As the title and cover photo indicate, the music has a quality of lightness and casts images of unusual sound-colors in the mind. The arrangements and playing are remarkably imaginative; it's unfortunate that McIntosh did not write or arrange for jazz groups more often. If you're normally interested in Gil Evans arrangements, or jazz orchestra with that sort of sound, you might especially enjoy this album."

BURNED AGAIN

John M. | 07/02/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Too bad about all that soprano sax playing. I found out the hard way a couple of years ago. If this instumentation does not appeal to you try - James Moody AND THE BRASS FIGURES. 8 tenor sax tunes 1 flute number, most with light ensemble backing, recorded a couple of years earlier."