"…Good News…I'm Back…"
This 20-Track March 1996 US
CD "Return To Overbrook" on MCA/Chess/GRP GRD-810 (Barcode 011105081023)
features two 1950s albums in their entirety by Saxophonist JAMES MOODY - both originally issued n Mono on
Leonard and Phil Chess' Jazz label offshoot Argo Records. It breaks down as follows
(63:54 minutes):
1. Last Train From Overbrook
2. Don’t Worry 'Bout Me
3. Why Don't You
4. I’m Free a.k.a. What's
New?
5. Tico-Tico
6. There She Goes
7. All The Things You Are
8. Brother Yusef
9. Yvonne
10. The Moody One
Tracks 1 to 10 are "Last
Train From Overbrook", a 1958 USA-Only LP on Argo 637 [Mono]
11. Flute 'N The Blues
12. Birdland Story
13. It Could Happen To You
14. I Cover The Waterfront
15. Body And Soul
16. Breaking The Rules
17. Parker's Mood
18. Easy Living
19. Boo's Tune
20. Richard's Blues
Tracks 11 to 20 are
"Flute N' The Blues", a 1956 USA-Only LP on Argo 603 [Mono]
The 1st generation analogue
master tapes have been remastered by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK
LABSON and the sound quality is superb throughout (Orrin Keepnews Produced the
Reissue). The 16-page booklet has a preamble by Dave Usher (Argo and Chess
producer) and further liner notes by Bob Blumenthal (a Jazz critic for The
Boston Globe) - it also pictures album sleeves and label close-ups and has
discography information on the sessions where known.
Moody was primarily an Alto
and Tenor Saxophone player, but he also excelled on the flute. His session men
included Johnny Coles on Trumpet, William Sheppard on Trombone, Numa "Pee
Wee" Moore on Baritone Sax with Jimmy Boyd on Piano, John Lathan on Bass
and Clarence Johnston on Drums. The "Last Train From Overbrook" album
is entirely instrumental, but three tracks from "Flute 'N The Blues"
- "Birdland Story", "Parker's Mood" (lyrics above) and
"I Cover The Waterfront" feature Eddie Jefferson on scat vocals.
The title comes from his
turbulent stay at the "Overbrook" Mental Institution in New Jersey
and the music is imbibed with his journey of redemption from that awful place
and mindset.
Georgia-born James Moody played in the USA as late as 2009 and this CD reissue
certainly shows why he was still such a draw even in his 80ts. It's now quite a rare disc,
but well worth seeking out - especially given the wonderful sound quality…
