Jimmy Scott I Go Back Home

Jimmy Scott
I Go Back Home
Eden River Records

Jimmy Scott's career was one of great frustration as for years he was bound to an onerous recording contract with the result that in his prime years, his musical career was stifled. Fortunately starting in the 1980s, Scott's fortune changed. He was amongst the early recipients of the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Still, despite the efforts of his friends like the late Doc Pomus, it wasn't until a record company exec saw Scott sing at Pomus' funeral that he was signed to a record label. As one close to Doc Pomus noted in the film, "AKA Doc Pomus", it took Pomus to f****ng die for Jimmy Scott to get a recording contract. Fortunately we were blessed with many memorable recordings that displayed his unique vocal styling.

This new album was recorded prior to Scott's passing in 2014 and was the result of the desire of German producer Ralf Kemper to produce Scott, that this elaborate production occurred. Mixed by the late Phil Ramone, Scott is joined by a number of collaborators including Bossa nova icon Oscar Castro-Neves and legendary saxophonist James Moody, both of whom themselves passed away after their contributions to this recording. Scott is wonderfully backed on many songs by drummer Peter Erskine, the great pianist Kenny Barron and organist and trumpet player Joey DeFrancesco. Jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater joins Scott on "For Once in My Life," while vocalist Monica Mancini and trumpet master Arturo Sandoval are on "I Remember You," while several tracks have lush orchestrations played by the HBR Studio Symphony Orchestra.

This album is clearly a labor of love from the producer but one would be hard pressed to call this among Scott's finest works. Scott was among the most singular singers whose phrasing, timing and pitch could wring emotion out of what would sound like cliches when sung by lesser vocalists. Yet there are passages here when his vocals sound a tad frayed. Still his ability to move the listener is evident on the opening "Motherless Child," enhanced by Joey DeFrancesco's organ. On "Easy Living" his vocal is half-spoken with a fine DeFrancesco solo. The bossa nova "Love Letters" is an appealing vocal duet with Oscar Castro-Neves who contributes his guitar along with his vocal in Portuguese, while Dee Dee Bridgewater joins Scott for a duet of Stevie Wonder's "For Once In My Life," with James Moody contributing a terrific tenor sax solo.

Furthermore, some of the other performances another singer is at the fore such as Monica Mancini's marvelous featured vocal on "I Remember You," which also has the with the guitar of Oscar Castro-Neves in the accompaniment and with Sandoval's trumpet. On "Someone to Watch Over Me" (perhaps a song he is most identified with), Scott provides a brief spoken introduction before Renee Olstead sings the vocal in an attractive understated manner. There are two duets with actor Joe Pesci that are among the high points of this recording. Kenny Barron's piano is noteworthy on "The Nearness of You," where Pesci both shows Scott's influence in his approach as well as complements Scott.

There is plenty of poignancy throughout, including the closing "Poor Butterfly," with Gregoire Maret's wistful harmonica, but Scott himself shows his years and perhaps health issues. If one was looking for an introduction to Jimmy Scott, there would be other recordings that one would recommend before this. This is more a recording for those who are already fans of him, and wish to hear his last musical testament, that is wonderfully played even if it has some flaws.

I received for review a download from a publicist. Here is Dee Dee Bridgewater behind the scenes for "For Once in My Life."

RIP James Moody 1925-2010

091607 We Love Dizzy -1651, originally uploaded by NoVARon.

Just heard that James Moody passed away on December 9, 2010 from pancreatic cancer. Moody, seen here as part of the Dizzy Gillespie All Star Band at the 2007 Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington DC. In 1998, he was selected a a National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Master and was last nominated for a Grammy in 2009.

Veteran critic Howard Mandel has written on his blog, Jazz Beyond Jazz about Moody, "A brilliant improviser who emerged from Dizzy Gillespie's big band to join the young turks of bebop (Monk, Bags, Klook, Blakey) in the late 1940s, he became internationally admired for his tenor sax and flute mastery and on-stage good cheer …"

Here are some other links on James Moody:

Jazzwise Magazine obituary. "Moody had the cool demeanour of jazzmen of his generation who oozed effortless control on the bandstand of the best jazz clubs they found themselves performing in. Moody brought a strong personality to the saxophone and when he took the microphone to sing as well it all added to a direct connection with the listener that few could hope to achieve."

NY Times obituary  "James Moody, a jazz saxophonist and flutist celebrated for his virtuosity, his versatility and his onstage ebullience …"

San Diego Union-Tribune obituary by George Varga quotes Quincy Jones:


“He was the quintessential saxophone player, and his 'Moody’s Mood For Love' will forever be remembered in jazz history side by side with Coleman Hawkins’ classic 'Body and Soul.'
 …
James Moody was one of the people who allowed me to stand on his shoulders when I was coming up. And there can never be a value placed on that. So much of who I am today, is because of who James Moody was to me back then."

To this I want to add a quote from Mr. Moody himself from Mr. Varga's story. 


"My goal is that I want to play better tomorrow than I did today, because I’m not in competition with anyone else,” Mr. Moody noted in a 2005 Union-Tribune interview.”If you try to do that, to compete, you’d better give up, because there’s always somebody, somewhere, who has more going on. And that’s what makes jazz so beautiful, that’s what makes the world beautiful.” (italics added).

Marc Copeland quoted in JazzTimes obituary: "My personal homage to Moody is this: Every time I play, every time I travel, I hope to play with the same spirit that he does and hope to treat other musicians with the same kindness and respect that he does."

NPR's Blog Supreme. Patrick Jarenwattananon writes, "Jazz saxophonist and flutist James Moody has died. A virtuoso player known for his effusive warmth on and off stage, Moody's career in music stretched well over 60 years. He was 85."


NPR's Fresh Air Remembers James Moody. Moody quoted on remembering Dizzy Gillespie,

"For the longest time, I used to call my wife — I used to call Linda, my honey, and tell her, 'Honey, I called you and you weren't home.' You know?  She says, 'Honey, I've been home all day.' I said, 'Well, but I called' — and then I'd say the number.  And she'd say, 'Honey, that's Dizzy's number.' "

Riotsquad Publicity obituary found at The Jazz Breakfast. "“Playing with Moody is like playing with a continuation of myself,” Gillespie once said. Moody later responded, “I felt the same way with him. He was my mentor, my teacher, my best friend, and my brother."

"In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to:

CFNJ/ James Moody Jazz Scholarship Fund for Newark Youth

Post Office Box 338

Morristown, New Jersey 07963-0338"

Andrea Canter at All About Jazz: "His personal charm was only exceeded by his artistry on saxophones and flute"

The Jazz Police has a fuller obituary by Andrea Canter.

Jazz photographer Juan Carlos Hernandez's photo tribute to Moody with some you tube links.


Elements of Jazz posted seven Moody videos on November 27 as part of her series of posts, Seven For Saturday.

WBGO on Moody notes they will be rebroadcasting the Kennedy Center's 80th Birthday Party for Moody on December 19 and December 22. 


Washington Post obituary by Matt Schudel from which we "Of all his musical partnerships, Mr. Moody was best known for his chemistry with Gillespie, who once said, 'Playing with Moody is like playing with a continuation of myself.'"


Prior to publishing a full obituary, the Washington Post had a brief obituary on its webpage with comments that are worth perusing. I like this one by Dave Statter, "Thank you Matt Schudel. James Moody was one of my favorite musicians of all time. Along with his immense musical talent was a sense of humor that seemed to be a part of everything he did. I think of one wonderful night at One Step Down where he took me by the arm in the middle of another musician's solo pretending to be the maitre d and escorted me to my booth near the bandstand."


Marc Myers remembered Moody on his JazzWax blog.  "What set Moody apart from the crowd of exceptional saxophonists in the late 1940s was his fluid swing, voluptuous tone and crafty lyricism. A solo by Moody typically was seamless, sophisticated and staggeringly melodic."  Myers blog entry also includes his ten favorite Moody tracks (Odd that all but one is from 1961 or earlier).

Bob Margolin, while touring Europe with Muddy Waters, encountered James Moody.


"I told him I was in Muddy's band and Mr. Moody, a gentle man and a gentleman, asked me who wrote our charts. I explained to him that neither Muddy nor the band read music or had set arrangements of songs. We just played Blues in the moment following Muddy's guitar and his cues for solos. Mr. Moody was astounded."


Here is a WGBH Boston jazz programmer, Steve Schwartz's playlist of music featuring James Moody.

Quotes from twitter on James Moody:

John Brook: "Jazz legend James Moody died today of pancreatic cancer. Over 50 years of music to explore, incredible work to explore. He was 85. r.i.p."

Terence Blanchard: " R.I.P. James Moody......You have blessed us all with your incredible musical talent and you will truly be missed.... http://fb.me/FVaQdS24"

Finally, the wonderful singer Roberta Gambarini dedicated her performances Friday December 3 at the Kennedy Center to her dear friend and mentor James Moody, with whom she was originally scheduled to perform.  Seen is Clark Terry, Roberta Gambarini and James Moody singing at the 2007 Duke Ellington Jazz Festival.

Early June Promises Great Jazz & Blues In And Around the Nation's Capital

Living around Washington DC, I felt it appropriate to note some really great events around Washington, the beginning of June.

July 3 to 6, the Western Maryland Blues Festival returns to Hagerstown (July 3-6) with a Hamilton Loomis and Bernard Allison on Friday June 4; Kenny Neal, Eric Liddell, Trombone Shorty, Michael Burks and Tommy Castro on Saturday June 5; and a family Picnic with Eden Brent and Corey Harris & Phil Wiggins on Sunday June 6. The shows take place downtown Hagerstown, Maryland except the Sunday picnic at City Hall Park. For more information, check out http://www.blues-fest.org.

The DC Jazz Festival (formerly the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival) returns to the Nation’s capital with events taking place between June 1 and June 13. The Festival will have concerts through the city as well as partner with clubs and museums for various events. There will be stellar line-up of talent from around the globe including such celebrated artists as Paquito D’Rivera; Dianne Reeves; the Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band; the Roy Hargrove Big Band; James Moody; Claudio Roditi; Edmar Castaneda; Michael Philip Mossman; Akua Dixon and Quartette Indigo; the Berklee World Jazz Nonet; Roberta Gambarini; the Marshall Keys Quartet; the Marian Petrescu Quartet featuring Andreas Öberg; Tony Madruga, Uri Gurvich; and many others.

Among signature performances will be Janine Gill at the Phillips Collection on June 3 for a special Phillips Collection After 5. June 4, as part of the Jazz in the Hoods will feature Trumpeter Thad Wilson at the Madison Hotel; the Felicia Carter Quartet at the Mandarin Oriental; and Stanley Clarke with Hiromi at Blues Alley. June 6 and 7 will be Jazz’n’Families Fun Day at the Phillips Collection with featured performers including the Berklee World Jazz Nonet, Brad Lind, George V. Johnson, Janelle Gill, Reginald Cyntje, the DC Jazz Collaborative, Susan Priester, and Victor Provost, as one can listen to jazz and view Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Georgia O’Keefe, Marc Rothko, and many others. Tuesday, June 8, the Festival presents A Tribute to Oscar Peterson at the 6th and I Historic Synagogue by Marian Petrescu Quartet w/ Special Guest Andreas Oberg. Thursday, June 10th will be one of the signature events at the Lincoln Theater, NEA Jazz Masters Live Concert with All-Star tribute to James Moody featuring the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars, and special guests Regina Carter, Roy Hargrove, Roberta Gambarini & NEA Jazz Masters Kenny Barron and Paquito D’Rivera. Friday, June 11 will feature Jazz Under the Stars at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre with some great latin jazz including the world - renowned Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band and Colombian Jazz harpist Edmar Castaneda, with special guest Paquito D’ Rivera. Saturday June 12, they highlight will be two shows at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium: a free afternoon show with Claudio Roditi Quartet (Brazil) & the Eddie Palmieri Latin Jazz Band and and an ticketed evening show with Dianne Reeves and the Roy Hargrove Big Band, with special guest Roberta Gambarini. On Sunday, the signature Festival event will be two performances at the Kennedy Center, Paquito D’Rivera Presents The Jelly Roll Morton Latin Tinge Project with Paquito D’Rivera, Michael Philip Mossman, Akua Dixon & Quartette Indigo and Pernell Santurino. Pat Martino is at Blues Alley and the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars with Cryus Chestnutt, are at Bohemian Gardens this weekend part of the many shows under the Jazz in the Hoods umbrella For more information, contact the Festival’s website, http://www.dcjazzfest.org.

That same weekend, the Washington area hosts the Tinner Hill Blues Festival in Falls Church, Virginia. Thursday night, June 10, at the State Theatre in Falls Church the Festival opens with Chuck Brown Sings The Blues, where the King of Go Go will join the stage with DC’s Blues Legend Bobby Parker. Nadine Rae will open. Other vents include a panel on Saturday Morning, June 12, at City Hall Park, near the Cherry Hill Farmhouse, Red, Black and Blues: Native Americans, African Americans and their shared blues musical traditions with Dr. Ron Welburn, Elaine Bomberry, Pura Fe. Lee Gates, Murray Porter and Corey Harris. Starting at 1:00PM will be a free festival in the Park with Patty Reese; M.S.G. The Acoustic Trio; Murray Porter; Corey Harris & Phil Wiggins; Big Daddy Stallings, Pura Fe and Clarence ‘Bluesman‘ Turner. There will be showings of the film “John Jackson: A Blues Treasure” and a cd release party for the Smithsonian-Folkways release of John Jackson’s Rappahannock Blues, culled from hundreds of performances. Sunday, June 13 will be a Blues Brunch and Jam at Bangkok Blues. For more information visit, http://www.tinnerhill.org/blues.