Wail Moody Wail - James Moody And His Band (1958) (1LP Vinyl) - Near Mint (NM)

Wail Moody Wail by James Moody And His Band.

There is a particular kind of magic that happens when a band led by James Moody settles into a room and simply plays, and "Wail Moody Wail" captures exactly that. Recorded in Hackensack, New Jersey on December 12, 1955, this Prestige session finds Moody in full command of both his tenor and alto saxophones, moving between the two horns with the ease and authority that made him one of the most beloved voices of his generation.

The title track anchors side A on its own, a stretched out statement of intent that gives the band room to breathe and lets Moody dig into his ideas without hurry. Turn the record over and the program opens up: "The Golden Touch," a warm reading of the standard "The Nearness Of You," the galloping "Donkey Serenade," and the closing "Moody's Blue Again," where the leader returns to that essential blues feeling that runs through everything he touches.

Moody surrounded himself with a rich, full band for this date, and you can hear the depth in every arrangement. Dave Burns brings his trumpet to the front line, William Shepherd adds the burnished color of the trombone, and Pee Wee Moore anchors the low end with his baritone saxophone, giving the ensemble a weight and breadth that reaches well beyond a simple combo. It is a sound built for both punch and nuance.

Underneath it all sits a rhythm section that never lets the energy flag. Jimmy Boyd handles the piano with taste and drive, John Lathan holds the center on bass, and Clarence Johnston keeps everything swinging from the drum chair. Together they give Moody and the horns a foundation that can turn on a dime, whether the tune calls for a strutting tempo or a slow, tender ballad.

Much of the credit for how good this all sounds belongs to Rudy Van Gelder, who recorded the session at his legendary Hackensack studio and captured the band with the clarity and presence that made his work the gold standard of the era. The date was supervised by Bob Weinstock, whose Prestige label out of Bergenfield, New Jersey documented so many of the essential jazz voices of the 1950s. Ira Gitler contributes liner notes, and the cover design carries the hands of both Weinstock and Tom Hannan.

For collectors and listeners alike, this is a record that rewards repeated spins, a snapshot of James Moody leading a band of real character through material that ranges from the bluesy to the balladic to the downright playful. It is straightforward, swinging, and full of heart, exactly the kind of session that keeps drawing people back to the music.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Wail Moody Wail
B1. The Golden Touch
B2. The Nearness Of You
B3. Donkey Serenade
B4. Moody's Blue Again

Credits:
Pee Wee Moore - Baritone Saxophone
John Lathan - Bass
Bob Weinstock - Cover
Tom Hannan - Cover
Clarence Johnston - Drums
Ira Gitler - Liner Notes
Jimmy Boyd (2) - Piano
Rudy Van Gelder - Recorded By
Bob Weinstock - Supervised By
James Moody - Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone
William Shepherd - Trombone
Dave Burns - Trumpet

Notes:
Recorded in Hackensack, NJ; December 12, 1955.

Prestige Records, Inc, 203 South Washington Ave. Bergenfield, N.J.

Artist: James Moody And His Band

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Prestige

Catalog Number: PRLP 7036

Release Year: 1958

Country: United States

Condition: Used

Media Condition: Near Mint (NM)

Sleeve Condition: Very Good Plus (VG+)