Moody with Dizzy Gillespie.
Today (Mar. 26, 2025) we celebrate the centennial birthday of James Moody. Moody, a prolific saxophonist and flutist with a career spanning eight decades, passed on here in San Diego in late 2010. He led an extraordinary life, and would've turned 100 years old today.
A protege and dear friend of Dizzy Gillespie, Moody was part of the firmament of bebop and hard bop's mid-century golden age. He played with Kenny Clarke and Miles Davis as an American expat in Paris. Moody's one of the few guys to whom "he played with everyone" actually applies and isn't hyperbole. From Don Byas to Renee Rosnes; Sahib Shihab to Kenny Barron; Dexter Gordon and Milt Jackson and Jon Faddis and Dizzy. Forever Dizzy. A lifelong learner, Moody spoke in interviews of learning from an inexhaustible list of legendary musicians — from guys like Monk and Bill Evans to European musicians who are relatively unknown here — and their lessons taking years, or sometimes even decades, to fully resonate.
James and Linda Moody.
Moody seemed to leave an indelible imprint wherever he went. Born in Savannah, he played a role in Clint Eastwood's movie set there, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." Raised in Newark, New Jersey, the annual jazz festival there is named in his honor. His impact on jazz in Europe remains felt to this day; he's still beloved there. He called San Diego home for the last portion of his life; his wife Linda still lives here, and we were honored to have her as our guest at our 'Dizzy for President' concert with Jon Faddis late last year. That was a special night that we hoped Moody would have enjoyed.
James Moody’s extraordinary career spanned eight decades.
A terrific musician, James Moody was, by all accounts, a razor sharp mind, an exceedingly thoughtful guy, and a gentleman -- even when it would've been understandable for him not to be.
So today we honor the extraordinary life and prolific career of James Moody. He would have turned 100 years old today.
