James Moody & Hank Jones: Good Bait
Musicians:
James Moody (tenor sax, flute), Hank Jones (piano),
Todd Coolman (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums)
.Composed by Tadd Dameron
.Recorded: New York, June 28 or 29, 2006
Rating: 89/100 (learn more)
The loping "Good Bait" is one of the friendliest, most optimistic tunes in the standard jazz repertoire, making it a superb vehicle for James Moody and Hank Jones—two veteran boppers who emanate goodwill with every note they play. Composer Tadd Dameron's deceptively simple limerick of a melody is essentially based on "I Got Rhythm," with the bridge reprising the A-section a perfect fourth higher. It's a famously fun tune to blow on, and Moody and Jones have their way with it. Moody takes advantage of the loping 2-beat tempo by engaging in some creative double-timing, garnishing his boppish solo with a few ever-so-slightly "outside" touches. Jones, as is his wont, stays inside, but finds plenty of poetry in the tune's nooks and crannies. Both Coolman and Nussbaum step outside their roles as stalwart section men to play superb solo choruses.
On the day they recorded this, Moody and Jones had accumulated something like 140 years of combined experience playing jazz. So fresh is their spirit, you'd think they'd just begun their journey.
Reviewer: Chris Kelsey
If you liked this track, also check out
- Hank Jones & James Moody: Eternal Triangle
- Hank Jones & James Moody: Birk’s Works
- James Moody & Nnenna Freelon: Just Squeeze Me
Related Links
Hank Jones at Ninety by Ted Gioia
It Happened a Long Way from Monterey by Ted Gioia
Hank Jones and James Moody Keep Jammin’ by Chris Kelsey
Tags: 2000s jazz
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