The Millennium marks Jazz legend James Moody´s 75th birthday and more than five decades in the music industry.

"Every time I begin to play", states Moody, "I don’t hold back, I always do my best." Whether he’s playing the tenor sax, the alto, soprano or flute, Moody does so with the fluidity, deep resonance and wit that have made him one of the most consistently expressive and enduring figures in modern Jazz.

Born in Savannah, Georgia on March 26, 1925, and raised in Newark, New Jersey, James Moody took up the alto sax, a gift from his uncle, at the age of 16. A few years later, impressed by saxmen Buddy Tate and Don Byas of the Count Basie Orchestra, he switched to the full-bodied tenor saxophone. Following his discharge from the U.S. Air Force in 1947, Moody joined the influential bebop big band of Dizzy Gillespie. During that time Moody recorded with trumpeter Howard MCGhee and vibist Milt Jackson for Dial Records. A year later he made his recording debut as a leader making "JAMES MOODY AND HIS BEBOP MEN," using players from the Gillespie band.

In 1949, Moody moved to Paris, where, during a record date in Stockholm, Sweden, he recorded the masterpiece for which he is best known, "MOODY´S MOOD FOR LOVE." The song became a huge instrumental hit in the United States. Then, the vocalese version by King Pleasure became a hit, also. In 1951 Moody returned to the States. He needed a vocalist to sing "MOODY´S MOOD FOR LOVE." Moody hired Eddie Jefferson, who coincidentally, had written the lyrics. It was during this time that Dinah Washington toured with the influential James Moody Septet, which integrated Jazz and R&B. The 1950´s also saw Moody working with Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt and recording several albums as a flautist. Moody was one of the first bebop saxophonists to embrace the flute.

Moody´s prolific career hit a roadblock in 1958 when a devastating fire at The Blue Note Club in Philadelphia destroyed his band’s instruments, uniforms and arrangements. A culmination of incidents led Moody to check himself into the wing for alcoholism at Overbrook Hospital in Cedar Grove, New Jersey. After six months of rest, he headed for Chicago by train and recorded the spectacular and inspirational album, appropriately entitled, "LAST TRAIN FROM OVERBROOK."

In 1963 Moody rejoined Gillespie performing in the trumpeter’s quinet for the remainder of the decade. In the 1970´s he worked in show bands in Las Vegas. In the mid ´80´s Moody received a Grammy Award Nomination for a solo in the Manhattan Transfer’s "VOCALESE"album. During that decade Moody was recording for the RCA/Novus label. "SOMETHING SPECIAL" and "MOVUNG FOREWARD" feature arrangements by Tom Mcintosh. "SWEET and LOVELY", which Moody refers to as his Wedding album, gave him a second Grammy Nomination on "GET THE BOOTY", showcasting "scatting" at it’s best with his lifelong friend and mentor, Dizzy Gillespie. "HONEY" dedicated to his wife, Linda, culminated the Novus period.

In the 90´s Moody teamed up again with Gillespie to tour Europe and the United States as a member of the famous United Nations Orchestra, whose live recording at The Royal Festival Hall in London received a Grammy Award for "Best Jazz Band Release".

In 1995 the Telarc label released "MOODY´S PARTY", a live recording of his 70th birthday celebration at the Blue Note in New York City. In April 1996 Moody released his first album for Warner Bros. Records, the refreshingly romantic and effervescent "YOUNG AT HEART". Remarkably, it was only the second time in his career that Moody used strings in a recording.

The energetic artist has since been touring extensively in America and Europe, but found the time to appear in the role of Mr. Glover in Clint Eastwood´s film "MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL2."

During that same time Moody received his first Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Florida Memorial College, was induced into the international Jazz Hall of Fame and received the prestigious 1998 Jazz Master Fellowship Award granted by the National Endownment for the Arts.

JAMES MOODY shines as the maestro of improvisation on Warner Bros. Next release, "MOODY PLAYS MANCINI." Moody continues to surprise audience with his viality, innovative style of playing and his great sense of humor. Moody remains one of the most sought after artists for master classes, workshops, and lectures because, not only, does he inspire young talent through his high standard of musicianship and positive outlook on life, but also through his ability to communicate his experiences in an around the Jazz world.

James Moody's 75th birthday will be celebrated at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City on April 3rd, 2000, which the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Wynton Marsalis and many other fabulous guests.