These earliest sessions recorded by saxophonist
James Moody under his own leadership, follow his initial years with
Dizzy Gillespie, an association that would be maintained off and on throughout
Dizzy's life. The disc starts in chronological order with eight sides recorded for Blue Note in October 1948. Arranged by composer
Gil Fuller and backed by
Moody's Modernists, which were, in essence, musicians comprised of
Dizzy Gillespie's band including baritone saxophonist
Cecil Payne, alto saxophonist
Ernie Henry,
Chano Pozo, and
Art Blakey. These sessions were recorded in New York before
Moody left for Europe, not to return to the states until years later. The remaining 14 tracks find him jamming with European musicians and fellow American expatriates including fellow tenor saxophonist
Don Byas, mixing bebop and standards recorded in Zurich, Paris, Lausanne, and Stockholm for Vogue, Blue Star, and Prestige.