Joe Mooney

Joe Mooney: The Happiness of ... the Greatness of ...

by Craig Jolley
November 1, 2000

Joe Mooney's music has enjoyed something of a rediscovery during the last few years with virtually all his recordings now available. Lush Life (Atlantic, mid-50's) came out a couple of years ago on Koch. Last year the English HEP label reissued his late 40's Decca sessions together with some air checks on a couple of wonderful CD's. This release combines his last two records (Columbia, mid-60's). Personally I wouldn't want to do without any of them.

As a performer Mooney ...

Joe Mooney: It's Mutual

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
December 5, 2018

Following my post on Joe Mooney's Wait Till You See Her a week ago, I received a high level of emails from readers who didn't know much about Mooney but loved what they heard. The same was true at Facebook, where there was quite a lot of traffic in favor of the lounge singer-organist-accordionist. [Photo above of Joe Mooney and his accordion with Decca's Milt Gabler, rear, and Morty Palitz in December 1946, by William P. Gottlieb] Since so many ...
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Joe Mooney: Sauter-Finegan

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
February 1, 2009

The other day I posted on singer-pianist Joe Mooney and his two fabulous albums for Columbia in 1963. To shed light on Mooney and these vital recordings, I spoke with guitarist Mundell Lowe, who wrote the arrangements for both LPs. Today, I'm focusing on Mooney's five brief recordings with the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra in 1952 and 1953. I'm also going to share with you a conversation I had yesterday with a 1950s music executive who played a major role in Mooney's ...
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Joe Mooney: Greatness and Happiness

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 30, 2009

If you dig jazz with a swinging pop feel, you need to know about Joe Mooney. The singer, who had four different recording careers (one in the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s) isn't well known today. But Mooney remains an inspiration and favorite of jazz legends who have made a career out of good taste. Just last week, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli told me that he still thinks about Mooney before he plays a chord. Yesterday I spoke with guitar legend ...
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