From the late 1940s through the early 21st century, James Moody was an institution in jazz – whether on tenor sax, flute, occasional alto, or yodeling his way through his “Moody’s Mood for Love.” Ebullient and ever-smiling, he defied the stereotype of the modern jazz musician as austere and humorless – often telling jokes on stage and peppering his repertory with numbers like “Beer Barrel Polka” and the theme from “The Flintstones.” He played with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Milt Jackson, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach and left a lasting impression on the music world.

The “Jazz Profiles” shows – nearly 200 of them – are part of the Tim Owens Jazz & Broadcast Collection at the University of North Texas Music Library. In a partnership with Tim and UNTML, we’ve picked a handful of noteworthy shows to share with you. You can find more “Jazz Profiles” shows at the UNT Music Library’s Jazz Syndicate (www.library.unt.edu/jazzsyndicate), and learn more about 32 Bar Blues' clothing collection and commitment to the arts at 32barblues.com