Keyboard playing
As a keyboard player he plays harpsichord, organ, fortepiano, modern piano and synthesizers, performing in numerous international festivals. As a pianist he has given many recitals with violinist Ken Aiso and tenor Nigel Robson, soprano Lynne Dawson and cellist David Watkin (with whom he has recorded the Beethoven Cello Sonatas). He is also keyboard player for the English Baroque Soloists (working closely with Sir John Gardiner, during the 2000 Bach Pilgrimage as keyboard continuo player and assistant conductor). He has also played with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Orchestra af St John’s as well as in ensembles with members of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the London Symphony Orchestra.
As solo pianist:
- Amsterdam Sweelinck Orchestra : Rachmaninov 2nd Piano Concerto
- Newbury Sinfonia : Mozart Piano Concerto No. 19
- Sarum Orchestra : John Surman Ultimate Voyage
As harpsichord and organ continuo/obbligato:
English Baroque Soloists as part ot the 2000 Bach Cantata Pilgrimage, performing and recording all the Bach cantatas over the year.
As improviser:
Munich and Klagenfurt jazz festivals and first performance of Ultimate Voyage with John Surman.
Ongoing concerts as organ/saxophone duo with John Surman, alongside the release of ECM album Rain on the Window.
Staged works:
The Tenor Man – a devised theatre piece with tenor Nigel Robson, (produced by Artery productions for the opening of the Enschede Festival 2005, dir. Henk Schut) involving piano improvisations. See also the Agenda section of the Artery website.
Recitals:
Many recitals as accompanist with cellist David Watkin and soprano Lynne Dawson including performances at London Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Purcell Room and Queen Elizabeth Hall, and concert tours in Japan with violinist Ken Aiso.
Electric Partners. David Watkin made the arresting opening phrase of Debussy’s Cello Sonata ring out heroically in that reverberant acoustic. The sense of fleeting glimpses was well captured, as was the range of tone, by both cellist and his pianist, Howard Moody. This is an exciting partnership. The dialogue of the Rondo in Beethoven’s Sonata in G minor, op 5 no 2 was a particular delight. But the performance of Brahms’s F major Sonata was absolutely electrifying, its waves of passion transmuted into virile, resonant melodic lines. I hope to hear this duo again.
The Times, July 1988
Moody’s infinite poise with the melody line was poetry incarnate.
The Guardian, February 1992
seems always to find reserves of sonority to encompass Beethoven’s most dramatic moments
The Gramophone, October 1996
One of the most charming events of the festival was the period–instrument trio of Howard Moody, David Watkin and Lucy Howard, sounding as if they has spontaneously got out their instruments to play for their own pleasure, surrounded by a gathering of friends.
The Independent
To describe Ultimate Voyage as a musical journey would be a disservice, it was an amazing performance of saxophone virtuosity, John Surman seamlessly switching saxophones and his interchanging with pianist Howard Moody in the improvisation section was nothing short of brilliant.
Salisbury Journal, February 2003
