Phil Woods I Remember… – 1979- Contemporary Jazz (vinyl)

Phil Woods I Remember… – 1979- Contemporary Jazz (vinyl)

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Woods was born inSpringfield, Massachusetts. He studied music withLennie Tristano, who influenced him greatly, at theManhattan School of Musicand at theJuilliard School. His friend, Joe Lopes, coached him on clarinet as there was no saxophone major at Juilliard at the time. Although he did not copyCharlie “Bird” Parker, he was known as the New Bird, a label which was also attached to other alto players such asSonny StittandCannonball Adderleyat one time or another in their careers.

In the mid-’50s, Woods began to front his own bands. He got major exposure after Quincy Jones invited him to accompany a 1956 State Department-sponsored world tour with the big band of Dizzy Gillespie. In 1959 Woods traveled Europe with Jones band; in 1962 he participated in Benny Goodmans Russian tour.[1]

After moving to France in 1968, Woods led the European Rhythm Machine, a group which tended towardavant-garde jazz. He returned to the United States in 1972 and, after an unsuccessful attempt to establish an electronic group, he formed a quintet which was still performing, with some changes of personnel, in 2004. As his theme, Woods used a piece titled “How’s Your Mama?”

Woods earned the top alto sax player award almost 30 times in Downbeat magazines annual readers poll. His quintet was awarded the top small combo title several times.[1]

In 1979, Woods made the recording More Live at theArmadillo World Headquartersin Austin, Texas. Perhaps his best known recorded work as a sideman is apoppiece, his alto sax solo on Billy Joel’s 1977 “Just the Way You Are”. He also played the alto sax solo onSteely Dan’s “Doctor Wu” from their 1975 albumKaty Lied, as well asPaul Simon’s “Have a Good Time” from the 1975 albumStill Crazy After All These Years.

Although Woods was primarily a saxophonist, he was also a clarinet player and solos can be found scattered through his recordings. One particular example is his clarinet solo on “Misirlou” on the album Into The Woods (see discography below).

Woods, along with Rick Chamberlain and Ed Joubert, founded the organization Celebration of the Arts (COTA) in 1978 late one night in the bar at the Deer Head Inn inDelaware Water Gap. The organization would eventually become the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts. Their initial goal was to help foster an appreciation of jazz and its relationship to other artistic disciplines. Each year, the organization hosts theCelebration of the Arts Festivalin the town ofDelaware Water Gapin September.

In 2005, Jazzed media released the documentary Phil Woods A Life in E Flat-Portrait of a Jazz Legend, directed by Rich Lerner and produced by Graham Carter.[2]

Phil Woods was married toChan Parker, the widow ofCharlie Parker, for 17 years from 1955 and was stepfather to Chan’s daughter Kim.[1]On September 4, 2015, Woods performed a tribute toCharlie Parker with Stringsat theManchester Craftsmen’s Guild, and announced toward the end of the show that he would be retiring. Woods died September 29, 2015, at the age of 83.[3]

Label:Gryphon G-788Format:Vinyl, LP, AlbumCountry:USReleased:1979Genre:JazzStyle:Contemporary Jazz
Sleeve Condition (Out of 10) ~8 just edgewear
Label Condition (Out of 10) ~ 10
Vinyl Condition ~ (Out of 10)
Side 1 -10
side 2 – 10
BIN # *R10

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