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Phil Woods
![Phil Woods is an NEA Jazz Master Phil Woods is an NEA Jazz Master](http://www.allaboutjazz.com/images/nea-jazz-masters.png)
~ Graham Carter, Producer
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November Birthday Salutes
![Read "November Birthday Salutes" reviewed by Marc Cohn](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/philwoods100x100_2011.jpg)
by Marc Cohn
It's time to celebrate November birthdays! Among the worthies, we also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Phil Woods recording Alive and Well in Paris, which was slated for release on Impulse! in the States, but never released here; there must be a story about this, but I'm in the dark. It is an absolutely stunning session. In addition to our celebrants in the track list, we salute bassist Sam Jones, pianist Joe Bushkin and Ellington collaborator Billy Strayhorn. Enjoy ...
read moreThe Phil Woods Six: Live from the Showboat
![Read "The Phil Woods Six: Live from the Showboat" reviewed by John Kelman](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/philwoodssextet_livefromtheshowboat.jpg)
by John Kelman
The Phil Woods SixLive from the ShowboatSony Music Japan2015 (1977) With the sad passing of Phil Woods on September 29, 2015, what better way to honor the career of this alto (and occasionally soprano) saxophone giant with the Rediscovery of a live album that, long out of print--and previously only available on CD in a truncated, single-disc edition that excised some of its most exhilarating moments--has finally seen the light of day in its entirety ...
read morePhil Woods: 1931-2015
![Read "Phil Woods: 1931-2015" reviewed by AAJ Staff](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/2010/philwoods_herbiemann_100x100.jpg)
by AAJ Staff
In memory of NEA Jazz Master, Phil Woods. This article was previously published in November 2002. All About Jazz: Looking back on the almost three decade history of your Quintet, one question springs immediately to mind. You've had the same rhythm section of Steve Gilmore on bass and Bill Goodwin on drums ever since you formed the band back in the early 1970s. Most jazz musicians end up hopping around from group to group constantly. So how have ...
read morePhil Woods, Vic Juris: Songs One
![Read "Songs One" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/Songs_One.jpg)
by Alberto Bazzurro
Dodici più o meno celebrati standard, raccolti in un arco temporale di oltre trent'anni (ogni titolo reca accanto il suo bravo anno di nascita," che la nostra tracklist conserva) costituiscono il trampolino di lancio per questo nuovo album (incisione del dicembre 2014) dell'ottantatreenne sassofonista di Springfield. Gli è accanto il chitarrista Vic Juris, di cui abbiamo nella mente soprattutto la lunga collaborazione con Dave Liebman, oltre a svariati lavori in proprio, condotti sempre nel segno di un buon gusto mai ...
read morePhil Woods & The Festival Orchestra: New Celebration
![Read "New Celebration" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/New_Celebration.jpg)
by Alberto Bazzurro
Album celebrativo, nel rispetto del titolo, e pruriti del tutto prossimi al grado zero: ecco cosa ci offre quest'ennesimo album tardo (incisione dell'aprile 2013) di un monumento come Phil Woods, solista-direttore di una big band che sfoggia un sound d'insieme che più in the tradition non si potrebbe. È ovvio che non è questa l'idea di jazz che ci piace veder divulgata: una musica prigioniera di un repertorio (nello specifico di una maniera" compositiva, visto che i ...
read morePhil Woods & the Festival Orchestra: New Celebration
![Read "New Celebration" reviewed by Jack Bowers](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/philwoods.jpg)
by Jack Bowers
Any album with the renowned Phil Woods leading a big band (or jazz orchestra) is cause for celebration, especially so when he has written all but one of the charts and takes the bulk of the alto solos. More than fifteen years have passed since Woods last recorded with the COTA Festival Orchestra from his home precinct in Delaware Gap, PA, and that earlier album (Celebration!, Concord 4770) was nominated for a Grammy Award. This New Celebration, Woods' second recording ...
read morePhil Woods: Right To Swing
![Read "Right To Swing" reviewed by Edward Blanco](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/philwoods_righttoswing_eb.jpg)
by Edward Blanco
Alto saxophonist great Phil Woods and trumpeter/educator Dr. Bob Lark have a long history of recording together producing notable outings like Live at the Jazz Showcase (Jazzed Media, 2009) and In Her Eyes (Jazzed Media, 2006)--both with The Bob Lark / Phil Woods Quintet. The saxophonist association with Lark and the DePaul University bands has also resulted in three previous albums all with the DePaul University Jazz Ensemble. Right To Swing is now their fourth album together combining performances from ...
read moreBob Lark and Phil Woods
![Bob Lark and Phil Woods](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/coverart/large/boblark.jpg)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
By my count, trumpeter and flugelhornist Bob Lark and alto saxophonist Phil Woods have recorded six albums together prior to Woods' death in 2015. Their final collaboration, Thick as Thieves, recorded in 2009 at Chicago's Jazz Showcase, was just released. It's a solid swinger, despite my initial trepidation over the predictable song choices. What keeps the album from being predictable is the quintet's ability to breathe fresh fire into bop standards you may not feel you need to hear again. ...
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Phil Woods: 1960
![Phil Woods: 1960](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/logo/1024pxMarcMyers.jpg)
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JazzWax by Marc Myers
I'm just back from jny: Kansas City and will have a full BBQ report this coming weekend. For now, dig Phil Woods in 1960 with the Quincy Jones Big Band and his own ensemble in Paris: Here's Quincy Jones's big band (with Phil) in Belgium playing Birth of a Big Band, Moanin', Lester Leeps In, The Gypsy, Tickle Toe, Everybody's Blues and Big Red. The band featured Clark Terry (tp,flhrn,vcl); Benny Bailey, Lennie Johnson, Floyd Standifer (tp,flhrn); Quentin Jackson, Jimmy ...
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Tickets Moving Fast For May 14 Memorial Concert For Phil Woods In Pittsfield, Mass.
![Tickets Moving Fast For May 14 Memorial Concert For Phil Woods In Pittsfield, Mass.](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/musician/028fd9460c6f8eb257f1c170b0cb53d1.jpg)
Source:
Ed Bride Associates
Tribute in Pittsfield, Mass., to Feature the Jazz Master’s Protégé Grace Kelly With Brian Lynch, Bill Mays, Steve Gilmore and Bill Goodwin Berkshires Jazz, Inc. has announced that tickets are on sale, and moving briskly, for the May 14 memorial concert in honor of the late alto saxophonist Phil Woods. To take place at Barrington Stage, in Pittsfield, Mass., the tribute will be performed by a gathering of the NEA Jazz Master’s quintet, with Brian Lynch (trumpet), Bill Mays (piano), ...
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Phil Woods (1931-2015)
![Phil Woods (1931-2015)](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/philwoods100x100_2011.jpg)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Phil Woods, a highly accomplished alto saxophonist who married Charlie Parker's widow, developed one of the most signature sounds on the instrument in small-group and big-band settings, carried on the bebop tradition long after others had moved on, became an exquisite composer-arranger and was perhaps best known for his solo on Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are, died yesterday, on Sept. 29. He was 83. As an artist, Phil had an admirable and elevated level of intensity, determination and ambition—not ...
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Phil Woods, 1931-2015
![Phil Woods, 1931-2015](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/philwoods100x100_2011.jpg)
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
Phil Woods died today, less than a month after he announced his retirement from playing. He was 83. Woods’ longtime drummer Bill Goodwin told me this afternoon that the veteran alto saxophonist “went out on his own terms,” electing to stop treatment for the emphysema that for years slowed—but did not stop—his career as a performer and bandleader. One of the most renowned of the saxophonists inspired by Charlie Parker, Woods was a perennial poll winner. His quartet with bassist ...
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Jazz has lost another true master - Phil Woods
![Jazz has lost another true master - Phil Woods](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/philwoods100x100_2011.jpg)
Source:
Ken Franckling's Jazz Notes
Word spread very quickly through the jazz community this afternoon that alto saxophonist and NEA Jazz Master (Class of 2007) Phil Woods passed away today. He was 83. The news came less than a month after Woods told the audience at a September 4 concert at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild in Pittsburgh that he had just played his final gig. He had long suffered from emphysema and performed for several years while using oxygen. The Springfield MA native was a ...
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Delaware Water Gap jazz legend Phil Woods dies
![Delaware Water Gap jazz legend Phil Woods dies](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/philwoods100x100_2011.jpg)
Source:
Michael Ricci
Jazz legend Phil Woods died Tuesday morning, according to Bensing-Thomas Funeral Home in Stroudsburg. He was 83 years old. Woods, who lived in Delaware Water Gap since 1976 and is one of the founders of the prestigious DWG Celebration of the Arts jazz and arts festival, recorded with jazz visionaries as Quincy Jones, Clark Terry, Thelonious Monk, Benny Carter, John Coates Jr. and others during his distinguished career. Upon receiving the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters award in ...
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Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend Debuts Phil Woods Compositions
![Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend Debuts Phil Woods Compositions](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/philwoods100x100_2011.jpg)
Source:
Ed Bride Associates
Four-day Festival Featured Phil Woods, Freddie Bryant, Greg Caputo and Dozens of Local Musicians and Associated Events. By Ed Bride How do you give wobbly knees to 300 strong? Aside from using a metaphor, you put a legendary alto saxophonist in front of a kickass big band and let them wail. At least, that’s the evidence provided at last Saturday’s (July 28) headline event of the second annual Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend. The participants: 4-time Grammy winner and NEA Jazz ...
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Berkshire Gateway To Feature Phil Woods, Freddie Bryant, Greg Caputo Big Band
![Berkshire Gateway To Feature Phil Woods, Freddie Bryant, Greg Caputo Big Band](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/philwoods100x100_2011.jpg)
Source:
Ed Bride Associates
Berkshires Jazz, Inc. today announced the second annual Berkshire Gateway Jazz Weekend, bringing marquee performers and local jazz musicians to downtown Lee, Massachusetts, July 25-28. In collaboration with Berkshire Gateway Preservation, Inc., Berkshires Jazz presents the {Greg Caputo Big Band, Phil Woods, and the Freddie Bryant Quartet in the striking performance space at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, and other venues. In addition to the headline performances on July 26 and 27, the weekend will include “jazz about town,” ...
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Phil Woods: "Right to Swing"
![Phil Woods: "Right to Swing"](https://s3.amazonaws.com/allaboutjazz/photos/profile/philwoods100x100_2011.jpg)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Phil Woods is a band guy deep down. Though he has recorded hundreds of small-group albums, Phil always sounds most at home standing out in a crowd. Interestingly, his first commercial recording was with Neal Hefti and His Orchestra (Hot 'N Hearty in 1955), and some of his most memorable recordings have been as the soulful soloist on recordings by superb orchestras: Larry Sonn's The Sound of Sonn (1955), Dizzy Gillespie's World Statesman (1956), Manny Albam's Jazz Greats of Our ...
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Christopher Burnett
saxophone, altoKen Stout
saxophoneEd Palermo
saxophoneGrace Kelly
saxophoneAlan Gaumer
trumpetFred Haas
saxophoneMirko Fait
saxophone, tenorCharlie Jennison
saxophone, altoFrido ter Beek
saxophoneF. ter Beek
saxophoneJeremy Shoham
saxophoneMarek Buble
saxophone, altoGlen Manby
saxophone, altoAlex Clarke
saxophoneLen Pierro
saxophoneAaron Johnson
saxophone, altoDave Coules
saxophoneLangston Hughes II
saxophoneOlivia Hughart
saxophone, altoChuck Currie
woodwindsSea Greene Miller
saxophonePhotos
Music
Blues For Lopes
From: Phil & BillBy Phil Woods