One of the all-time great alto players, Phil Woods, passed away yesterday (Sept. 29). Heard him live only once - North Sea Jazz Festival back in the 80's but many times on disc. The early 10" LPs with fellow altoist Gene Quill, the European Rhythm Machine with Gordon Beck and on to the various mainland Europe big bands. An ace player. However, what I think really endeared him to me and the wider public was his solo on Billy Joel's Just the Way You Are. Was there ever a more lyrical alto sax solo on a pop record? No - Baker St. doesn't even get close!
He embodied the spirit of Charlie Parker, merging it into his own creative playing to become, until yesterday, the greatest living alto saxophone player.
Phil Woods was 83.
May he Rest In Peace - sadly missed throughout the jazz world.
Lance.
Phil Woods was never short of an observation as these quotes from our Bebop Spoken There archives show!
Phil Woods: "In ancient times, teaching was a
sacred profession. Now we are in awe of our artists but not of our teachers.
That is reflected in what we pay them." - (Downbeat September 21, 1967.)
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Phil Woods: "What do all these words mean?
Avant garde, loft jazz, fusion, ultra fusion, Dixieland, trad, bebop. Our
history is too short to have so many sub-divisions; we've gone through more
periods than mankind has in 5,000 years, and jazz is not even 100 years
old." - (Crescendo
September 1977).
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Phil Woods: "My kids love the
fact that I worked with Steely Dan and Paul Simon! They're much more impressed
than about me working with Ben Webster." -(Crescendo September 1977).
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Phil Woods: “When Benny [Goodman]
died John Frosk called Jerry Dodgion and said 'I've got some good news and some
bad news. The good news is that Benny died last night. The bad news is that he
died in his sleep'.”- (Jazz Journal October 1996).
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Phil Woods: "I'd
inherited a horn from my uncle's will and had no interest in playing it. In
fact, I planned to melt the saxophone and make toy soldiers out of it but my
mom urged me to take lessons." - (Downbeat July 2007).
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Phil Woods: “When I listen to a band like the
BBC Big Band, and all the fine young musicians in it – my God. I have ties
older than they are!" - (Jazz Journal 2008.)
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Phil Woods: “I’m
79 with the body of a 78-year-old.” - Downbeat, February 2012.).
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