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The great Phil Woods has passed.

The great Phil Woods died two days ago of complications from emphysema; a sad day for music, jazz in particular and the saxophone world. He was one of the greatest saxophonists to ever live and was much more than a jazz player. He was that rare improviser who could really sound at home playing in any style or genre; as well as being a classically trained clarinetist, composer and orchestrator. Sometimes referred to as "the new Bird" he brought Charlie Parker's bebop style into a more modern era and was revered by his peers as well as jazz buffs. A truly great loss.

Early Phil:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wrhRhuKQXlw

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ai3oU-O4h7k

More recent Phil:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GnuJThWZuxM

Many pop music fans have heard his genius without realizing it:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HaA3YZ6QdJU

For a more personal and fascinating peek into the man's personality and life as a musician and jazz player:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6SJxmCzYpoo

He announced his retirement from performing less than a month ago at a performance/recreation of the classic "Charlie Parker Plays Bird With Strings" sessions. That night he announced that it would be his last performance. Incredible.
frogman

Showing 1 response by frogman

frogman OP
7,370 posts
 
In spite of his "saltiness" he was a very humble individual when
it came to music matters. There is a great moment (@ 30:00) in the last
video I posted of his master class/performance to a group of young
musicians that I find particularly revealing of that humility. He is talking
about playing on pop recordings as a studio musician (the Billy Joel among
others) and he talks about how he chose which ones to accept to play on.
He doesn't say 'Well, I didn't accept some because I thought the music
sucked' . Instead, he says 'I didn't accept some because "I didn't
think I could contribute anything" ' . Right after that anecdote he talks
about being married to Chan, Charlie Parker's widow and an encounter
with Charles Mingus; priceless.
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