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Guest Artist: Phil Woods
 Phil
Woods was born Nov. 2, 1931, in Springfield, Mass. After
his graduation from high school at age 16, he spent four years in New
York attending the Julliard School of Music. According to Woods, "My
first influences were Benny Carter, Johnny Hodges, and Charlie Parker,
in that order."
In the '50s Woods performed with his own bands, some co-directed by altoist
Gene Quill, and with Quincy Jones and Dizzy Gillespie, whose historic
State Department tour of the Middle East in 1959 featured Woods on lead
alto sax.
Woods lived in Europe during the '60s; there he formed the European Rhythm
Machine, a group that played all over the world until Woods' return to
the U.S. in 1973. He eventually settled in New York and formed one of
the most important jazz quintets of the '80s and '90s, the Phil Woods
Quintet.
In addition to his four Grammys, Woods and his quintet have won numerous
international honors; Woods' personal triumphs include his being named
Downbeat magazine's Readers' and Critics' Poll's #1 alto saxophonist from
1975-1992, and his receipt of Jazz Times' award as #1 alto saxophonist
for 1990-93.
According to music critics, Phil Woods "has influenced more up-and-coming
players than Adderly and Hodges. He is the greatest living exponent of
his instrument." |
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