A personal note about Phil Woods
The first time I heard Phil Woods was in 1967. I was stationed in
Korea with
the 7th Division Army Band and played Alto Saxophone. My best
friend "Danny D'Imperio” was listening to an album called
“MODE” which consisted of
compositions and arrangements by Quincy Jones.
At that time it was issued on ABC Records as a two
record set (LPs) ABCX- 782/2. Excerpts of this album have now
been re-released on a re-mastered CD called
Quincy
Jones and his Orchestra, “The Quintessence”.
To hear Phil play was an epiphany for me. That one tune “Quintessence”
opened up my mind to new and exciting techniques of execution and at the
same time showed me how important the tonal quality of
an Alto Saxophone can be. Phil's command of the instrument leaves me in awe. I learned quit a bit about the sax after that
and I have been a big fan of Phil Woods ever since that day I first
heard him play.
When I returned to the states, I was
lucky enough to be able to study with him for awhile. He was not only a
virtuoso but a true gentleman when it came to dealing with people one on
one. What he taught me about jazz has proven to be invaluable in my
life. There are only two musician that have affected my life and my
understanding of jazz,
Phil Woods and
Danny D'Imperio.
The following is the best I can
do to describe the love and admiration
I have for Maestro - Phil Woods.
"An Artist must create a
personal cosmos,
a verdant world in continuity with tradition, further fulfilling man's awareness, his degree of consciousness, and bringing new
subtilization, vision,
and beauty to the elements of experience. It is in
this way that Idea, powered by conviction
and necessity, will create its
own style and the singular, momentous structure capable of
realizing its
intent."
Leon Kirchner
(American composer, born 1919)
NY Nick
Creative Music and Multimedia Director
Who Dat Sound
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