Murphydog Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I've recently picked up a terrific disc on the Italian Red label: Integrity The New Phil Woods Quintet and I'd like advice as to other Phil Woods recordiings I might enjoy. Thanks, Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I've recently picked up a terrific disc on the Italian Red label: Integrity The New Phil Woods Quintet and I'd like advice as to other Phil Woods recordiings I might enjoy. Thanks, Paul Woods has had a very long career with, in my opinion, few valleys. I particularly like "Live at the Showboat" a recording from the mid-late 70s. But the early saxophone groups with Gene Quill...Hal Stein, Sahib Shihab...on Prestige and others were also enjoyable. And, of course, the (Italian?) Philology label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 The stuff with The European Rhythm Machine is consistently fine, imo. Other than that...I gotta be in the mood for the earlier stuff, and I'm pretty much never in the mood for the later stuff. Just my taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.A.W. Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I gotta be in the mood for the earlier stuff, and I'm pretty much never in the mood for the later stuff. Just my taste. Same here - earlier stuff: varies from so so to OK, later stuff: no thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfcrazy1984 Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I love Phil Woods' alto sound, and he, in my opinion is carrying the lineage and history of alto in his sound. I too agree his most creative playing would be in the European Rhythm Machine, but I enjoy all periods of his career. I really like the Oliver Nelson and Quincy Jones box sets from Mosaic Records, the sets show off his solo style and lead alto skill. From his more recent recordings I have his two "American Songbook" albums-- good, but run of the mill and "Voyage" which is live and exceptional. Highly recommend that one. The Quincy Jones tribute recording is fine, but not outstanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Lead alto skills, yes, one of the greatest ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Early Woods for me, almost without exception. The top two below are top notch, the third one is IIRC the dividing line, the point just before things began to go haywire. The fourth doesn't have Woods on all tracks, but he is in excellent early form, and this is Quincy Jones' best album by a mile. For an example of what Woods became by and large almost overnight, a "jazzy" musician, check out the fifth one below. It's nice for Zoot and Al, but Phil sounds like his instrument is made out of razor blades -- lines made more out of accents than notes (i.e the actual pitches almost seem beside the point). http://www.amazon.com/Early-Quintets-Phil-Woods/dp/B000000ZA3/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295118092&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Pot-Pie-Phil-Woods/dp/B000000ZAJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1295117970&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Sugan-Phil-Woods/dp/B000000Z9F/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1295118035&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/This-Feel-About-Jazz-West/dp/B000JVSWMS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295118142&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Live-Night-Half-Note/dp/B003JZEVH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1295118210&sr=1-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellowT Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I gotta be in the mood for the earlier stuff, and I'm pretty much never in the mood for the later stuff. Just my taste. Same here - earlier stuff: varies from so so to OK, later stuff: no thanks. Would later stuff include the anniversary Mosaic box? Just wondering if I should consider it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
golfcrazy1984 Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I gotta be in the mood for the earlier stuff, and I'm pretty much never in the mood for the later stuff. Just my taste. Same here - earlier stuff: varies from so so to OK, later stuff: no thanks. Would later stuff include the anniversary Mosaic box? Just wondering if I should consider it. I would consider the Mosaic box mid-late period, I think his tone was the brightest and most grating during this period. Great technique, but I feel he had a better, more rounded tone in the 50s-60s and now as well. I have the Mosaic Phil Woods box and I would only recommend it to dedicated Phil Woods fans. I don't really listen to it much and I am one! I actually think his tone is really good now, much warmer these days than the 80s-90s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Another vote for the European Rhythm Machine material. In addition to the 2 releases cited above, there's also this one on Atlantic: AT THE FRANKFURT JAZZ FESTIVAL Also, I'll go out on a limb and recommend this late-ish period Woods session... As much for Tabackin and Jimmy Rowles as for Woods (who plays clarinet on one track.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I gotta be in the mood for the earlier stuff, and I'm pretty much never in the mood for the later stuff. Just my taste. Same here - earlier stuff: varies from so so to OK, later stuff: no thanks. Would later stuff include the anniversary Mosaic box? Just wondering if I should consider it. For me, yeah. YMMV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Here's a very good later group with Tom Harrell, Steve Goodwin and Joe La Barbera: Here's a closeup of the pin he was wearing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereojack Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Some of my favorites: Woodlore (1955) http://www.allmusic.com/album/woodlore-r150529 Sugan (1957) http://www.allmusic.com/album/sugan-r157526 Musique Du Bois (1974) http://www.allmusic.com/album/musique-du-bois-r150509 Quartet Live, 1 & 2 (1978) http://www.allmusic.com/album/phil-woods-quartet-live-vol-1-r150519 http://www.allmusic.com/album/musique-du-bois-r150509 The vinyl releases of the last two were on Clean Cuts, but the second seems to have only made it to CD on MFSL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdavenport Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 I had the OJC CD of "Woodlore", and got rid of it. I seem to remember the bass player (don't remember who) suffering particularly in the recording/mastering - sounded all clunky and "boxy" IMO. It got to the stage where I couldn't listen to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 (edited) I'll second the mentions of Sugan and Pot Pie - introduced to those two by Chuck and Larry, respectively - and add Phil & Quill with Prestige http://www.amazon.com/Phil-Quill-Prestige-Woods/dp/B000000YC4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1295130643&sr=1-1 to the mix. Edited January 15, 2011 by paul secor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Pairing Off I like as well, also Four Altos gets me going. Still need to get Sugan. The European Rhythm Machine records are awesome. Here's a closeup of the pin he was wearing: Want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Hard to find, but the side Wodds made with Pete Robinson in LA right after he came back from Europe is an interesting listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 Count me on the side of folks liking early Woods - before he "discovered himself". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 I particularly like "Live at the Showboat" a recording from the mid-late 70s. Yes, I've always liked that one. I keep waiting for it to show up on disc. Has it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Hard to find, but the side Wodds made with Pete Robinson in LA right after he came back from Europe is an interesting listen. I think I mentioned this before, but I have this one, but with a defective pressing. 75% of it comes out of one channel! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Yes, yes to 'Musique du Bois' :tup Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 Yes, yes to 'Musique du Bois' :tup Musique du Bois is the one that I listen to the most as well. Although I also hardly listen to any of the more recent stuff, I have a strange attraction that is hard to explain to one of the later Concord discs: Flash: the Phil Woods Quintet + 1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmonahan Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 I'll confess to a liking for his work with Mel Torme in the late 70s (I think--or was it the 80s?!), but he could come on pretty strong during that period. Early stuff is great, but the recent Songbook albums are pretty good too. Like others, I don't listen to the Mosaic that much. Maybe I should get it out and give it a spin. gregmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 His playing on the various Quincy Jones Orchestra albums of the early 60s is fabulous (compiled in the Quincy Jones Mosaic box). Also very highly recommended if you get the chance to see it is that NDR Jazz Workshop film from the late 1960s which has him with Gato Barbieri and Jimmy Owens, among others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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