Happy Birthday Phil!
On November 2, 1931 clarinetist, alto saxophonist, educator and bandleader Phil Woods was born in Springfield, MA. This week I salute my fellow Pennsylvania resident on his birthday even though he’s somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean playing for a jazz cruise!
You would think that at his advanced age Phil would be content staying closer to home and perhaps write his memoirs. However, those of us who have followed Phil’s career are not surprised that he is spending his birthday working another gig. Phil is one of the hardest working figures in the world of jazz.
I’ve had the good fortune to hear Phil and the band in person on several occasions and to have produced a concert featuring Phil and Jim McNeely doing music associated with Johnny Hodges. The concert was lovely and Phil and Jim were a delight to work with.
If you click on Phil’s picture at the top of this page you’ll be taken to his website. The site is very professionally produced and contains a wide variety of materials about Phil and his music. There is even a discussion forum.
As I raise my glass in a toast to Phil Woods, here is a sample of his collaboration with Jim McNeely.
posted by Russ @ 13:54
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