Jazz for aficionados

***** Sorta contradicts first comment, no?*****

Not at all.  The New Orleans thing just gives me hope for the future.  Young players coming from New Orleans, are different from the young elsewhere in the Jazz world.   Hard to escape the roots down there.  The music is everywhere.  They will be influenced.

It is my thought, not a fact, that you could start out as a Jazz player in the North East, without any influence of,  or any thought ever given to New Orleans.  I hope I am wrong.

Cheers

Woods, my universe:

He just seems to have developed and matured in a parallel / separate Jazz universe from the one in which I lived.   This is surely not a criticism.   That would be absurd.  

But, reading the piece, I only recognized  one name in his story, Quincy Jones.   Jones is the consummate musician.   At home in any genre, but he never one of my favorite Jazz players.  I think I have one CD by him.   Had more LPs, in the 'Killer Joe' vein.

He spent some time in Europe and formed a group called "The European Rhythm Machine.   The odds of me buying or listening to a CD by a group called European Rhythm Machine, approached zero.

This statement sums up why he never got my attention, this is after he went to Europe.
"I sounded like I was let out of jail.  The Europeans were much more aware of development in music than American musicians at that point.(1969).  You were expected to be an artist and to experiment".

Now,  think of who was alive and playing in 1969.   Going to Europe to improve in Jazz, is like a Kid from Brazil or Germany,  coming to the U.S. to learn Soccer.

My only point is this, he never played with the players I bought and followed.  Even when he did, it was as a sideman, and at that stage in my music appreciation, I only paid attention to the leaders.   And, that European experimental stuff, well, it is what it is.

But, he is one of the few guys that made me look at the notes to see who was playing, as I listened to the CD.  He was very, very good.  And from all I have read, a very nice human being.

Cheers

Phil Woods was an icon for saxophone players; the consummate player.  This is the third time I have posted this and don't know if anyone has watched it.  A great peek into his life, the jazz life, his personality and some very interesting and funny accounts about everything from the business of jazz to being married to Chan, Bird's widow; priceless stuff:

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

Early Phil as a leader:

[URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5xaEXLh213w[/URL]

[URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1UyUTP_IucQ[/URL]

Later:

[URL]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FnsycHk8VBw[/URL]

Yes, he was very good.  I can see / hear why he was held in such high regard within the Professional Jazz community.  I suspect he knew his N&Bs like few others.  The last two clips were more to my liking.

The three albums could represent the worst examples of Jazz LP Cover Art in history.

Woods in front of a fireplace with a dog???   Is this one of the most gifted be-boppers ever, or Johnny Mathis?  

The Garland cover was like, they just used the closest photo at hand.  Says nothing about what to expect inside.  The cover is the first thing that should grab the buyer.

The last clip, woods in a ski sweater.  He even sounded more mature. But,  this could have been the cover of a Boston Pops / Fielder Christmas LP.

The playing on all was great.   Esp the last two.   But if I was browsing through Waterloo or Tower records, I would not pick up any of them to read the notes, unless I was already familiar with Woods.  Another reason I may have missed him earlier in my Jazz journey.

 Of course this could all just be a reflection, a silly one at that, on my decision making in buying music.

 LP cover that makes you pick it up:  [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCRjn79DL74[/url]
The arrogance of the man!!

Thanks for the clips

Cheers