The Jazz Line
Alto Sax
Legend Phil Woods Has Died At 83
By David La Rosa, Editor | Sep 29, 2015, 03:34
PM
Just
three weeks ago, jazz legend and saxophonist Phil Woods gave a historic
performance of Charlie Parker’s classic ‘With Strings’ album alongside the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
However, right
before launching into his last song of the night, Gerry Mulligan’s “Rocker,” he explained that his emphysema
had worsened and as a result the song would, in fact, serve as his
last performance ever.
On September 4,
2015 Phil Woods left his alto saxophone on stage at the Manchester Craftsmen’s
Guild in Pittsburgh, officially marking the end of an
illustrious 70-year career making incredible music and serving as
inspiration for countless future musicians.
Now, it is with
great sadness we report that Woods has passed away.
The Bensing-Thomas
Funeral Home in Stroudsburg, PA confirmed that Woods died this morning
(September 29) to The Jazz Line. He was 83.
Arrangements are
currently being made for what is expected to be a private service for family
and close friends.
Woods was born
in Springfield, MA on November 2, 1931. Rather amusingly, after being
gifted his first instrument – a saxophone, obviously – at the age of 12,
his first instinct was to melt it down to make more toy soldiers for his
collection. Thankfully, his mother stopped that from happening and insisted
he use the instrument as it was supposed to be used. So he found a music
teacher in the phone book, Harvey LaRose, who used the works of Benny
Carter to start Woods on a musical path. Incidentally, Carter would later
become a close friend and mentor to Woods.
After building a
solid foundation on the instrument, Woods sought an academic foundation
for his talents and attended Julliard School of Music in New York. The
school had yet to introduce a saxophone program in 1948, so he was mentored by
close friend clarinetist Joe Lopes while studying clarinet performance and
music composition at the conservatory.
He spent
the following years establishing himself as a powerhouse
bandleader and a diligent sideman, performing with the likes of
Thelonious Monk, Quincy Jones, Clark Terry, and Billy Taylor before
testing more experimental sounds and spending some time in France, where
he married Chan Woods (who was best known as Chan Parker, saxophonist
Charlie Parker’s widow) and spent almost 20-years with her.
Woods’ name became
familiar to even casual rock and pop listeners after he was featured as a
soloist on Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are,” which served as Joel’s
first Top 10 hit and went on to be covered by countless other artists. Most
notably by Barry White.
Phil spent much of
his adult life living in Pennsylvania with his wife Jill
Goodwin, where they raised their children. He stands as a named performer
or bandleader on well over 100 albums. He won a total of four Grammys and was
named an NEA ‘Jazz Master’ in 2007.
In a statement
made after receiving the accolade, Woods said:
“Jazz will never perish.
It’s forever music, and I like to
think that my music is somewhere in there and will last, maybe not forever, but
may influence others.”
Rest In Peace Phil Woods.
4 comentários:
Lágrimas, saudades, mil lembranças, mil momentos de puro encantamento, de arte, de técnica superior, de MÚSICA em sua mais alta e legítima expressão.
Um músico, um artista, um ferrenho defensor e intérprete da ARTE POPULAR MAIOR, o JAZZ.
Percorreu o mundo sem concessões e presenteou para todos nós o JAZZ em sua mais bela arquitetura, sintaxe, lógica de improvisação e um total domínio do instrumento em que foi o maior dos MESTRES em sequência a CHARLIE PARKER.
Para todos nós legou imenso acervo de gravações (audio e vídeo), que passam à história como "a real masterpiece".
Há dias postei uma matéria que justamente dizia que Phil deixara de tocar devido a problema de saúde e parece que era mais sério do que só não mais tocar. Grande perda, um dos maiores músicos do jazz.
Mais um dos gigantes do Jazz se vai.
Graças ao meu querido e saudoso amigo Tião Neto, que me cedeu um ingresso para assistir o Phil no Copacabana Palace, realizei um sonho que buscava fazia tempo. Um show sensacional que me marcou muito e confirmou toda admiração que eu tinha por este gigante do Jazz.
Rest in peace.
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