phil woods
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Philip Wells Woods was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, on November 2, 1931. He began taking saxophone lessons at age 12 with Harvey LaRose in Springfield.
After graduation from high school at age 16, he went to New York City and spent one summer at the Manhattan School of Music and four years at the Juilliard Conservatory. His first influences as a Jazzman were Benny Carter, Johnny Hodges and Charlie Parker “…in this order” , he precises.
He worked with several groups, like the ones of Jimmy Raney or Charlie Barnet, before joining the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band in 1956. Between 1959 and 1961 he was featured in the Big Band of Quincy Jones, touring Europe for one year. In 1962 he was part of the Benny Goodman Orchestra that toured the (then) Soviet Union for the first time.
In the mid-fifties, Phil was leading his own groups, and recording for Prestige. He was also cooperating with musicians of the caliber of Bill Evans, Michel Legrand, Oliver Nelson, Thelonious Monk and singer Billie Holiday.
In 1968, Phil moved to Europe, where he created the European Rhythm Machine. This unit played all over the world until 1973, when Woods decided it was time to return home. After a brief stay in Los Angeles, Phil moved back to the New York area, where he has been residing since 1974.
During the eighties and the nineties, Phil has been leading his own groups, first a quartet and later a quintet, featuring first class talent like trumpeters Tom Harrell and Brian Lynch, trombonist Hal Crook, pianist Hal Galper, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin.
During the nineties, Phil is proudest of his accomplishments as a leader of the Phil Woods Quintet: four Grammys, consistent poll-winning and excellent reviews and accolades from Critics and Audiences all over the world confirm his status as one of the all time great Jazzmen.