Woods was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He studied music with Lennie Tristano, who influenced him greatly, at the Manhattan School of Music and at the Juilliard School. His friend, Joe Lopes, coached him on clarinet as there was no saxophone major at Juilliard at the time. Although he did not copy Charlie "Bird" Parker, he was known as the New Bird, a label which was also attached to other alto players such as Sonny Stitt and Cannonball Adderley at one time or another in their careers.
In the mid-'50s, Woods began to front his own bands. He got major exposure after Quincy Jones invited him to accompany a 1956 State Department-sponsored world tour with the big band of Dizzy Gillespie. In 1959 Woods traveled Europe with Jones’ band; in 1962 he participated in Benny Goodman’s Russian tour.
After moving to France in 1968, Woods led the European Rhythm Machine, a group which tended toward avant-garde jazz. He returned to the United States in 1972 and, after an unsuccessful attempt to establish an electronic group, he formed a quintet which was still performing, with some changes of personnel, in 2004. As his theme, Woods used a piece titled "How's Your Mama?"
Woods earned the top alto sax player award almost 30 times in Downbeat magazine’s annual readers’ poll. His quintet was awarded the top small combo title several times.
In 1979, Woods made the recording More Live at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas. Perhaps his best known recorded work as a sideman is a pop piece, his alto sax solo on Billy Joel's 1977 "Just the Way You Are". He also played the alto sax solo on Steely Dan's "Doctor Wu" from their 1975 album Katy Lied, as well as Paul Simon's "Have a Good Time" from the 1975 album Still Crazy After All These Years.
Although Woods was primarily a saxophonist, he was also a clarinet player and solos can be found scattered through his recordings. One particular example is his clarinet solo on "Misirlou" on the album Into The Woods.
Woods, along with Rick Chamberlain and Ed Joubert, founded the organization Celebration of the Arts (COTA) in 1978 late one night in the bar at the Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap. The organization would eventually become the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts. Their initial goal was to help foster an appreciation of jazz and its relationship to other artistic disciplines. Each year, the organization hosts the Celebration of the Arts Festival in the town of Delaware Water Gap in September.
Phil Woods – A Life in E Flat: Portrait of a Jazz Legend is a documentary film released in 2005 by Jazzed Media. Directed by Rich Lerner, and produced by Graham Carter, the film offers an intimate portrait of Woods during a recording session of the Jazzed Media album This is How I Feel About Quincy.[citation needed]
Phil Woods was married to Chan Parker, the widow of Charlie Parker, for 17 years from 1955 and was stepfather to Chan's daughter Kim. On September 4, 2015, Woods performed a tribute to Charlie Parker with Strings at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, and announced at the end of the show that he would be retiring. Woods died September 29, 2015, at the age of 83.
Awards
In 2007, Phil Woods received a "Jazz Master" award from the National Endowment of the Arts.
Grammy awards
Woods' recordings have been nominated for seven Grammy awards and have won four.
1975 Images: "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance".
1977 Live from the Show Boat: "Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Individual or Group".
1982 More Live: "Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Individual or Group".
1983 At the Vanguard: "Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Individual or Group".
He also performed on the 2006 Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project Album, Simpático, which won Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year in 2007.
Like Someone in Love
Phil Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hearing guitars like someone in love.
Sometimes the things I do astound me,
Mostly whenever you're around me.
Lately I seem to walk as though I had wings,
Bump into things like someone in love.
Each time I look at you,
I'm limp as a glove,
In Phil Woods's song Like Someone in Love, the singer begins by describing how they have recently found themselves gazing at the stars and hearing guitars, as if in a state of being in love. This particular sentiment is further emphasized by the use of repetition of the phrase "like someone in love" throughout the song. The singer then goes on to express how their actions sometimes surprise them, especially when the person they love is around. This could be interpreted to suggest that being in love can cause us to act in ways that are out of the norm for us.
The singer proceeds to describe how they seem to walk as though they have wings and bump into things, as if they are under some sort of spell. The line "each time I look at you, I'm limp as a glove" is particularly interesting, as it seems to suggest that the singer completely loses control of their body and emotions when in the presence of the person they love. The overall theme of the song is the intense emotions and actions that being in love can evoke, and how they can take over one's entire being.
Line by Line Meaning
Lately, I find myself out gazing at stars,
Recently, I have found myself looking up at the stars, captivated by their beauty, akin to someone in love.
Hearing guitars like someone in love.
I am hearing the sound of guitars, and it fills me with a sense of longing, as if I am in love with the music itself.
Sometimes the things I do astound me,
Occasionally, I surprise myself with my actions and behavior, which are driven by my intense feelings of love towards you.
Mostly whenever you're around me.
More often than not, I am filled with a sense of wonder and awe when you are near me, as your presence has a profound effect on me.
Lately I seem to walk as though I had wings,
Recently, I have been carrying myself with a lightness and joy that feels as though I am walking on air, similar to how someone in love might feel.
Bump into things like someone in love.
My intense focus on you and my emotions can sometimes cause me to be clumsy and unaware of my surroundings, much like someone in love might be.
Each time I look at you,
Whenever I gaze upon you, whether it be a glance or a longer look, I feel a sense of intense emotional response.
I'm limp as a glove,
My body and emotions become weak and pliable, surrendering to the overwhelming sensations of love that you inspire within me.
And feeling like someone in love.
I experience a rush of emotions, thoughts, and feelings that are similar to those felt by someone deeply in love.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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