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.
Superwoman
Phil Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But is that really in her head
But I just want to live each day
To love her for what she is
Mary wants to be another movie star
But is that really in her mind
And all the things she wants to be
She needs to leave behind
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Very well, and I think I can face-very well
Wish that you knew me too-very well
And I think I can cope with everything going through your head
Mary wants to be a superwoman
And try to boss the bull around
But does she really think that she will get by with a dream
My woman want to be a superwoman
And I just had to say good-bye
Because I can't spend all my hours start to cry
But, very well, I believe I know you
Very well wish that you knew me too
Very well, and I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Very well, think that I know you too
Very well, wish you knew me like I know you
Very well, but I think I can deal with everything going through your head
Your filthy head
Very well, dum dum da, dum dum da
Very well, wish you knew me too
Very well, and I wish I could think of everything going through your head
Very well, dum dum da, dum da, dum da dum dum da, dum da, very well
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
When the summer came you were not around
Now the summer's gone and love cannot be found
Where were you when I needed you-last winter, my love?
When the winter came you went further south
Parting from love's nest, leaving me in doubt
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Our love is at an end
But you say now you have changed
But tomorrow will reflect love's past
When the winter came you were not around
Through the bitter winds love could not be found
Where were you when I needed you, last winter, my love?
Oh I need you baby, I need you baby
Our love is at an end
But you say now you have changed,
But tomorrow will reflect love's past oh
Spring will fill the air and you will come around,
Well is it summer love that will let me down,
Where were you when I needed you, last winter, my love?
La la la la la, la la la la la
La la la la la, la la la la la
Where are you when I need you, like right now?
Right now, right now, right now
Where were you when I needed you last winter, my dear
I need you baby, I need you baby, I need you baby
Oh, Where were you when I needed you last winter, last winter
Yea, need you baby, need you, need you baby,
Oh, you want me too need you baby
Oh where were you when I needed you last, dear
Yea
The lyrics to Phil Woods's song Superwoman speak to the struggles of a woman named Mary who desires to be a superwoman but is conflicted about whether that is truly what she wants. The singer, who appears to be a man in a romantic relationship with Mary, supports her in her aspirations but encourages her to be true to herself and leave behind the things she thinks she needs to be. He recognizes the complexities going on in her head and expresses his willingness to deal with them and cope with the challenges they may present.
The chorus, which repeats throughout the song, emphasizes the singer's confidence in his understanding of Mary and his ability to handle everything going on in her head. However, he also expresses a desire for Mary to know him as well, suggesting that there may be a disconnect in their relationship.
The second half of the song shifts to the singer expressing feelings of abandonment and disappointment in another person, likely someone they were in a romantic relationship with. The lyrics suggest that this individual went "further south" and left the singer feeling doubtful and alone. The chorus repeats once more, with the singer pleading for this individual to come back into their life and be there for them.
Overall, the song is a poignant commentary on the pressures of societal expectations and the struggles of maintaining relationships in the face of distance and emotional turmoil.
Line by Line Meaning
Mary wants to be a superwoman
Mary desires to be a capable and powerful woman
But is that really in her head
But is that truly what she wants to be, or is it just a fleeting thought?
But I just want to live each day
But all I desire is to enjoy each day as it comes
To love her for what she is
And to love Mary for who she truly is, not who she wants to be
Mary wants to be another movie star
Mary strives to become a famous actress
But is that really in her mind
But is that a genuine desire or just a thought that crosses her mind?
And all the things she wants to be
But all the things Mary desires to become
She needs to leave behind
She should put behind her fleeting desires and focus on her true self
But, very well, I believe I know you-very well
But, I believe I understand you thoroughly
Wish that you knew me too-very well
I hope that you could understand me to the same extent
And I think I can deal with everything going through your head
I'm confident in dealing with any thoughts that weigh heavily on your mind
And try to boss the bull around
Mary attempts to control situations that are beyond her capability
But does she really think that she will get by with a dream
But does Mary genuinely believe that she can achieve her desire only through her dreams?
My woman want to be a superwoman
My partner desires to become a powerful, successful woman
And I just had to say good-bye
And I had to leave her.
Because I can't spend all my hours start to cry
Because I cannot spend all my time crying over our relationship.
And I think I can cope with everything going through your head
I believe I can handle all the thoughts and emotions she is currently experiencing
Your filthy head
Your troubled and confused mind
When the summer came you were not around
When summer arrived, she wasn't present
Now the summer's gone and love cannot be found
Now that summer has passed, I cannot find love anymore
Where were you when I needed you-last winter, my love?
Where were you when I needed your love last winter?
When the winter came you went further south
When winter arrived, she travelled further south
Parting from love's nest, leaving me in doubt
Leaving me in doubt, abandoning our love
But tomorrow will reflect love's past
Tomorrow, I will look back on our past of love
Through the bitter winds love could not be found
Love could not be found through the harsh winter winds
Spring will fill the air and you will come around
When spring arrives, I believe she will return
Well is it summer love that will let me down
But is it summer love that will ultimately let me down?
I need you baby, I need you baby
I need you desperately, my love
Our love is at an end
Our relationship is over
Yea, need you baby, need you, need you baby
Yes, I desperately need you, I need you badly my love
Oh where were you when I needed you last, dear
Oh, where were you when I needed you last, my love
Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stevie Wonder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jim Fit
This entire album is a classic it inspired me to practice on my alto sax. Everyday as a young man, I had the honor of meeting Phil Woods at one of the Cape May Jazz Festivals
At the Grand Hotel,. I remember feeling a bit nervous and excited at the same time. He was quite the gentleman and appeared to be moved when I mentioned some of my favorite songs on his albums I had been listening to. To this day,. This is one of my fondest memories and I'm pretty sure it will always be.
Jim Fittipaldi on FB
Jeffrey Newton
I am also a saxophonist, although primarily tenor. The first time I met Phil Woods was while taking a piss in the urinal at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit. Despite the setting, we had a nice chat...
Jaleb Jaba
This tune instrumental ,after Stevie blew it away was very soothing. I remember in the seventies when I heard it ,I Immediately bought it. I believe that was the only great tune, still it was a crossover with jazz.
Louise Boyd
Love Love Love it! Thank you!
Rat Ghost
Smooooth Jazz way before they started calling it smooth jazz. Love Phil Woods. Btw, this tune sounds great but it doesn't even sound remotely like Superwoman by Stevie Wonder.
fasstrack Fass
RCA REMOVED it? Why would those dunderheads DO such a thing? This track, Phil and the late, great Harry Leahey sounding SO soulful, is a MF...
True Blue You
Smooooooooth solos
Parker
can send me this whole album ?! thank you!
Jaleb Jaba
Thanks
Tony A
https://youtu.be/Lbcm1To4POc?list=PL82214F54C1D51D8F
You can find this on vinyl as well as CD which is an import without a couple of the tunes. Seriously one of the best Jazz albums ever. Phil signed mine ;)