Sunday Listening #04 : Phil Woods & Ernie Watts

 Another double listening for this Sunday.

Phil Woods - Astor & Elis [1996]

Phil Woods can usually be counted on to record consistently explosive bop-oriented sets with his regular quintet but Astor & Elis is quite different. The altoist dedicates the performance to the singer Elis Regina, the influential modern tango composer Astor Piazzolla and indirectly to Dizzy Gillespie. Joined by a sextet that includes the talented cellist Eric Friedlander, pianist Bill Charlap and Phil Markowitz on synthesizer, Woods alternates between playing alto on Brazilian-flavored material and utilizing his clarinet for Piazzolla's music. The emphasis is generally on lyrical and heartfelt ballad statements with occasional heated passages; Dizzy's "Con Alma" is the only jazz standard on the set. This attractive music favorably shows off Woods' versatility. [allmusic.com - Review by Scott Yanow]

 

Ernie Watts - Classic Moods [1998] 

"If Watts' tenure at JVC, beginning with the 1994 release, Reaching Up, has signified anything, it's that Watts is a jazz musician of the first order. Continuing with Unity (1995) and The Long Road Home (1996), Watts has demonstrated a mastery of the tenor sax in the company of world class players. The JVC recordings showed the world what Southern California knew: After the day's studio work was done, Watts could often be heard playing hell-bent jazz at late night clubs.

The album at hand is maybe the most personal recorded statement that Ernie Watts has made to date. "These are all songs that I grew up listening to," Watts notes. "But as much as I've listened to them, I've never really gotten to play them much. Most of my playing time in the various bands I've been in -- Buddy Rich, Oliver Nelson, Gerald Wilson, with Doc Severinsen -- was spent playing original material. I never really got a chance to explore a lot of this classic jazz repertoire. I've always wanted to play these compositions."

A glance at the material Watts has selected will indicate his musical loyalties. Pieces associated with Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Billie Holiday. "Growing up listening to these tunes is a part of my fiber. It became my subconscious imprint. My conception of these songs is what John Coltrane played on LUSH LIFE or the way Miles played ON GREEN DOLPHIN STREET. I didn't hear the words until much later."

[CD liner notes by Kirk Silsbee]