Really wonderful work from alto genius Phil Woods – already showing a sense of tone and timing that breaks him away from all the Charlie Parker devotees on the market! The groups are great, and Jimmy Raney adds in some amazing chromatic work on guitar – bringing to Phil the same sort of magic he shared with Stan Getz around the same time. LP, Vinyl record album

Phil Woods on alto sax and clarinet – with Tom Harrell on trumpet and flugelhorn, Nick Brignola on baritone sax, Hal Crook on trombone, Nelson Hill on tenor sax, Hal Galper on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums. CD

Features Phil Woods on alto sax and clarinet, Tom Harrell on trumpet, Hal Crook on trombone, Hal Galper on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums. CD

With George Gruntz on piano. CD

Phil Woods on alto sax and clarinet, Hal Crook on trombone, Jim McNeely on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass & Bill Goodwin on drums. CD

An amazing blend of sounds – and way different than you might expect! Yes, the record was part of a big cash-in Zorba moment in the 60s – but it sounds incredible, with this really groundbreaking "jazz meets world" vibe that matches these snake alto solos from Phil Woods with really haunting sounds on bouzukie, dumbeg, and oud – plus added percussion and other instruments – all then held down by Fender bass from Chet Amsterdam and guitar from the great Stuart Scharf! The blend is amazing – much more like an MPS session from the time than Impulse – and tracks include "Zorba The Greek", "Greek Cooking", "Nica", and "Got A Feelin". LP, Vinyl record album

A real gem from Phil Woods' back to basics years of the 80s – a time when he seemed to be able to make magic happen anywhere – no matter the label, no matter the setting! Here, Phil's in some very familiar territory that really has him opening up with ease – not just the Village Vanguard, but a warm quartet with Hal Galper on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums – an easygoing ensemble that really lets Woods' solo lines spin out like magic! Titles include "Very Early", "Webb City", "Prelude To A Kiss", and a sublime soulful take on "Springsville". CD

A great live cooker from Phil Woods – long tracks with those excellent solos he could carve out in the 80s – served up in a quartet with Hal Galper on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums! CD

A great live cooker from Phil Woods – long tracks with those excellent solos he could carve out in the 80s – served up in a quartet with Hal Galper on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums! LP, Vinyl record album

A double-length, ultra-cool set from saxophonist Phil Woods – yet another aspect of his great body of work from the 70s, and a live date that features Woods at the head of a sextet! The group here features acoustic piano, electric guitar, bass, drums, and percussion – all used in ways that are often a bit more organically building and spacious than some of Phil's more intense Rhythm Machine albums – showing a new sensitivity in Woods' music, but one that still has plenty of room for searing, searching solo moments! Titles include "Django's Castle", "A Little Peace", "Brazilian Affair", "I'm Late", "Superwoman", "High Clouds", "How's Your Mama", and "Rain Danse". CD

A double-length, ultra-cool set from saxophonist Phil Woods – yet another aspect of his great body of work from the 70s, and a live date that features Woods at the head of a sextet! The group here features acoustic piano, electric guitar, bass, drums, and percussion – all used in ways that are often a bit more organically building and spacious than some of Phil's more intense Rhythm Machine albums – showing a new sensitivity in Woods' music, but one that still has plenty of room for searing, searching solo moments! Titles include "Django's Castle", "A Little Peace", "Brazilian Affair", "I'm Late", "Superwoman", "High Clouds", "How's Your Mama", and "Rain Danse". LP, Vinyl record album

The "pair" here is Phil Woods and Gene Quill – both blowing beautifully on alto sax, with that sharp edge and deep tone that made both players a real standout in the 50s scene! The Woods/Quill mix has been documented elsewhere, but the sound here is rawer than some of those other dates – a bit less formal, with a nice blowing session sort of groove. There's also a pair of trumpets, too – Donald Byrd and Kenny Dorham – and rhythm is from the trio of Tommy Flanagan on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. All tracks are quite long – and the album features 4 titles that include "The Stanley Stomper", "Cool Aid", "Suddenly It's Spring", and "Pairing Off". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent album of funky electric jazz – and possibly the best one that Phil Woods cut with his European group! The quartet's a very hip group that's way hipper than its clunky name – with Gordon Beck on electric piano and organ, Daniel Humair on percussion and drums, and Henri Texier on bass, flute, and African percussion – all instrumentalists who dip heavily into the deep bag of their mighty talents for the date, helping to push Phil's music into some very cool new territory! The album cooks a lot harder than Woods' previous MGM date with the Rhythm Machine group in Europe – and has a really freewheeling vibe, and a sound that's almost outside at points. All tracks are long, with a modal electric approach that's very nice – and funky in the best parts – and titles include "Chromatic Banana", "Ultimate Choice", "The Last Page", and "The Day When The World". LP, Vinyl record album

A stunner of an album – light years ahead of Phil's earlier work in America – a bit funky at times, with some really open-ended modern sounds! The album features Phil with his incredible European Rhythm Machine – a group that includes Gordon Beck on electric piano, Henri Texier on bass, and Daniel Humair on drums – and the fat basslines of Texier are a wonderful match for the keyboards of Beck – both perfectly balancing things out on the groove! Tracks are long, and a mix of hard out soloing with some nice rhythmic grooving – almost in a modal fusion mode, but not quite – and titles include "Josua", "The Meeting", "Freedom Jazz Dance", and "Ode A Jean-Louis". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the smartest moves Phil Woods ever made was to move to Paris in 1968 and pick up a European rhythm section that featured George Gruntz, Henri Texier, and Daniel Humair. At the time, the idea of a European rhythm section might have been considered suicide by some folks – but for Woods, it was a liberating move that allowed him to expand his sound tremendously. With the help of these three players – all loose modernists who still knew how to swing – Woods was able to craft some incredible tunes, long flowing numbers that featured his amazing tone stretching out in kind of a post-Coltrane sort of mode. This live set is one of the group's best recordings, and features extended versions of tracks that include "Capricci Cavaleschi", "I Remember Bird", "Ad Infinitum", and "Riot". CD

With Steve Gilmore on bass, Bill Goodwin on drums, and Mike Melillo on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful testament to alto saxophonist Phil Woods and his long running collaboration with bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin. The 5CD set unearths almost two decades of studio and live performances – all previously unissued – and features Mike Melilo, Hal Galper, and Jim McNeely on piano, Tom Harrell and Brian Lynch on trumpet, Hal Crook on trombone, and Harry Leahey on guitar. CD

Features Phil Woods on alto sax, Brian Lynch on trumpet, Jim McNeely on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums. CD

Features Phil Woods on alto, Johnny Griffin on tenor, Cedar Walton on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Ben Riley on drums. CD

Really compelling large group work from Phil Woods – one of his first-ever efforts of its type, and a tremendous session that's filled with solos from a wide array of very hip players! The whole album's built around a 5-part "Rights Of Swing" work penned by Woods – a jazz modern number that's obviously taking off of Stravinsky, but without any classical overtones at all – just jazz-based instrumentation from players who include Benny Bailey on trumpet, Julius Watkins on French horn, Sahib Shihab on baritone sax, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Curtis Fuller on trombone. The horn interplay is wonderful – and the solos are too! CD

Really compelling large group work from Phil Woods – one of his first-ever efforts of its type, and a tremendous session that's filled with solos from a wide array of very hip players! The whole album's built around a 5-part "Rights Of Swing" work penned by Woods – a jazz modern number that's obviously taking off of Stravinsky, but without any classical overtones at all – just jazz-based instrumentation from players who include Benny Bailey on trumpet, Julius Watkins on French horn, Sahib Shihab on baritone sax, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Curtis Fuller on trombone. The horn interplay is wonderful – and the solos are too! CD

Really compelling large group work from Phil Woods – one of his first-ever efforts of its type, and a tremendous session that's filled with solos from a wide array of very hip players! The whole album's built around a 5-part "Rights Of Swing" work penned by Woods – a jazz modern number that's obviously taking off of Stravinsky, but without any classical overtones at all – just jazz-based instrumentation from players who include Benny Bailey on trumpet, Julius Watkins on French horn, Sahib Shihab on baritone sax, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Curtis Fuller on trombone. The horn interplay is wonderful – and the solos are too! LP, Vinyl record album

Really compelling large group work from Phil Woods – one of his first-ever efforts of its type, and a tremendous session that's filled with solos from a wide array of very hip players! The whole album's built around a 5-part "Rights Of Swing" work penned by Woods – a jazz modern number that's obviously taking off of Stravinsky, but without any classical overtones at all – just jazz-based instrumentation from players who include Benny Bailey on trumpet, Julius Watkins on French horn, Sahib Shihab on baritone sax, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Curtis Fuller on trombone. The horn interplay is wonderful – and the solos are too! LP, Vinyl record album

Really compelling large group work from Phil Woods – one of his first-ever efforts of its type, and a tremendous session that's filled with solos from a wide array of very hip players! The whole album's built around a 5-part "Rights Of Swing" work penned by Woods – a jazz modern number that's obviously taking off of Stravinsky, but without any classical overtones at all – just jazz-based instrumentation from players who include Benny Bailey on trumpet, Julius Watkins on French horn, Sahib Shihab on baritone sax, Tommy Flanagan on piano, and Curtis Fuller on trombone. The horn interplay is wonderful – and the solos are too! LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty great little record from Phil Woods – a return to straighter playing after the freer sounds of some of his early 70s European work, done in a mode that has lots of nice boppish touches, and which also shows a more deeply soulful side of Phil's blowing. Titles include "Change Partners", "Nuages", "Monking Business", "Summer Afternoon", and "Shaw Nuff" – and the group's a quintet with guitar, piano, bass, and drums. CD

A pretty great little record from Phil Woods – a return to straighter playing after the freer sounds of some of his early 70s European work, done in a mode that has lots of nice boppish touches, and which also shows a more deeply soulful side of Phil's blowing. Titles include "Change Partners", "Nuages", "Monking Business", "Summer Afternoon", and "Shaw Nuff" – and the group's a quintet with guitar, piano, bass, and drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A pretty great little record from Phil Woods – a return to straighter playing after the freer sounds of some of his early 70s European work, done in a mode that has lots of nice boppish touches, and which also shows a more deeply soulful side of Phil's blowing. Titles include "Change Partners", "Nuages", "Monking Business", "Summer Afternoon", and "Shaw Nuff" – and the group's a quintet with guitar, piano, bass, and drums. LP, Vinyl record album

A Phil Woods album that's as upbeat and colorful as its cover – one of those great overlooked later recordings by Phil, of the sort that always make digging through his catalog so rewarding! Woods has a great sense of swing here – but one that's never too formulaic or forced – a very organic, spontaneous groove that seems to come strongly from company that includes Brian Lynch on trumpet, Jim McNeely on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums. Titles include the groovy "CK's Bossa", plus "Peer Pressure", "Song For Sisyphus", "Souvenir", and "Ballad For Hank". CD

The genius of Phil Woods emerges fully on this rare album from 1957 – an unusually-titled session, and one of the few to really set Phil up in a looser, more intimate setting! The approach is a bit like Woods sublime work for Epic Records, but more soulful too – and very different than some of his chamber jazz work on RCA, or the more blowing-session styled records on Prestige. Here, everything falls into place beautifully – as Phil's razor-sharp tones sparkle strongly on some well-conceived tracks that also feature trumpet work by Ray Copeland – and rhythm from the trio of Red Garland on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums. The tunes are bop-oriented, but Woods already stretches out way past any cliches – really finding his voice and showing a tremendous amount of growth in just a few years. Titles include "Steeplechase", "Au Prive", "Last Fling", "Sugan", and "Green Pines". LP, Vinyl record album

Phil Woods on alto saxophone, Roy Hargrove on flugelhorn, Bill Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Willie Jones III on drums. CD

One of the most wonderful Phil Woods albums ever! No kidding – this is amazing! Woods played on lots of other records – and often in settings that made you wonder why people thought he was so great – but on this one, he's totally in the spotlight, fronting a mellow easy quartet that lets him play some incredible solos that go places we couldn't even imagine! The whole album's a fantastic treat – deeply soulful and introspective in a way that you can hardly imagine from most of Woods' other work in the 50s – and done with a rare energy that's made it one of our favorite albums for years. Every track sparkles – and the album's filled great tracks like "Gunga Din", "Waltz For A Lovely Wife", "Squire's Parlor", "I Love You", and "In Your Own Sweet Way". CD

One of the most wonderful Phil Woods albums ever! No kidding – this is amazing! Woods played on lots of other records – and often in settings that made you wonder why people thought he was so great – but on this one, he's totally in the spotlight, fronting a mellow easy quartet that lets him play some incredible solos that go places we couldn't even imagine! The whole album's a fantastic treat – deeply soulful and introspective in a way that you can hardly imagine from most of Woods' other work in the 50s – and done with a rare energy that's made it one of our favorite albums for years. Every track sparkles – and the album's filled great tracks like "Gunga Din", "Waltz For A Lovely Wife", "Squire's Parlor", "I Love You", and "In Your Own Sweet Way". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the most wonderful Phil Woods albums ever! No kidding – this is amazing! Woods played on lots of other records – and often in settings that made you wonder why people thought he was so great – but on this one, he's totally in the spotlight, fronting a mellow easy quartet that lets him play some incredible solos that go places we couldn't even imagine! The whole album's a fantastic treat – deeply soulful and introspective in a way that you can hardly imagine from most of Woods' other work in the 50s – and done with a rare energy that's made it one of our favorite albums for years. Every track sparkles – and the album's filled great tracks like "Gunga Din", "Waltz For A Lovely Wife", "Squire's Parlor", "I Love You", and "In Your Own Sweet Way". Includes seven bonus tracks. CD

Early work by one of the greatest voices on the alto sax in the 1950s – a player who worked with the deftness of other altoists of his generation, but a depth of soul usually reserved for the tenor! The setting is simple and perfect – as Phil Woods blows at the helm of a quartet that features John Williams on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums – players who know how to get things moving, but allow plenty of room for the leader to fill space with his solos! Even at this early date, Woods' command of his instrument is amazing – and the record is easily one of the greatest introductions to his work you'll ever find. Titles include "Strollin With Pam", "Be My Love", "Slow Boat To China", "Woodlore", and "Falling In Love All Over Again". LP, Vinyl record album

Early work by one of the greatest voices on the alto sax in the 1950s – a player who worked with the deftness of other altoists of his generation, but a depth of soul usually reserved for the tenor! The setting is simple and perfect – as Phil Woods blows at the helm of a quartet that features John Williams on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums – players who know how to get things moving, but allow plenty of room for the leader to fill space with his solos! Even at this early date, Woods' command of his instrument is amazing – and the record is easily one of the greatest introductions to his work you'll ever find. Titles include "Strollin With Pam", "Be My Love", "Slow Boat To China", "Woodlore", and "Falling In Love All Over Again". CD

An unusual date from reedman Phil Woods – working here with Chris Swanson on keyboards, Mile Mellillo on piano, Steve Gilmore on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

Excellent early work from Phil Woods on alto and Donald Byrd on trumpet – with piano from Al Haig, bass from Teddy Kotick, and drums from Charlie Persip! CD

The team of Phil Woods & Gene Quill hit Prestige Records – and get a bit more space to blow than on other sessions of the time! The album's definitely got a quality that lives up to the "with prestige" in the title – a classy, careful sort of sound that's very much the height of alto work for the time – a style that's modern, yet never too much so – and informed by bop, but never in the shadow of Charlie Parker or Sonny Stitt. Rhythm is strong – by George Syran on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums – but it's mostly there just to give the players the right impetus to blow nicely together. Titles include "Lazy Like", "Nothing But Soul", "A Night At St Nicks", and "Black Cherry Fritters". CD

The team of Phil Woods & Gene Quill hit Prestige Records – and get a bit more space to blow than on other sessions of the time! The album's definitely got a quality that lives up to the "with prestige" in the title – a classy, careful sort of sound that's very much the height of alto work for the time – a style that's modern, yet never too much so – and informed by bop, but never in the shadow of Charlie Parker or Sonny Stitt. Rhythm is strong – by George Syran on piano, Teddy Kotick on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums – but it's mostly there just to give the players the right impetus to blow nicely together. Titles include "Lazy Like", "Nothing But Soul", "A Night At St Nicks", and "Black Cherry Fritters". LP, Vinyl record album

Phil Woods on alto and and soprano sax, clarinet, and bass clarinet and Jim McNeely on piano and synthesizer. CD

Titles include "Una Mas", "Goodbye, Mr. Evans", "Three And One", "Souvenir", and "Backwoods". CD

With Brian Lynch on trumpet, Bill Charlap on piano, and Steve Gilmore on bass. CD

... CD

Rare as hens' teeth – and an incredible meeting of two vastly underrated alto talents! Phil Woods got plenty of opportunities to record as a leader in the 50s, but altoist Gene Quill was often buried in bigger groups – a fact that makes this album one of the few chances to really hear him shine! Woods and Quill work together beautifully throughout – playing boppishly, but also in a more relaxed groove – one that's a bit like Phil's excellent Warm Woods session for Epic from the same stretch, but perhaps a bit more upbeat overall. The twin-alto sound is really great – especially on the tunes that have them soaring together on the heads, then splitting off on solos with amazing dexterity and real dynamic range. Other players include Bob Corwin on piano, Sonny Dallas on bass, and Nick Stabulas on drums – and although the pair recorded an earlier session for RCA a few years before, this one's far superior! Titles include "Doxy", "Scrapple From the Apple", "Hymn For Kim", and "Night In Tunisia". CD

A wonderful record – one in which Phil Woods blows alto solos over the arrangements of Michel Legrand – handled in the masterful style of Legrand's best jazzy soundtrack work, and in a way that lets Woods hit some of his best solos of the 70s! Legrand's always been great at this sort of album for any jazzman – and here, he unlocks a romantic tone in Woods' style that is a nice counterpart to some of the hippy-dippiness that he'd been showing in other sides from the 70s. The real highlight is the 14 minute title track – "Images" – a cool extended jazzy romp which has Woods' alto running through hard tight changes alongside Legrand's dynamic orchestra – but there's plenty of other nice numbers, including "The Summer Knows", "Windmills Of Your Mind", and "I Was Born In Love With You". LP, Vinyl record album

Four altos in perfect formation – a record that captures a young Phil Woods at the height of his powers, and offers a rare non-baritone set from the great Sahib Shihab! The style here is similar to the Prestige tenor blowing sessions of the time – with core rhythms by a trio that features Mal Waldron on piano, Tommy Potter on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums – and altos from the four players in the lead – coming together a bit at the start, then breaking off into some really wonderful solo work that's arguably tighter and better executed than most tenor sessions of this type! Titles include "Pedal Eyes", "Kokochee", "No More Nights", "Kinda Kanonic", and "Staggers". CD

Antonio Hart, Phil Woods, and Vincent Herring on alto saxophone, Anthony Wonsey on piano, Ruben Rogers on bass, and Carl Allen on drums. CD

A rare session as a leader for trumpeter Jon Eardley – a strong 50s player in Gerry Mulligan's group, one with a tone that is both cool and modern, but also able to move deftly in bop circles! This set features a septet (as might be expected by the title) – with players that include Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, and Milt Gold. Woods is always a treat at this time in his career, and there's enough room on the tracks for everyone to get in reasonably long solos. Titles include "Eard's Word", "Koo Koo", "On The Minute", "Ladders", and "For Leap Year". CD

Georgie Fame really sounds wonderful here – stepping out in a straight jazz mode, with the promised blues currents at the bottom – in a vibe that takes us back to his early work in the 60s! Ben Sidran produced the set, and also plays piano – with an all-star group that includes Mike Mainieri in vobes, Phil Woods and Pete King on alto, Stanley Turrentine and Bob Malach on tenor, Ronnie Cuber on baritone, and Grady Tate on drums! All that top-shelf jazz talent really makes the album sparkle – but, as always, it's Georgie and his wonderfully-inflected vocals that really hold the charm for the whole set – a voice that we'd rank right up there with Jon Hendricks or Mose Allison for sheer inventiveness and individuality. Titles include "The Woodshed", "The Blues & Me", "Maybe It's Because Of Love", "Roll With My Baby", "How Long Has This Been Going On", and "Pass Me By". CD

A compilation album, but one that's classic enough to stand on its own – thanks to a rock-solid roster of talent from the mighty Savoy Records catalog of the 50s! The format here follows in the looser blowing session mode of some of Savoy's best sides of the period – and groups shift from track to track, but really maintain the feel of the record overall. Titles include "Walkin" by a large group arranged by Billy Ver Planck, "Monday Stroll" by Frank Wess and Kenny Burrell, "Sram" by Yusef Lateef, "MC" by Frank Foster with Donald Byrd, "June Is Busting Out All Over" by AK Salim, "Stop"by Sonny Redd & Pepper Adams, and "Sugar Dugar" by Sahib Shihab with Phil Woods. CD

Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet and vocals, Jimmy Powell and Phil Woods on alto saxophone, Billy Root and Marty Flax on baritone saxophone, Nelson Boyd and Paul West on bass, Rod Levitt on bass trombone, Charlie Persip on drums, Walter Davis Jr and Wynton Kelly on piano, Benny Golson, Billy Mitchell, and Ernie Wilkins on tenor saxophone, Al Grey, Frank Rehak, and Melba Liston on trombone, and Ermet Perry, Joe Gordon, Lee Morgan, and Quincy Jones on trumpet. CD

Nice 2LP set that brings together some of his most striking sessions of the early 60s recorded for Emarcy. This set includes pieces composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin played by a large ensemble led by Benny Carter – with Dizzy as the main soloist, and work by players that include James Moody, Phil Woods, Emil Richards, Francisco Aguabella, and Schifrin himself. Tracks are long, and have complicated introductions – then easily give way to the sort of flowing grooves that Schifrin was penning often at the time. Titles include "The Conquerors", "The Chains", "The Swords", "The Empire", and "The Legend Of Atlantis". The set also features Diz playing tracks from Tom McIntosh, one of the scene's brightest arrangers at the time, and a talent who was looming large, thanks to support from folks like Diz and James Moody. Moody's in the group – blowing tenor with a quintet that includes Kenny Barron on piano, Chris White on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums – and his tone is incredible, with a darkness that he'd rarely had before, and the whole group has a mixture of modern tones and soulful grooves that's beyond compare! Titles include "November Afternoon", "The Cup Bearers", "The Day After". Also included are songs from the soundtrack for the lost Shirley Clarke verite drama The Cool World. Mal Waldron wrote the material for the score, and Diz plays the music with a moody emotionality that you don't often hear in his other 60's work. The recording was made by his great group that included Kenny Barron and James Moody, and the titles include "The Pushers", "Duke's Fantasy", "Coney Island", and "Street Music". LP, Vinyl record album

A wickedly great album from Dizzy Gillespie – one of his most striking sessions of the early 60s, and a perfect blend of his Latin and modern modes! The album features an extended suite – composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin, who'd just begun working with Dizzy at the time, and who was inflecting his sound with a lot of South American grooves. The work's played by a large ensemble led by Benny Carter – with Dizzy as the main soloist, and work by players that include James Moody, Phil Woods, Emil Richards, Francisco Aguabella, and Schifrin himself. Tracks are long, and have complicated introductions – then easily give way to the sort of flowing grooves that Schifrin was penning often at the time. Titles include "The Chains", "The Swords", "The Empire", and "The Legend Of Atlantis". LP, Vinyl record album

A wickedly great album from Dizzy Gillespie – one of his most striking sessions of the early 60s, and a perfect blend of his Latin and modern modes! The album features an extended suite – composed and arranged by Lalo Schifrin, who'd just begun working with Dizzy at the time, and who was inflecting his sound with a lot of South American grooves. The work's played by a large ensemble led by Benny Carter – with Dizzy as the main soloist, and work by players that include James Moody, Phil Woods, Emil Richards, Francisco Aguabella, and Schifrin himself. Tracks are long, and have complicated introductions – then easily give way to the sort of flowing grooves that Schifrin was penning often at the time. Titles include "The Chains", "The Swords", "The Empire", and "The Legend Of Atlantis". CD

A real gem from the height of Dizzy's big band years at Verve – a stunning little set that features a hip larger group that includes Joe Gordon, Melba Liston, Rod Leavitt, Phil Woods, Ernie Wilkins, and Billy Mitchell. The groove here is well-orchestrated, well-placed soul – with less of the playful bop touches of earlier sides, and more of a hiply modern style that shows Dizzy stretching out in larger shades of color and tone. And while the "World Statesmen" cover and image might make you wary of some gimmick on the set, the album's key Gillespie through and through – a deft turn away from the styles of the bop years, into a world of sound that would support his career strongly for years to come! Titles include "Tour De Force", "Doodlin", "Night In Tunisia", "The Champ", "My Reverie", and "Dizzy's Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Tom Harrell on trumpet and flugelhorn, Phil Woods on alto saxophone, Joe Lovano on tenor saxophone, Danilo Perez on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Bill Goodwin on drums. CD

Hey, that's Phil Woods turning out a great alto solo at the end of "Just The Way You Are"! LP, Vinyl record album

A very swingin, very groovy early album from Quincy – one that's clearly in the big band mode, but handled with soulful touches that really set it apart from the genre! The band is a great one all the way through – and the album features solos by Zoot Sims, Jerome Richardson, Phil Woods, Clark Terry, and Harry Edison. Tracks are very often in a soul jazz mode – arranged by Quincy and Melba Liston – and featuring versions of some of the best jazz compositions of the time. Titles include "Moanin", "I Remember Clifford", "Along Came Betty", and "Whisper Not". CD

We've never seen an original pressing of "Volume 2" of this LP, so we're assuming this is a Japanese-only vinyl issue of outtakes from those sessions. The original side's a very swingin', very groovy early album from Quincy – a big band recording, but handled with soulful touches that really set it apart from the genre! The band is a great one all the way through, featuring solos by Zoot Sims, Sahib Shihab, Phil Woods, Clark Terry and Kenny Burrell. A number of tracks are in a soul jazz mode, others more straight ahead – 11 tracks, including "Moanin", "Daylie Double", "Syncopated Clock", "A Parisian Thoroughfare", "G'Wan Train" and "The Preacher". CD includes 3 bonus tracks, "The Hucklebuck", "Blues In The Night", and "After Hours". CD

Quincy's world is great and wide indeed – and even at this early point in his career, he was displaying a wonderful talent for bringing in bits from all sources! The album's essentially a straight jazz set, but it's got some great exotic touches that are in keeping with the "world" theme and the globe-trotting titles on the set. The group's excellent too – with players that include Sahib Shihab, Budd Johnson, Les Spann, Lee Morgan, and Phil Woods – all working through hip arrangements by Al Cohn, Bill Potts, and Ernie Wilkins. Titles include "Ghana", "Air Mail Special", "Chant Of The Weed", "Eesom", and "I Never Has Seen Snow". LP, Vinyl record album