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NEA Jazz Master Phil Woods on his Teacher's Influence

From: National Endowment for the Arts
Series: Jazz Masters Moments
Length: 01:00

SOME YOUNG MUSICIANS STUMBLE UPON A TEACHER WHO COMPLETELY CHANGES THE COURSE OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. 2007 NEA JAZZ MASTER PHIL WOODS WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES. Read the full description.

Newjazzlogo_small NEA Jazz Masters Moments highlight the jazz greats honored through the NEA Jazz Masters, a comprehensive program of jazz support that includes the NEA Jazz Masters Award, an NEA Jazz Masters tour with performances and educational activities, radio programming, a compilation CD, educational resources, and publications and reports. Nearly 100 radio segments feature eighteen NEA Jazz Masters, providing musical samples, historical information, and first-person anecdotes designed to give listeners added insight into the artists and their art.

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Piece Description

NEA Jazz Masters Moments highlight the jazz greats honored through the NEA Jazz Masters, a comprehensive program of jazz support that includes the NEA Jazz Masters Award, an NEA Jazz Masters tour with performances and educational activities, radio programming, a compilation CD, educational resources, and publications and reports. Nearly 100 radio segments feature eighteen NEA Jazz Masters, providing musical samples, historical information, and first-person anecdotes designed to give listeners added insight into the artists and their art.

Transcript

SOME YOUNG MUSICIANS STUMBLE UPON A TEACHER WHO COMPLETELY CHANGES THE COURSE OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT. 2007 NEA JAZZ MASTER PHIL WOODS WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.

I got a teacher by the name of Harvey LaRose and that’s where my life changed. Mr. Larose played alto, clarinet, violin, guitar, piano, taught all of those instruments, repaired all of those instruments, and arranged for the local big bands. He was not a jazz man. But he recognized that I had something to say on the saxophone.

MUSIC: “I Remember Bird”
CD: Phil Woods at the Montreaux Jazz Festival MGM Stereo SE-4695 (cut 2)

And he encouraged me to start decorating, that I didn’t have to play the melody straight. Urged me to improvise.

MUSIC: up for punctuation and fades

THIS JAZZ MOMENT WITH SAXOPHONIST AND CLARINETIST PHIL WOODS WAS CREATED BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.
Read the full transcript

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
“I Remember Bird” Phil Woods Phil Woods at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. MGM Stereo SE-4695 (cut 2) 00:00

Additional Credits

If you have any questions please contact Liz Mehaffey (mehaffeye@arts.gov) or Adam Kampe (kampea@arts.gov) at the NEA.

Related Website

http://www.nea.gov/national/jazz/index.html