Customer Reviews

Thrill Is Gone (24bt) (Mlps)

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First their was "Bird with Strings" followed a few years later by "Cannonball with Strings" and, we now have alto saxophone master Phil Woods with his equisite "The Thrill Is Gone". Mr. Woods, an admitted devotee of Charlie Parker and the be-bop tradition is arguably the finest alto saxophonist in jazz today. His rich discography demonstrates that despite the early influnce of Parker he has long been his own man. Posessing flawless technique and immediately identifiable sound he demonstates throughout this session the ability to swing effortlessly at any tempo. The arrangements provide a near perfect compliment to the soloist and never intrude while Mr. Woods expertly works within the creative framework they offer him. Renditions of tunes like "It Never Entered My Mind, "The Nearness Of You", "If I Should Lose You" and, his own lovely ballad composition "And When We're Young" are but a few of the nine gems that make up this recording. This is an intelligent musical offering that should not be restricted solely to jazz lovers alone or, for that matter, fans of Mr. Woods of which I have been one for over fifty years. I won't say that this is a "perfect" record but, damm...it's as close as you can get to one in my opinion. Don't miss this.

This is just another example of why Phil Woods is the gold standard when it comes to jazz alto saxophone players. The cat couldn't play badly if his life depended on it. His technique is beyond extraordinary, his creativity always top-notch, his emotional investment robust and his sense of swing impeccable. Like the other masters...Getz, Mulligan, Cannonball for example...he doesn't play notes, he makes music that tears at your heart strings and takes you to other places. I would give this recording my highest personal recommendation and can't imagine that you would be less than thrilled to have it in your collection. I only have one complaint concerning this recording and it is huge; there is absolutely no information provided about the the other musicians, the arranger(s), when and where it was recorded...NONE! Other than having Phil Woods' name and the title, it is as if the C.I.A. stepped in and eradicated any and all information about the production. Who is it that plays those tasty piano solos? What is the name of the jazz violinist that pops up on several tracks? Who penned the charts? It's a Martian Mind Melt to the nth degree when it comes to having useful information that many of us would like to know. When you look at the photo of the CD cover, know that the only thing you'll be told about it are the words you see in the picture! The highest kudos to Phil, the other musicians and the arranger(s)...shame on the producers for leaving us in the dark.