Body And Soul – 1986
Phil Woods
The remarkable altoist in top form
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A standard ever since Louis Armstrong recorded it in 1930 and a test piece for saxophonists after Coleman Hawkins made his 1939 recording, “Body And Soul” has been played a countless number of times through the years.
In 1986, altoist Phil Woods performed his own version with Joe Sudler’s Swing Machine.
Actually the big band mostly looks on with appreciation as Woods is accompanied by Uri Caine on electric piano, bassist Tyrone Brown, and drummer Dave Gibson.
The altoist begins unaccompanied, constructs a beautiful solo that displays his dazzling technique and includes some song quotes, and plays a cadenza that at one point has him quoting “Moonlight Becomes You.”
-Scott Yanow
Ella Fitzgerald