Senor Blues – 2005
Phil Woods and David Sanborn
A rare meeting between two great alto-saxophonists
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Phil Woods and David Sanborn only crossed paths on records on two occasions, as part of a big band for a 1975 Ron Carter date, and on a Pat Williams album from 1997.
In 2005 they teamed up for a Legends of Jazz Showcase to play Horace Silver’s “Senor Blues.”
While they had very different careers (Woods being a bop-oriented player who came up in the 1950s while Sanborn gained fame in the 1970s/80s for his r&bish recordings), they had mutual respect and were both brilliant in their own ways.
Sanborn fares well during his solo, at one point quoting a familiar Charlie Parker phrase while Woods plays on his usual high level.
They should have performed together more often.
-Scott Yanow
Thelonious Monk