Tuesday, March 24, 2015

PHIL WOODS QUARTET – New Music By The New Phil Woods Quartet (LP-1974)




Label: Testament Records – T-4402
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album / Country: US / Released: 1974
Style: Contemporary Jazz, Fusion
Recorded and Mastered At Artisan Sound Recorders, TR&M, 1974.
Mastered By [Tape-To-Disc Mastering] – Bob McLeod
Producer, Recorded By – Pete Robinson
Transferred By [Tape Transfer], Edited By – Pete Robinson, Pete Welding

A1 - Charity ........................................................................... 10:24
         (by – Pete Robinson)
A2 - Cumulus ........................................................................ 10:27
         (by – Pete Robinson)
B1 - Nefertiti And Riot .......................................................... 17:06
         (by [Nefertiti] – W. Shorter / by [Riot] – H. Hancock)
B2 - Yesterdays ....................................................................... 3:57
         (by – J. Kern, O. Harbach)

Phil Woods – saxophone
Pete Robinson – keyboards, synthesizer
Henry Franklin – bass
Brian Moffat – drums, percussion

This LP finds Woods playing in a very modern fusion-y mode than we are used to hearing from him.  With Pete Robinson on keys/synths,  Henry Franklin on bass, and Brian Moffatt on percussion.  Definitely one of his more out recordings.

When Phil Woods returned to the United States after several years in Europe, he formed a quartet with keyboardist Pete Robinson, bassist Henry Franklin and drummer Brian Moffatt that utilized electronics. Ten months of rehearsal resulted in four nights at a club and then little else before the band broke up. This LP, recorded at rehearsals in 1973, was the group's only album. On a pair of Robinson's challenging originals, the standard "Yesterdays" and a medley of Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti" and Herbie Hancock's "Riot," Woods and Robinson challenge each other. However, the electronics, surprisingly, do sound a pretty good, and the band was only in what should have been the early stages of its development; it sometimes sounds a bit strangely and never really had a chance to mature.

Eh, that was more time and understanding ... who knows? ...



If you find it, buy this album!

12 comments:

  1. PHIL WOODS QUARTET – New Music By The New Phil Woods Quartet (LP-1974)
    Vinyl Rip/FLAC+Cover

    1fichier:
    https://1fichier.com/?4jr7bw32f3

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  2. This early seventies period was one of my favorite periods in Woods playing although I am totally unfamiliar with this work. He seemed to have a confidence, tone and approach in his playing that I never thought he equaled in other periods of his career.

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  3. Hats off for this rare gem, Vitko. Henry "The Skipper" Franklin played there. I love that humble gentleman. His discography is certainly worth discovering.

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  4. A very different listen, one I did not expect, even with the caveat above. It brings a new perspective. Thanks for the wonderful share.

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  5. Interesting. I've never heard about this Testament label before. Thanks, Vitko!

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  6. Thanks for this LP rarity!
    Is this Pete Robinson a (different American?) keyboard player & NOT the English Peter Robinson who played keys with Stanley Clarke in 1976 and then with Brand X in 1978/79? --dandor

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    Replies
    1. A real name is Peter Manning Robinson, is a pianist and an Emmy and multiple BMI award winning composer. He has performed and recorded with such jazz greats as Ernie Watts, Phil Woods, and Freddie Hubbard and has a very successful career as a Film and Television composer (Without A Trace, The Crow). His orchestral works have been recorded by members of The London Philharmonic, MusicaNova, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.
      Cheers.
      V

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  7. nice! Thank you for this -- this LP blew my wig back when I first found a copy years ago, and it's great to have a digital rip now. Very different from Woods' equally great European Rhythm Machine albums, much funkier!

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  8. link is down, could u please re-up? (can't find this anywhere else in any format)

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  9. Any chance of a reup?

    Many thanks!

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  10. Hi. The link has expired - please repost. Thanks.

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