Phil Woods • Phil Woods & The Japanese Rhythm Machine

 

Review
by Ken Dryden  
Phil Woods toured Japan in 1975 with the Japanese Rhythm Machine (pianist Hideo Ichikawa, bassist Mitsuaki Furuno, and drummer George Otsuka), recording this album at during a concert at Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Tokyo. The alto saxophonist is at the top of his game, while the rhythm section provides excellent support, with Ichikawa especially shining in the solo spotlight. Woods' impassioned take of Chick Corea's "Windows" is a terrific opener. Released as a Japanese LP in 1976 and reissued on CD three decades later (also only in Japan), this recording has never had wide distribution in North America, though fans of Phil Woods are advised to acquire it. His powerful treatment of the melancholy ballad "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" is a masterpiece, with a bluesy air in spots. Woods' "Johnny Hodges," a brilliant tribute to the alto sax great of Duke Ellington's orchestra, has a surprising twist, as he plays it on soprano sax, an instrument Hodges did not play at all for the final three decades of his career. Back on alto sax for the final two songs, Woods' rapid-fire setting of "Speak Low" is followed by a brief encore of "Doxy" as a sign-off to the enthusiastic audience.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/phil-woods-the-japanese-rhythm-machine-mw0001897961

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Reseña
por Ken Dryden  
Phil Woods realizó una gira por Japón en 1975 con la Japanese Rhythm Machine (el pianista Hideo Ichikawa, el bajista Mitsuaki Furuno y el batería George Otsuka), y grabó este álbum durante un concierto en el Kosei Nenkin Kaikan de Tokio. El saxofonista alto está en la cima de su carrera, mientras que la sección rítmica proporciona un excelente apoyo, con Ichikawa brillando especialmente en el solo. La apasionada versión de Woods de "Windows" de Chick Corea es un comienzo estupendo. Publicado como LP japonés en 1976 y reeditado en CD tres décadas más tarde (también sólo en Japón), esta grabación nunca ha tenido una amplia distribución en Norteamérica, aunque se recomienda a los fans de Phil Woods que la adquieran. Su poderoso tratamiento de la melancólica balada "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" es una obra maestra, con un aire bluesy en algunos momentos. Johnny Hodges" de Woods, un brillante homenaje al gran saxo alto de la orquesta de Duke Ellington, tiene un giro sorprendente, ya que la interpreta con saxo soprano, un instrumento que Hodges no tocó en absoluto durante las tres últimas décadas de su carrera. De vuelta al saxo alto para las dos últimas canciones, la rápida interpretación de Woods de "Speak Low" va seguida de un breve bis de "Doxy" como despedida del entusiasta público.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/phil-woods-the-japanese-rhythm-machine-mw0001897961

Tracks:
01 - Windows (Chick Corea) - 12:51
02 - Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most (Tommy Wolf, Fran Landesman) - 7:13
03 - Johnny Hodges (Phil Woods) - 9:49
04 - Speak Low (Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash) - 10:55
05 - Doxy (Sonny Rollins) - 3:37


Credits:
- Phil Woods - alto & soprano saxophones
- Hideo Ichikawa - piano
- Mitsuaki Furuno - bass
- George Otsuka - drums
- Fumimaru Kawashima - producer

Recorded live on July 31, 1975 at Kosei Nenkin Kaikan in Tokyo.

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