Warm Woods - Phil Woods Quartet (The)

Advantages: Amazing collection from an amazing talent
Disadvantages: Some singles still left out - it could have been a triple CD

...Roy Wood has had a chequered career, and to a younger generation the name may not mean much. To sum up briefly, he was/is leader of The Move, ELO (briefly), Wizzard, solo performer, multi-instrumentalist who can impersonate any vocalist at the drop of a mic, ace songwriter and currently frontman (Captain?) of Roy Wood's Army. This 2-CD retrospective leaves out the hits he had with the above-named groups, but still reveals him as a man of many faces - not to mention the multicoloured hair. 39 tracks originally issued on eight labels start with the clever novelty "When Gran'ma Plays the Banjo" (John Fogerty meets Ray Stevens with bluegrass 'jo), the haunting 1973 hit "Dear Elaine" which features lute, cello and recorder, its follow-up "Forever", inspired by Neil Sedaka and the Beach Boys, and the amazing Scottish reggae song "Goin' Down... Read review

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Advantages: It's Steely Dan
Disadvantages: None come to mind

...from the fourteenth floor”. The cut “Bad Sneakers” follows and has a very haunting hook and chorus “And I’m going insane, and I’m laughing at the frozen rain, and I’m so alone, Honey when they gonna send me home”, great stuff. For me the next stand out track is “Doctor Wu” the alto saxophone solo by Phil Woods is just heart stopping it sounds so good in this song. The next song in the running order is “Everyone’s gone to the Movies” with a famous back-up singer in the form of Michael McDonald of Dobbie Brothers fame clearly heard in the chorus, “Everyone’s gone to the Movies, now we’re alone at last”. This album closes as it starts with a strong track which is called “Throw back the little ones” this is an excellent song... Read review

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Advantages: A good range of music is presented here
Disadvantages: Not so good for new Reich fans

...The main piece on this CD is Triple Quartet, a work written as recently as 1999. It has a strident and pungent sound but features Reich's famous driving, pulsing rhythms that are really captivating. Unlike his earlier works, the harmonies are stronger and less lush and there is a constant sense of drama and a surprisingly high level of passion. It took me some time to warm to the piece but now it is very high on my list. The slow movement is particlarly beautiful. Next up is a reworking of Violin Phase for electric guitar. An odd concept but it does work. However i prefer the original, its hard edge tone may not be to everybodys liking. Music for a large ensemble follows next and flows along at fast pace with interlocking patterns. There were moments when the mix seems to lose its way, and some of the textures seem to collide a little... Read review

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