Berkshire Links

Phil Woods Quintet memorial concert, w/ Grace Kelly

Berkshires Jazz, Inc. announces a memorial concert in honor of the late alto saxophonist Phil Woods, to take place in Pittsfield, MA, on May 14, 2016. The tribute will be performed by the NEA Jazz Master’s quintet, with Brian Lynch (trumpet), Bill Mays (piano), Steve Gilmore (bass) and Bill Goodwin (drums), along with Woods’ protégé Grace Kelly on alto saxophone.

Phil Woods introduces Grace Kelly in the Berkshires

Woods, who died on Sept. 29 at the age of 83, was “revered in jazz circles for his bright, clean sound and his sterling technique,” wrote Nate Chinen in his New York Times obituary. A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Woods’ career spanned more than 65 years. He performed as a leader or guest artist with the royalty of jazz, from Charlie Barnet to Dizzy Gillespie, Buddy Rich to Quincy Jones, plus wide-ranging leaders like Michel Legrand, among others. He was also heard on a variety of recordings with popular artists like Paul Simon and Billy Joel. He was the recipient of four Grammy awards, and in 2007 was named a Jazz Master by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Woods introduced the 14-year-old saxophone prodigy Grace Kelly to Berkshires audiences at the second annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival in 2006, when he was guest soloist with the U.S. Army Jazz Ambassadors big band. Having mentored Kelly at a jazz workshop, Woods invited her to the stage, an event that has become part of jazz lore. It was not lost on the audience that there was nearly a 60-year age span between the two, yet they jammed as if they had been performing together for years. She played older than her age, he appeared much younger than his.

More info. including Raffle to benefit Berkshires Jazz, please go to: BerkshiresJazz.org.