Gratitude

by Scott YanowRather than being merely a bebop revival band, the Phil Woods Quintet (particularly after trumpeter Tom Harrell joined the group) has often performed obscurities and group originals that extend rather than merely reinforce the bebop vocabulary. On this CD from the Japanese Denon label, Woods and his group (which also includes pianist Hal Galper, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin) play pieces by Oliver Nelson ("111-44"), Bill Mays, Joe Roccisano, Joe Emley, Harrell and Galper with just one standard (the ballad "Serenade In Blue"). The results are swinging, inventive and high-quality modern bop-based music.