Search - Phil Woods :: Bop Stew

Recorded live at the Japanese Fujitsu-Concord Jazz Festival in 1987, this CD captures Woods and company in fine form. By 1987, the quintet (featuring Hal Galper on piano and Tom Harrell on trumpet) had been together for nearly five years and had gelled into a solid and comfortable bop band. If there aren't any surprises here, there really aren't any disappointments either. Woods picks up the clarinet for a nice take on the age-old standard "Poor Butterfly," and the band ends with a rollicking version of its signature tune, "How's Your Mama?" --Percy Keegan