Phil Woods' second recording with pianist
Enrico Pieranunzi's Space Jazz Trio is once again a meeting of jazz masters.
Woods' reputation among greats of the alto sax needs no further commentary, but
Pieranunzi, one of the finest musicians in Europe and a brilliant composer to boot, is deserving of greater recognition in the U.S. With bassist
Enzo Pietropaoli and drummer
Roberto Gatto providing the rest of the potent rhythm section,
Woods and
Pieranunzi explore one another's compositions with gusto.
Woods' two contributions include a remake of "Quill" (a tribute to his former musical partner, alto saxophonist
Gene Quill) as driving hard bop with great solos by both men and
Pietropaoli. They also revisit the alto saxophonist's "Song for Sisyphus," which begins as a mournful ballad before erupting into a brisk swinging arrangement. The pianist contributed four original works, including the constantly shifting "Chet" (a perfect salute to the complicated life of
Chet Baker) and the turbulent post-bop "Phil's Mood," which honors
Woods.
Pieranunzi also wrote the bittersweet ballad "Hindsight," which is a rare opportunity to hear
Woods' tremendous chops on clarinet, an instrument he plays only occasionally on recordings. Concluding this CD are a rhapsodic version (with an unbelievable solo introduction by
Woods) of "Lover Man" and a long but never dull workout of "Anthropology." Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden