Woods was born in Springfield, Massachusetts. He studied music with Lennie Tristano, who influenced him greatly, at the Manhattan School of Music and at the Juilliard School. His friend, Joe Lopes, coached him on clarinet as there was no saxophone major at Juilliard at the time. Although he did not copy Charlie "Bird" Parker, he was known as the New Bird, a label which was also attached to other alto players such as Sonny Stitt and Cannonball Adderley at one time or another in their careers.
In the mid-'50s, Woods began to front his own bands. He got major exposure after Quincy Jones invited him to accompany a 1956 State Department-sponsored world tour with the big band of Dizzy Gillespie. In 1959 Woods traveled Europe with Jones’ band; in 1962 he participated in Benny Goodman’s Russian tour.
After moving to France in 1968, Woods led the European Rhythm Machine, a group which tended toward avant-garde jazz. He returned to the United States in 1972 and, after an unsuccessful attempt to establish an electronic group, he formed a quintet which was still performing, with some changes of personnel, in 2004. As his theme, Woods used a piece titled "How's Your Mama?"
Woods earned the top alto sax player award almost 30 times in Downbeat magazine’s annual readers’ poll. His quintet was awarded the top small combo title several times.
In 1979, Woods made the recording More Live at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, Texas. Perhaps his best known recorded work as a sideman is a pop piece, his alto sax solo on Billy Joel's 1977 "Just the Way You Are". He also played the alto sax solo on Steely Dan's "Doctor Wu" from their 1975 album Katy Lied, as well as Paul Simon's "Have a Good Time" from the 1975 album Still Crazy After All These Years.
Although Woods was primarily a saxophonist, he was also a clarinet player and solos can be found scattered through his recordings. One particular example is his clarinet solo on "Misirlou" on the album Into The Woods.
Woods, along with Rick Chamberlain and Ed Joubert, founded the organization Celebration of the Arts (COTA) in 1978 late one night in the bar at the Deer Head Inn in Delaware Water Gap. The organization would eventually become the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts. Their initial goal was to help foster an appreciation of jazz and its relationship to other artistic disciplines. Each year, the organization hosts the Celebration of the Arts Festival in the town of Delaware Water Gap in September.
Phil Woods – A Life in E Flat: Portrait of a Jazz Legend is a documentary film released in 2005 by Jazzed Media. Directed by Rich Lerner, and produced by Graham Carter, the film offers an intimate portrait of Woods during a recording session of the Jazzed Media album This is How I Feel About Quincy.[citation needed]
Phil Woods was married to Chan Parker, the widow of Charlie Parker, for 17 years from 1955 and was stepfather to Chan's daughter Kim. On September 4, 2015, Woods performed a tribute to Charlie Parker with Strings at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, and announced at the end of the show that he would be retiring. Woods died September 29, 2015, at the age of 83.
Awards
In 2007, Phil Woods received a "Jazz Master" award from the National Endowment of the Arts.
Grammy awards
Woods' recordings have been nominated for seven Grammy awards and have won four.
1975 Images: "Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance".
1977 Live from the Show Boat: "Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Individual or Group".
1982 More Live: "Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Individual or Group".
1983 At the Vanguard: "Best Instrumental Jazz Performance, Individual or Group".
He also performed on the 2006 Brian Lynch/Eddie Palmieri Project Album, Simpático, which won Best Latin Jazz Album of the Year in 2007.
Anything Goes
Phil Woods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we've ofter rewound the clock
Since the puritans got a shock
When they landed on Plymouth rock
If today any shock they might try to stem
'Stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Plymouth rock would land on them
Was looked on as something shocking
But now God knows
Anything goes
Good authors to
Who once knew better words
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose
Anything goes
If driving fast cars you like
If low bars you like
If old hymns you like
If bare limbs you like
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like
Why nobody will oppose
When every night
The set thats smart
Is intruding on nudist parties
In studios
Anything goes
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Than I suppose
Anything goes
When Rockafeller still can hoard
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Produce his shows
Anything goes
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today
And black's white today
And days night today
And that gent today
You gave a cent today
Once owned several chateaux
When folks
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Lack baby clo'es
Anything goes
When Sam Goldwyn
Can with great conviction
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Than Anna shows
Anything goes
When you hear that
Lady Mendl standing up
Now turns a handspring landing up
On her toes
Anything goes
Just think of those shocks you've got
And those knocks you've got
And those blues you've got
From those news you've got
And those pains you've got
(if any brains you've got)
From those little radios
So Mrs. R.
With all her trimmin's
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Cause Franklin knows
Anything goes
The song "Anything Goes" by Phil Woods is a commentary on the changing times and societal norms from the past to present day. The lyrics reference the shock that the Puritans experienced when they landed on Plymouth Rock, but notes that if they did so today, Plymouth Rock would land on them, signifying the barbarism of contemporary society. The song goes on to state that even in writing, authors have forsaken their mastery of language to only use vulgar language. The lyrics also mention that driving fast cars, liking low bars or old hymns, and exposing bare limbs are all accepted, and even encouraged in some circles. The song notes that even the wealthy and powerful tycoon Rockefeller can hoard enough money to fund a show producer like Max Gordon, and the world has gone mad with good becoming bad, black becoming white, and day becoming night.
The chorus of the song goes "Anything goes" which is a statement indicating that societal norms have become a thing of the past, and anything is acceptable in today's society. This message is conveyed by using many examples of what was once taboo being allowed and even celebrated in contemporary society. Thus, the song highlights the idea that society has become laxer in terms of what it now deems acceptable/ tolerable.
Line by Line Meaning
Times have changed
The present is different from the past
And we've ofter rewound the clock
People often look back to the past
Since the puritans got a shock
Referring to the Puritans being shocked in the past
When they landed on Plymouth rock
Referring to the arrival of the Puritans in America
If today any shock they might try to stem
If anyone today tried to stop a shock
'Stead of landing of Plymouth rock
Instead of being a surprise for the Puritans
Plymouth rock would land on them
The shock would have an impact on those trying to prevent it
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
In the past, showing a bit of leg was considered scandalous
Was looked on as something shocking
It was considered to be outrageous behaviour
But now God knows
Nowadays nobody cares
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
Good authors to
Talented writers who
Who once knew better words
Who used to have a more sophisticated vocabulary
Now only use four letter words
Now only use swear words
Writing prose
Producing written works
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
If driving fast cars you like
If you enjoy driving fast cars
If low bars you like
If you enjoy going to less upmarket bars
If old hymns you like
If you like traditional religious music
If bare limbs you like
If you are attracted to nudity
If Mae West you like
If you are attracted to the actress Mae West
Or me undressed you like
If you are attracted to the writer/singer of this song undressed
Why nobody will oppose
Nobody will be against your preferences
When every night
On a regular basis
The set that's smart
The fashionable crowd
Is intruding on nudist parties
Are attending events where nudity is commonplace
In studios
At film studios
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
When Mrs. Ned McClean God bless her
Referring to an esteemed lady called Mrs. Ned McClean
Can get Russian reds to yes her
Can charm or persuade Communist Russians
Than I suppose
Then, I assume
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
When Rockafeller still can hoard
When the wealthy Rockafeller family continue to accumulate
Enough money to let Max Gordon
Have enough financial resources to fund Max Gordon's productions
Produce his shows
Finance his theatrical performances
The world has gone mad today
People's priorities are wrong today
And good's bad today
Ethical behaviour is rare
And black's white today
The truth is distorted
And days night today
Normality is reversed
And that gent today
And that gentleman today
You gave a cent today
You donated some money to this gentleman today
Once owned several chateaux
Used to own many large villas
When folks
When people
Who still can ride in Jitney's
Who can still ride in cheap, run-down vehicles
Find out Vanderbilts and Whitney's
Discover that the very wealthy Vanderbilts and Whitneys have
Lack baby clo'es
Don't have enough money to buy baby clothes
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
When Sam Goldwyn
Referring to the movie producer Sam Goldwyn
Can with great conviction
Is able to confidently
Instruct Anna Sten in diction
Teach Anna Sten how to speak better
Than Anna shows
Then Anna proves herself
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
When you hear that
If you hear about
Lady Mendl standing up
Referring to a well-respected lady standing up
Now turns a handspring landing up
Can now do acrobatics and land on her feet
On her toes
On the tips of her toes
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
Just think of those shocks you've got
Reflecting on past surprising events
And those knocks you've got
And those times when you were discouraged
And those blues you've got
And those occasions where you felt sad
From those news you've got
From receiving unfortunate news
And those pains you've got
And those times where you experienced physical discomfort
(if any brains you've got)
(if you have any intelligence)
From those little radios
From listening to small radios
So Mrs. R.
Referring to a woman named Mrs. R.
With all her trimmin's
Wearing all her finest garments
Can broadcast a bed from Simmon's
Can advertise a bed made by Simmons
Cause Franklin knows
Because Franklin Roosevelt understands that
Anything goes
Anything is acceptable
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind