Saxophonist/composer Phil Woods (born Nov 2, 1931), is by many musicians considered the major exponent of the alto saxophone for the past sixty years. His big, commanding sound, strong sense of swing, and command of harmony are second to none. His playing is totally distinctive and immediately recognizable. He may be best known to the average listener as the saxophone soloist on the Billy Joel hit, Just the Way You Are, but he can be heard on recordings with Steely Dan and other pop acts, but his real musical personality is as a pure bebopper, indeed, he kept a pure jazz group working under his leadership for the last 25 years of his life, with the same bassist (Steve Gilmore) and drummer (Bill Goodwin) the entire time.

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