Alto Saxophone Master Jimmy Woods: "Awakening!"

The was the debut recording of a very distinctive and unfortunately obscure West Coast alto saxophonist named Jimmy Woods. Jimmy only made two dates under his name and this was his first. Jimmy possessed not only a unique sound on the alto but a unique style as well and beholden to no one. His career unfortunately never took off and he dropped out of music in the mid-60s to pursue a job in social work. This date shows his promise and was done with two different groups. The first session and the first tune has Jimmy alone with the rhythm section on a standard entitled "Circus" then he is joined on two originals by trumpeter Martin Banks then on one more original with trumpeter Joe Gordon replacing Banks then the two trumpeters join Woods for Cole Porter's "Love For Sale".. The other players are, Amos Trice on piano, Jimmy Bond on bass and Milton Turner on drums. The second session has Woods as the only horn with Dick Whittington on piano, Gary Peacock on bass and Milton Turner on drums and contains 3 Woods' originals. This is a fine debut recording and should have pushed Jimmy Woods to the forefront of alto saxophonists...it didn't and he was relegated to undeserved obscurity. This date is worth your ears!