[Dixielandjazz] Phil Woods

[LARRY'S Signs and Large Format Printing]

I got this from Gary Dammer (Jazz Trumpet) who got this from Phil Woods and I thought I would pass it on.  I thought it was interesting since I really like Bud Shank.

Larry Walton

______________________

Phil Woods Wrote: 

Hello Jazz lovers, wherever you  are! I continue to be a fly on the
windshield of the jazz industry. (HA!)  I presume you know that Bud
Shank was fired from his post as founder and  guiding light of the
Bud Shank Workshop in Port Townsend, WA. He has been  the 'man' there
for 25 plus years, assembling one of the best teaching  ensembles
ever! But now they want a younger man with young ideas!  Outsourcing
the wrong guy folks! It only takes forever to learn this music  thing
and even longer to come to terms with this jazz thing. And they want
a younger guy. Any damn fool can play when they are 20, or 30, 0r
40,  50, 60. But try cutting the mustard when you are in your late
70's! Now  anyone that can do that has acquired knowledge that no
younger person can  ever hope to learn.

The jazz existence, or any existence is not about  getting somewhere
it is all about the voyage. No one can ever master life,  only
experience it and contribute something to making the world a better
place to be an artist. ARTIST is the key word. If you want to be a
practical musician, great. Get some gigs and have a good life. But
if  you want to be a jazz musician, the requirements are more
stringent. An  awareness of world culture is a good place to start!
Learn something about  food and wine, learn a language, read a book,
paint a painting, see an  O'Neill play, stare at a sunset. Write a
Rondo for heaven's sake - be  somebody. And no matter how long you do
it you will barely touch the  surface of this passion called life,
 the jazz life! You have to be a  warrior - Bud Shank is a warrior! A
 tough one who has survived. What he  has to teach is incalculable to
 measure. And they want a younger guy. How  about Norah Jones to teach
jazz singing? Yeah! Right!

Bud and I  have been doing many gigs together, Toronto festival,
North Sea and  others. We broached Concord records to try and secure
a one shot record  deal for Yoshi's in November. They said that
instrumental music doesn't  sell anymore! Imagine! A company founded
on instrumental music, great  music, decides that it doesn't sell
anymore. I am mad as hell and will  continue to rant and rave about
 these things until my last  breath.

Culture in America is going to hell in a hand basket. (I love  that
saying - don't know what it means but love it still.) Keep the song
alive. Until next time stay well. And thank you for being a part of
my  thing!

 Phil Woods