Phil [Wood] was very passionate. Very committed. He felt very blessed that the people that cared about him and took him aside...… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[Phil Wood] was a great artist, and he knew things. He could be mildly conversant in several languages. — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
You hear about the struggles with substances and all that, but [Phil Wood] was a really a great guy. This was a… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
One time, I think it was my third lesson third or fourth lesson. Kim Parker and he picked me up at the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Phil [Wood] said to me in the car going back, he said, "Look man, you better know why you're playing this music.… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[Phil wood] put on some [Igor] Stravinsky and say to follow the score, tell me to play me the opening to the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I feel very similarly. I didn't have necessarily the same exact kind of dynamic, but that means a lot when people are… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[Charlie "Bird" Parker] would sit down and ask [Phil Wood], "What do you think about this whole secondary Viennese school with Schoenberg,… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Phil [Wood] was known for having a little bit of a gruff manner, but he was all heart. — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I think [Phil Wood] didn't suffer fools gladly, but he loved supporting young people that loved the music. — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[Phil Wood] knew about wine. He knew about food. He knew about art. He knew about classical music. He was interested in… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
The light went on when I heard Phil [woods] play, and I went like, "That is why I'm playing the instrument." So… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Hearing Phil [wood] a lot, those few years especially when I was going to hear music and Tom Harrell was in the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
We spent all day together [with Phil Wood] at that one particular lesson, which was maybe the third or fourth lesson, in… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I had pestered [Phil Wood] for a long time. He finally agreed to do it. And I was excited and nervous and… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I also met Charles McPherson around that time, end of high school. I was 17 and I had followed Phil around for… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Sometimes you think "Okay, well I'm going to play my horn, and I'm going to study Charlie "Bird" Parker solos or [John… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
[Charlie Parker] was kind of a sponge and intrigued by it all.That's similar to what Phil [Woods] told me about Bird, too.… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
There's a famous story about Dizzy [Gillespie] and Art Blakey taking him aside, and spending a whole night-long talk with [Phil Wood],… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
By the latter part of high school, by the middle of junior year in high school, Jay Rodriguez played me some Irakere… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Joe Henderson, who I maybe, to me, if I had to pick one improviser in my life that I saw live that blew my… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Benny Carter came up to me and said to me, "You know, in the whole history of the alto, I think Phil is the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
“know that I’m not a human being having a spiritual experience. I’m a spiritual being having a human experience.” — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
It's very unlikely you're a genius, but, if you're ready to work at it hard and you want to listen to music all the… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
The first jazz cruise that I was on was '91. I played with Maria Schneider and John Fedchock's band. Got to meet some amazing… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I just lucked into a lot of good people man. In my life and through friends, and in the music, that really embraced me… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Every morning you have a choice. Are you going to be a positive thinker or a negative thinker? Positive thinking will energize you. — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
I was occasionally getting calls for some things. But I would say, 22 to 29 was a lot of scuffling. Hoping to get called… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
There are a lot of people that impacted me. I remember hearing Oscar Peterson live at the Blue Note, which was very expensive, but...… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
There's a lot of good people out here that want to help you grow and to help the music to continue to grow and… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Lewis, and either Belton Evans or Khalil Mahdi on drums [were in Sweet Basil]. All those guys really took care of… — Jon Gordon Copy Share Image
![“Phil [Wood] was very passionate. Very committed. He felt very blessed that the people that cared about him and took him aside... if he was out of line or drinking too much, being too surly.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/802/jon-gordon-1655_blessed_phil-wood-was-very-passionate-very-commi_1490080.jpg)
![“[Phil Wood] was a great artist, and he knew things. He could be mildly conversant in several languages.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b0e/jon-gordon-1655_art_phil-wood-was-a-great-artist-and-he-knew_576942.jpg)
![“You hear about the struggles with substances and all that, but [Phil Wood] was a really a great guy. This was a great man.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/536/jon-gordon-1655_great-guy_you-hear-about-the-struggles-with-substa_964059.jpg)
![“One time, I think it was my third lesson third or fourth lesson. Kim Parker and he picked me up at the bus station. And she just said, "Phil [Wood] has been up all night. He's heartbroken. Bud Johnson died last night." And Bud Johnson, like Zoot [Sims] and Al [Cohn] had been mentors to him.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f59/jon-gordon-1655_all-night_one-time-i-think-it-was-my-third-lesson_948959.jpg)
![“Phil [Wood] said to me in the car going back, he said, "Look man, you better know why you're playing this music. Because I've known too many who lived and died for it. And if you're not trying to change the world, I'm not interested."” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/815/jon-gordon-1655_car_phil-wood-said-to-me-in-the-car-going-ba_1411056.jpg)
![“[Phil wood] put on some [Igor] Stravinsky and say to follow the score, tell me to play me the opening to the Rite of Spring. Or, "I'm going to play you some 20th century obscure classical composer you don't know". Or, "Let's listen to some Charles Ives, let's sight read some Bartok violin duets"…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ee1/jon-gordon-1655_20th-century_phil-wood-put-on-some-igor-stravinsky-an_1463042.jpg)
![“I feel very similarly. I didn't have necessarily the same exact kind of dynamic, but that means a lot when people are like that with you. Especially people like that. And I think [Phil Wood] felt a certain responsibility .” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/343/jon-gordon-1655_certain_i-feel-very-similarly-i-didn-t-have-nece_449847.jpg)
![“[Charlie "Bird" Parker] would sit down and ask [Phil Wood], "What do you think about this whole secondary Viennese school with Schoenberg, Berg and Webern? Are you listening to that music and what do you feel about it?" These were the conversations that he was having. And he also said, what he…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d1a/jon-gordon-1655_asks_charlie-bird-parker-would-sit-down-and-a_1110923.jpg)
![“Phil [Wood] was known for having a little bit of a gruff manner, but he was all heart.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1a8/jon-gordon-1655_bits_phil-wood-was-known-for-having-a-little_2380492.jpg)
![“If I could have picked two guys on the planet, to have some exposure to at that age, those were the two right guys [Phil Woods and Charles McPherson].” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9f5/jon-gordon-1655_age_if-i-could-have-picked-two-guys-on-the-p_1966703.jpg)
![“I think [Phil Wood] didn't suffer fools gladly, but he loved supporting young people that loved the music.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/98f/jon-gordon-1655_fool_i-think-phil-wood-didn-t-suffer-fools-gl_2299258.jpg)
![“[Phil Wood] knew about wine. He knew about food. He knew about art. He knew about classical music. He was interested in things.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/841/jon-gordon-1655_art_phil-wood-knew-about-wine-he-knew-about_2889848.jpg)
![“The light went on when I heard Phil [woods] play, and I went like, "That is why I'm playing the instrument." So I got very inspired, I started going to clubs through a friend's mom in the city, again, another person who just completely opened all these doors for me and it was amazing how kind she…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/844/jon-gordon-1655_cities_the-light-went-on-when-i-heard-phil-wood_443064.jpg)
![“Hearing Phil [wood] a lot, those few years especially when I was going to hear music and Tom Harrell was in the band. Man that was incredible. Hearing Tom at that period, and hearing Phil in that period, and also [Charles] McPherson. Those three guys were very impactful. Very inspiring to me at…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6ef/jon-gordon-1655_band_hearing-phil-wood-a-lot-those-few-years_2009771.jpg)
![“We spent all day together [with Phil Wood] at that one particular lesson, which was maybe the third or fourth lesson, in from 11:00 in the morning to 11:00 at night. We often did a lot of varied things. It wasn't just about jazz language and the saxophone.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5f5/jon-gordon-1655_fourth_we-spent-all-day-together-with-phil-wood_2211142.jpg)
![“I had pestered [Phil Wood] for a long time. He finally agreed to do it. And I was excited and nervous and he couldn't have been nicer or more supportive from the minute I got to his house.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/561/jon-gordon-1655_excited_i-had-pestered-phil-wood-for-a-long-time_2627906.jpg)
![“Sometimes you think "Okay, well I'm going to play my horn, and I'm going to study Charlie "Bird" Parker solos or [John Coltrain] or whatever." But as [Phil Wood] said to me, "Man, Bird listened to everything."” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f4e/jon-gordon-1655_bird_sometimes-you-think-okay-well-i-m-going_2575076.jpg)
![“[Charlie Parker] was kind of a sponge and intrigued by it all.That's similar to what Phil [Woods] told me about Bird, too. Like he was into cooking. He was just into a lot of things. Yeah, it's about dealing with bebop and jazz and Trane [John Coltrain] and post-Trane and knowing the history. But…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a35/jon-gordon-1655_art_charlie-parker-was-kind-of-a-sponge-and_2500883.jpg)
![“There's a famous story about Dizzy [Gillespie] and Art Blakey taking him aside, and spending a whole night-long talk with [Phil Wood], "Man we believe in you. You can play. So don't be walking around with a frown on your face or whatever, getting yourself into trouble. You have got a gift, and…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ca5/jon-gordon-1655_art_there-s-a-famous-story-about-dizzy-gille_486307.jpg)
![“By the latter part of high school, by the middle of junior year in high school, Jay Rodriguez played me some Irakere records that that Paquito [D'Rivera] was on. And he also played me and our friend, Curtis Haywood, some Phil Woods records. And when I heard Phil, I just about lost my mind. I was…” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b89/jon-gordon-1655_80s_by-the-latter-part-of-high-school-by-the_2544684.jpg)
![“Ernie Hayes, Jimmy Lewis, and either Belton Evans or Khalil Mahdi on drums [were in Sweet Basil]. All those guys really took care of me.” quote by Jon Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/400/jon-gordon-1655_basil_ernie-hayes-jimmy-lewis-and-either-belto_200776.jpg)