AMG Review of I Remember

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Taking time off from his combo projects, altoist Phil Woods and his quartet (also including pianist Mike Melillo, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin) teamed up with a British orchestra (which includes trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, keyboardist Gordon Beck and a string quartet) on this album to pay tribute through Woods' compositions to eight musicians who had by 1978 passed on: Cannonball Adderley, Paul Desmond, Oscar Pettiford, Oliver Nelson, Charlie Parker, percussionist Willie Rodriguez, trombonist Willie Dennis and Gary McFarland. Although none of the selections became well known, the altoist is in typically inspired form, putting plenty of emotion and exuberance into these inventive pieces. Worth searching for.