DESCRIPTION:
Guess What

LINEUP:
Phil Woods (alto saxophone);
Frederick Buldrini, Julius Held, George Ockner, Henri Aubert, Dave Mankovitz, Julius Schachter, Julius Brand, Tosha Samaroff, Leo Kahn, Joseph Malin, Max Cahn, Raoul Poliakin, Max Pollikoff, Harry Katzman, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green (violin);
Julien Barber, Cal Fleisig, Alfred Brown , Harold Coletta (viola);
Seymour Barab, Charles McCracken , George Ricci, Kermit Moore, Anthony Sophos (cello);
Jerome Richardson, Romeo Penque (woodwinds);
Thad Jones (trumpet, flugelhorn);
Jimmy Cleveland, James Buffington, Ray Alonge (trombone);
Tony Studd (bass trombone);
Herbie Hancock, Roland Hanna (piano);
Grady Tate (drums).

Recording information: A & R Recording, New York, NY (07/09/1969/07/10/1969).


REVIEW:
This date features Phil Woods with a large orchestra. Woods' playing is inspired, though some of the songs, including the title track, "Love Song For A Dead Che" and "I'm All Smiles" sound rather dated, as if they might have been appropriate for a movie soundtrack of the era. Woods' "Solitude" and Gordon Jenkins' timeless "This Is All I Ask" are attractive ballads, as is "Here's That Rainy Day." While this is not a CD for the average jazz fan, Woods' fans will want to pick it up.