Round Trip

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. – Ken Dryden