Art Farmer & Phil Woods - What Happens?... Art Farmer Phil Woods Together (1968)

The individual discographies of both Art Farmer and Phil Woods are sizable, but this 1968 studio session seems to be their only joint recording in a small-group setting. With pianist Martial Solal, bassist Henri Texier, and drummer Daniel Humair (the latter two were members of Phil Woods' European Rhythm Machine at the time), the two completed this recording in three hours, even though there are some minor rough spots. A very snappy take of Michel Legrand's "Watch What Happens" is a perfect opener, with great interplay between Woods' energetic alto sax and Farmers warm flugelhorn. The rhythm section kicks off a furious tempo to Kenny Dorham's "Blue Bossa" and the co-leaders make the most of it. Gigi Gryce's stimulating blues "Blue Lights" is also full of fire in a brisk arrangement. "Sunrise, Sunset," the famous ballad from Fiddler on the Roof, is unusually fast, with plenty of risk-taking in the solos by Woods, Farmer, and particularly Solal. Oddly enough, the only pure ballad features are the solo tracks by Woods and Farmer; the alto saxophonist delivers an emotional, very dark interpretation of "Chelsea Bridge," while the flugelhornist chooses a less-familiar work, the richly textured "The Day After." Although the final results of this date might have been improved with an extra day of rehearsal, this Italian CD is still well worth purchasing.~Ken Dryden