Phil Woods, the alto saxophonist and NEA jazz master who played as recently as Sept. 4 at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, died Tuesday morning, according to the Pocono Record, which cited the Bensing-Thomas Funeral Home in Stroudsburg, Pa.
At the event earlier this month in Manchester, Mr. Woods, 83, reprised the classic album "Charlie Parker With Strings," backed by a local trio and members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Before his last song, Mr. Woods, best known to the casual music listener as the soloist on Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are," announced that it would be his last number. Ever.
The 83-year-old Mr. Woods, who needed oxygen -- at the beginning of the event, he jokingly referred to his tank as "my amplifier" -- noted he had emphysema and that he was retiring from the stage due to health reasons. No cause for Mr. Woods’ death has yet been given.
At the end of the North Side event, after Mr. Woods was wheeled out to a standing ovation and most of the other musicians had left the stage, Mr. Woods' sax remained there on a stand.
Based on reporting from Rick Nowlin: rnowlin@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3871.
First Published: September 29, 2015, 10:53 p.m.
