Thanks to Rifftides reader Tyler Newcomb for sending a link to this Phil Woods video from 1968. YouTube gives almost no information about it. I gather from the ID bug in the upper right-hand corner of the screen that this was made in the studios of Norddeutscher Rundfunk in what was then East Germany. If so, given the cold war chill at the time, there must be a story about what the American musicians were doing there. The rotary valve flugelhorn player is Jimmy Owens. The trombonist appears to be Slide Hampton. The non-playing alto saxophonist sitting next to Woods is Lee Konitz, who now and then gives a knowing half smile. I have no idea who the other musicians are. And how about that song title, “And When Were Young?” That can’t be right.
YouTube‘s fact-checking process is nonexistent. It’s wonderful to have the music YouTube brings us, but If the video donor, in this case Selmer 54, doesn’t provide the information or gets it wrong, tough nuggets. If you can identify the mystery players or disclose the actual title, please send a comment (see the end of the posting) or an e-mail message (see the right-hand column).