by Cassandra Harris-Lockwood-Reprinted with the kind permission of The Utica Phoenix
From the piano virtuoso Shar-Shalom Strong demonstrating head, forearm and derrière technique on the Steinway to the double fisted powerhouse jazz violin of Diane Monroe, "Doc" Woods once again made clear his overstanding of music, instrumentation and composition.
Played into sound with the skills of Strong, a string quartet, led by Monroe and the full Hamilton College Symphony, Woods presented his new music compositions to the public for the first time May 2, at Hamilton College's Wellin Hall. The evening of music spirited the audience through a musical matrix spanning the spectrum from classical motifs to ultra sonic multiple rhythmic jazz challenges keeping the listener continually engaged.
This was not only and evening of music. It was also an evening of joy, laughter and fun. Many of the titles of Woods' works are double entendres. Others are playful. Doc Woods' musical brilliance is evident in his composition. His humanity is evident in his humor and his words.
Woods' esteemed colleague, Dr. William C. Banfield, author of the book, Musical Landscapes in Color, a retrospective of African American composers from the early 20th century to the present, took stage to lead the orchestra in a tribute to a deceased friend entitled, "It's All Good My Brother". Not only was Banfield's fluidity at the conductor's stand a captivating demonstration of connectedness with ones creation but his composition had a sweet and heartfelt message.
Woods' music is large and complex. Just when you think you're in the groove, when the harmony is at a place of resolve the music continues to grow, grow like a wave building, curling across a sea of sound. Impossible to compare to any one predecessor, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Michael Woods, 'the Doctuh' set forth a unique compliment of compositions incorporating a treasure of sounds, themes and rhythms.
For the last piece, 'Back to Bass Licks', Woods was not content in simply writing the charts for full orchestra, he was compelled to be a part of it as well. Playing his six string electric bass guitar, he gave up the conductor's stand to Hamilton College Prof. Heather Buchman and joined Bob Cesari, who wailed on soprano sax, as a soloist.
With his unique ability to command the worlds of classical and jazz, maneuver anywhere between solo instrument and full orchestra while continually demonstrating his own virtuosity as a performer, Doc Woods is well on his way to becoming an icon in world of 21st century music.
Associate Professor of Music "Doctuh" Michael Woods is the Director of Jazz Studies at Hamilton College.
Born in Akron, Ohio in 1952, he grew up listening to Black gospel music and rhythm and blues. Woods studied music formally at Akron University where he finished with a B.M. degree in composition. He went on to obtain two masters degrees from Indiana University. Woods received his doctorate degree in music composition at University of Oklahoma in 1991.
Woods also studied jazz arranging and film scoring at Berklee College of Music in Boston and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Arts Administration. As a composer, Woods was awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. He has written over 500 pieces in all styles. His compositions have been performed by the Albany Symphony, the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, the Little Rock Symphony, the Tulsa Philharmonic, the Lafayette Symphony (Indiana), the Pro Musica Orchestra (Columbus, Indiana), the Central New York Jazz Orchestra, and the Salt City Jazz Collective.
