Phil Woods obituary

Fluent and creative saxophonist regarded as one of the world’s leading jazz soloistsThe mid-1950s saw not only the first significant strides in the career of the American saxophonist Phil Woods, who has died aged 83, but also the sudden departure of Charlie Parker, bowing unceremoniously out of his chaotically brilliant life in 1955 at only 34. The young Woods played Parker’s instrument, the alto saxophone; he had Parker’s dazzling fluency and speed; and he had the master&rsquo