Dr. Woody Witt is a Houston-based saxophonist, composer, and educator who has built an international reputation as both a performer and teacher. He’s a Professor of Music at Houston Community College and teaches saxophone at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music. In 2014, Woody won the Grand Prize at the Taichung International Jazz Saxophone Competition in Taiwan, later returning for performances, masterclasses, and consulting work with saxophone manufacturers.
He has released 13 albums as a leader, with several reaching the JazzWeek and CMJ charts, and one of his jazz etudes was even chosen for the Texas All-State Jazz program. A longtime performer with the Houston Symphony, Woody has backed legends like Ray Charles, Kenny Rogers, and Tony Bennett, and continues to inspire through his performances, recordings, and his latest album, Awakening, recorded in São Paulo with an international ensemble which blends original works with reimagined Brazilian gems.
You can read his full Bio under Episode 198 here!
PERSONNEL on Awakenings:
“Awakening” is the latest release from tenor saxophonist Woody Witt, recorded in São Paulo with trumpeter Daniel D’Alcantara, pianist Felipe Silveira, bassist Thiago Alves, and drummer Paulinho Vicente. Blending original compositions with re-imagined Brazilian gems, the album melds lush harmonies, lyrical melodies, and rhythmic sophistication, capturing the spontaneous chemistry of an international ensemble in full flight.•
- Woody Witt – Tenor Saxophone
- Daniel D’Alcantara – Trumpet / Flugelhorn
- Felipe Silveira – Piano
- Thiago Alves – Bass
- Paulinho Vicente – Drums
Here’s Woody Witt’s reflection about his latest album:
From the beginning, I wasn’t entirely sure what would come of this project. The recording came about largely due to Felipe Silveira’s persistent encouragement. He consistently expressed how important it was to document this band—not only because of its versatility, but also because of the unique chemistry we’ve developed as a group.
Felipe envisioned a recording that captured both the freedom and energy of Miles Davis’s mid-60s quintet, as well as the beauty of traditional Brazilian songs and rhythms. As I began writing music for the group, I kept that in mind. I was inspired by the sound of Miles’s band, but I was also thinking about the unique voices of each member of this ensemble: Daniel, Felipe, Thiago, and Paulinho.
After listening to the recording in its entirety, I was struck by the wide variety of music we explored—ranging from the modal freedom of “Derecho,” to harmonically rich originals like “All My Tomorrows,” to the freer, more angular territory of “Echoes of the Past,” which feels like a blend of Ornette Coleman and Wayne Shorter. And of course, the traditional Brazilian tunes represented on the album bring yet another dimension to the experience.
One unexpected and unintentional aspect of the recording is the amount of collective improvisation. Rather than highlighting individual solos, many tracks feature group interplay. Several pieces end with extended vamps where Daniel and I trade ideas, while on tracks like “Echoes of the Past” and “Veil of the Unknown,” we solo simultaneously—creating a dialogue rather than separate statements.
Finally, the track order was initially chosen simply to alternate between originals and standards. But in doing so, it created striking contrasts between tracks. That sense of tension and unpredictability—what might at first feel like darkness or shock—turned out to be quite beautiful. It keeps the listener engaged and reinforces the emotional depth and breadth of the album.
👉 Listen to the Full Episode Here:
Here are the timestamps for your convenience; jump to the parts of our conversation with Dr. Woody Witt that interest you most!
00:00 What keeps Woody busy right now
05:27 House concerts and its benefits
10:45 What inspired him in creating his new album ‘Awakenings’
17:49 Listen and reflect to ‘Echoes of the Past’
22:52 Woody’s definition of melodic time
28:41 What makes ‘Derecho’ complicated
29:59 Listen and reflect to ‘Derecho’ (part 1)
37:05 Two Ways Woody added tension to his soloing
41:36 Mistake most sax players make (play too much)
46:46 Listen and reflect to ‘Derecho’ (part 2)
53:48 Why touring with people you already worked with matters
57:38 Listen and reflect to ‘Derecho’ (part 3)
01:01:41 How to feel comfortable on your instrument
01:11:27 His equipment on this recording
Links:
- Derecho: https://youtu.be/VKU0WHliwSk
- Echoes of the Past: https://youtu.be/mvXVCcR-efQ
- Marshall Allen, 100 yr old saxophonist who released his first album as a leader: https://jazzfuel.com/new-dawn-marshall-allen-at-100/
- Dr. Woody Witt’s Social Pages:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woody.witt
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woody.witt/
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@woodywitttx
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/woody-witt
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