Woody Shaw (1944-1989) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger, band leader and educator. Born with a photographic memory and perfect pitch, Shaw is credited with advancing the technical and harmonic conventions of modern jazz trumpet playing. In his time he was viewed as a leading innovator on his instrument. He was an acknowledged virtuoso and mentor among musicians, and worked and recorded with many notable jazz legends. He jams his arrangement of 'The Woody Woodpecker Song', written by the pianist, composer, arranger, songwriter and author George Tibbles (1913-1987), with lyrics by the American composer, songwriter, musician and author Ramey Idriss (1911-1971). Recorded in the album ‘Solid’ (1987).
Woody Shaw, trumpet
Kenny Barron (1943), piano
Neil Swainson (1955), double bass
Victor Jones (1954), drums
Original lyrics:
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Oh, that's the Woody Woodpecker song!
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Yeah, he's a-peckin' it all day long!
He pecks a few holes in a tree to see
If a redwood's really red
And it's nothing to him, on the tiniest whim
To peck a few holes in your head…
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Oh, that's the Woody Woodpecker's tune!
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Makes the other woodpeckers swoon!
Though it doesn't make sense to the dull and the dense
And the lady woodpeckers long for
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
That's the Woody Woodpecker song!
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
Woody Woodpecker's serenade
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
On the woodpecker hit parade!
Though he can't sing a note, there's a frog in his throat
All his top notes come out blurred...
He's the ladies' first choice, with a laugh in his voice
He gives all his rivals the bird...
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
He'll be settlin' down some day
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
He'll be hearin' the preacher say
For the rest of your life you'll be Woody and wife
And the choir will sing along with
Ho-ho-ho ho ho! Ho-ho-ho ho ho!
The Woody Woodpecker song!
