Philip Woo, “the most successful Seattle jazz musician you’ve never heard of" (Paul de Barros, Earshot Jazz), is the subject of an upcoming documentary called Play It In Woo (playitinwoo.com). Catch a teaser cut of the doc - and meet Philip Woo - on Friday, September 26, at 7pm at SIFF Film Center for a special screening, Q&A, and fundraising event.

A fifth generation Chinese Seattleite, Woo was plucked out of Franklin High School to tour with Roy Ayers, and went on to contribute seminal keyboard parts on massive R&B hits (including Ayers' "Everybody Loves the Sunshine") before going on to serve as sideman for million-selling artists such as Grover Washington, Jr., Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle and Roberta Flack for decades. But Woo has only just started to receive the recognition he deserves, thanks in no small part to hip hop tastemakers who have discovered a treasure trove of samples in Woo’s vast recording and live performance catalog.

As a testament to Woo's creativity, longevity, and kindness, Play It In Woo features artists spanning generations of music, from Seattle's own DJ Supreme La Rock, Jake One, and Kenny G, to Large Professor, Valerie Simpson and Roy Ayers himself--in one of the last interviews he gave before his recent passing.

As a special treat, Phillip Woo himself will be on hand along with the filmmakers for a Q&A following the screening.

Tickets are free but donations are welcomed to help fund the last stage of production (to take place in Japan, where Woo has lived and performed for over 20 years). Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate a true local hero who has influenced funk, R&B, jazz, and hip hop worldwide.