1963 - Plak

ENGLISH

Three big bands remained true to swing in the Sixties: those of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Woody Herman. Although the Count ventured into the spheres of James Bond and the Beatles, and despite the Duke’s musical hits, it was Woody Herman who best made the transition into the world of new sounds and compositions. The 'Herds' (as Woody called his various bands, with himself as shepherd) galloped through the second half of the 20th century, leaving giant footprints in the history of jazz.<br /><br /> In October 1962, several top-notch soloists joined Woody Herman in the New York Studio: Bill Chase, the highly individual trumpeter; Sal Nistico, the excellent arranger and tenor sax soloist; and Phil Wilson, the trombonist who battled against the elemental forces of the 'Herd' saxophonists. Most impressive of all, however, is the big band sound, the fierce vitality, with which the almost fully newly-assembled band canters through originals and new arrangements like "Sister Sadie" by Horace Silver or Joe Newman’s "Molasses". These numbers were certainly no easy fare for the young musicians, but Woody leads the soloists brilliantly through the programme, never keeping them on too tight a rein.<br /><br /> The music on this Philips LP is modern and timeless, and has been recorded using the very best stereo technique. The album is a must for everyone – not just for big band fans.<br /><br /> Recording: October 1962 in New York City<br /><br /> Production: Jack Tracy