Woody Herman formed so many fine bands that it is difficult to give an accurate assessment of his place in orchestral jazz simply because not all of his fine Herds were recorded. This new release fills in a gap because it comprises material completely new to commercial issue.
The music is the first half of a programme played at a dance date in Omaha just a month before the band made the Woody Herman ’58 album for Verve (put out in the UK as Jazz The Utmost). Although playing principally for dancers Woody made few concessions and simply played the kind of music we associate with him. He also used the opportunity to break in some of the new works by Gene Roland which were due to be recorded for Verve.
Like all post-1947 Herds, this one had a magnificent sax section with at least two outstanding tenors in the persons of Jay Migliori and Jimmie Cook. The trumpets were sparked by Bill Castagnino’s high notes and John Coppola’s fine lead. But the trombone team was unbeatable; Bill Harris was back in the band and playing as well as ever; listen to him on the previously unrecorded (by Woody at least) Let’s Talk. The blend of the saxes is superb on numbers such as Midnight Sun and the quality of the recorded sound is excellent.
This CD captures a great band at work, earning its bread and butter and, because it was a dance date, it is a little incongruous to hear the men playing their hearts out on material such as Stairway To The Blues and the extended Woodchopper’s only to be rewarded by a light patter of applause. The arrangers represented here comprise Roland, Nat Pierce, Ralph Burns, Al Cohn and Marty Paich (who did Comes Love).
John Bunch was presented with a piano which needed the attention of a tuner but that kind of thing was just one of the hazards of the touring musician. The music is quite beautiful.
Discography
Stairway To The Blues; Stardust; Wailing In The Woodshed; Midnight Sun; Pennies From Heaven; Barfly Blues; Woodchopper’s Ball; Let’s Talk; Sleepy Serenade; The Preacher; Comes Love; Our Love Is Here To Stay; G-String Strut (Gene’s Strut); Trouble In Mind; Pimlico (56.22)
Woody Herman (v/cl/as) leading Bill Berry, John Coppola, Bill Castagnino, Andy Peele, Danny Styles (t); Bill Harris, Bobby Lamb, Willie Dennis (tb); Jay Migliori, Jimmie Cook, Bob Newman (ts); Roger Pemberton (bar); John Bunch (p); Jimmy Gannon (b); Don Michaels (d). Omaha, Nebraska, 6 June, 1957.
(Status STCD 107)
