Search - Woody Herman :: Woody Herman-1963 Swingin'est Big Band Ever (25th Year-His Greatest)

Best Band Woody Ever Had...Period!

J. Martin | 09/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The band(s) that Woody led between '62-'65 were the hippest, most exciting and swingnest big bands I ever heard. The arrangements (most done by long time Herman pianist Nat Pierce) are state of the art. Tenor man Sal Nistico could wail on sax like he does on this recording all night, but it's the groove that lead trumpeter Bill Chase and drummer Jake Hanna have that makes the Herd swing so well.



Listen how Chase and Hanna "lock in" and push the band to levels of intensity beyond comparison. Bill Chase, the greatest "lead trumpet player" in history as far as I'm concerned, had a "spin" on his sound that sepertaed him from everybody else (not to take away from Gozzo, Porcino, Audino, etc) but Chase really packs a punch. He later did the same with his own early '70's jazz-rock group called 'Chase.'



Music buddies of mine who got to know this Herman band well told me that other big bands of the time were scared of this particular Herman band...nobody could compete with them for swingin' so hard.



It took coulmbia forever to release the 'Woody's Winner's' LP on CD and I'm glad to see this Phillips recording out on cd, they need to put the Encore '63 Live album out next."

The Renaissance Herd

R. Viehdorfer | Arvada CO | 12/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you define renaissance as " a revival of intellectual or artistic achievement and vigor", then this CD release qualifies. Easily one of my top three choices for big bands from the 60's, this ensemble rivals the First Herd in dynamics and sheer enthusiasm. The First Herd was populated by such luminaries as Dave Tough, Pete And Conte Candoli, Chubby Jackson, Bill Harris, Neal Hefti, Flip Phillips, Shorty Rogers - the list is a long and distinguished one. While perhaps lacking the depth of the bench that was the Thundering Herd, this CD boasts an impressive line-up that echos the earlier iteration, with stellar trumpeter Bill Chase, trombonist Phil Wilson, and tenorist Sal Nistico, all of whom went on to greater fame and fortune, in attendance. Locking the sections together is none other than Jake Hanna on drums, with Nat Pierce on piano, who also provides many of the arrangements. Historically, Hermans' bands all suffered from lack of an effective drummer, save for Dave Tough in the forties, and Hanna absolutely nails the quarterbacking role like no other drummer I know of (and I'm not leaving out anybody). All of the tracks are good, with Blues for J.P. and Sig Ep (Kranky) my favorites. Pierces' arrangement of Sister Sadie is worth mentioning, primarily because of it's association with the Buddy Rich Big Band; you make the call as to which arrangement is better. All in all, save for the 41-45 singles from the First Herd, this is the best of The Herds to collect. Incidentally, this was the 1964 Grammy Award winner for Best Large Jazz Ensemble."