Gavin Walker
May 13, 2011, 10:58 PM
Tonight The Jazz Show celebrates an important birthday anniversary. Woodrow Charles Herrman became Woody Herman, one of the most prominent bandleaders of the last century. Herman ranks with Basie, Ellington, Kenton, Gillespie and few others as leading some of the greatest big bands in the history of Jazz. Woody was born on May 16, 1913 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin into a family involved in show business. Woody died on October 29, 1987. His life is a storied one and much information can be found on the web and in a great biography by the Canadian author, Gene Lees, called "The Leader of The Band". Woody led so many amazing and storied editions of his band that he called "The Herds" that there are too many to keep track of. The First Herd and the Second Herd (The Four Brothers Herd) are in the Jazz history books and in the 50's had The Third Herd......after that the Herds became infinite!
Tonight is an hour long Feature with one of Woody's finest Herds from the 1960's. It was recorded live at Basin Street West in Hollywood on the nights of May, 19, 20, 21, 1963 before an animated enthusiastic audience. In this edition was the great leadership of "The Old Man" (Woody himself) heard on alto saxophone, clarinet and the occasional vocal. With Woody were some great emerging stars like trumpeters Bill Chase and Gerald Lamy, trombonists Phil Wilson and Henry Southall and as always a superb saxophone section with Bobby Jones, Bill Perkins and SAL NISTICO on tenor saxophones plus Frank Hittner on baritone. The rhythm section was also superb with pianist Nat Pierce (who also contributed some wonderful arrangements), bassist Chuck Andrus and one of the finest drummers in the world, Jake Hanna! I put tenor saxophonist Sal Nistico in capitals for a very good reason. Not only was he an emerging authoritative voice on the tenor but the band's most inspired soloist. His outings on several up tempo offerings here (Mingus' "Better Get It In Your Soul", staples like "Apple Honey", "Caldonia" and others) are simply amazing displays of soul, sound and fire. Sal's command of the horn is phenomenal and the way he combines fresh ideas and speed left the other guys in the band (no slouches themselves) open-mouthed. Sal was only 50 when he left this planet and must be recognised as one of the great voices of the tenor saxophone. Sit back and relax and listen to one of the best big bands in Jazz history and a superb edition of one of the many numbered Herman Herds. Happy Birthday Woody....your legacy lives to this day!
The Woody Herman Jazz Feature will last nearly an hour so I'll be introducing it before 11pm to get everything played. Join me at 9pm for some surprises and musical goodies from the bottomless pit of great Jazz recordings. See you then......................................
Tonight is an hour long Feature with one of Woody's finest Herds from the 1960's. It was recorded live at Basin Street West in Hollywood on the nights of May, 19, 20, 21, 1963 before an animated enthusiastic audience. In this edition was the great leadership of "The Old Man" (Woody himself) heard on alto saxophone, clarinet and the occasional vocal. With Woody were some great emerging stars like trumpeters Bill Chase and Gerald Lamy, trombonists Phil Wilson and Henry Southall and as always a superb saxophone section with Bobby Jones, Bill Perkins and SAL NISTICO on tenor saxophones plus Frank Hittner on baritone. The rhythm section was also superb with pianist Nat Pierce (who also contributed some wonderful arrangements), bassist Chuck Andrus and one of the finest drummers in the world, Jake Hanna! I put tenor saxophonist Sal Nistico in capitals for a very good reason. Not only was he an emerging authoritative voice on the tenor but the band's most inspired soloist. His outings on several up tempo offerings here (Mingus' "Better Get It In Your Soul", staples like "Apple Honey", "Caldonia" and others) are simply amazing displays of soul, sound and fire. Sal's command of the horn is phenomenal and the way he combines fresh ideas and speed left the other guys in the band (no slouches themselves) open-mouthed. Sal was only 50 when he left this planet and must be recognised as one of the great voices of the tenor saxophone. Sit back and relax and listen to one of the best big bands in Jazz history and a superb edition of one of the many numbered Herman Herds. Happy Birthday Woody....your legacy lives to this day!
The Woody Herman Jazz Feature will last nearly an hour so I'll be introducing it before 11pm to get everything played. Join me at 9pm for some surprises and musical goodies from the bottomless pit of great Jazz recordings. See you then......................................