Search - Woody Herman :: Keeper of Flame

Four Brothers Band: An essential moment in Jazz history

tomfrompennsylvania | Greater Philadelphia | 08/15/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is beautiful, entertaining and exciting jazz, and for 1947, years ahead of its time; sounds like something from the early 60's. The sound is great, too. This disc is what a lot of people are looking for in the modern jazz of the post-war era. I thought this was the 2nd Herd for the record, as it states in liner notes (1st Herd, the Thundering Herd, having had recorded for Columbia), but I like this better than that period, although I may be in a minority."Early Autumn" featuring solo work by one the "Four Brothers" on saxophone, Stan Getz is an all-time classic. I really want to give this 4 1/2 stars, though 1/2 increments not formatted here. The listening value of these recordings will appreciate in time for you, here, although even this is not quite Woody at his absolute tops. For that, I would go to, or wish for a CD re-issue of "Woody Winners", recorded live at the Basin Street West in San Francisco in 1965 for Columbia, which might lend evidence to the compliment reputedly given by Count Basie that Woody's band was the only band capable of "cutting" his band ("Winners" was briefly re-issued on CD overseas from Sony/France a few years ago, and maybe you can find it at a used site or auction, but why anyone in their right mind would give that up I don't know). In the meantime, compensate by starting your Woody collection here if you haven't already. Satisfying. I'm glad to have this in in mine in a big way. Woody's creativity in the 40's and even later on astounds me, the way he help jazz move along by leaps and bounds."

The third herd at its finest!

drbkeeper@webtv.net | Illinois | 03/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"absolutely my favorite Woody Herman CD. I bought all these records on the old 45rpm format way back then. If you were a big band jazz fan during the 40's and 50's ........ well then this CD will bring back a hundred and one memories."