Title: Jazz Casual: The Swingin' Herd Artist: Woody Herman Release Date: 7/31/2001 Label: Koch Album Type(s): Greatest Hits UPC: 099923856221 Genre: Jazz Styles: Big Band, Swing Moods: Earthy, Exuberant, Rollicking, Amiable/Good-Natured, Boisterous, Elegant, Joyous, Playful, Refined/Mannered, Sophisticated, Stylish, Cheerful, Complex, Energetic, Freewheeling, Party/Celebratory, Passionate Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 0 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. A Taste of Honey
2. Interview
3. My Wish
4. Deep Purple
5. Early Autumn
6. Satin Doll
7. Mood Indigo
8. Blue Flame
9. Jazz Hoot [Rehearsal]
10. Jazz Hoot
11. Interview
12. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
13. Woody Talks
14. After You've Gone
15. Cousins

Year Type Label Catalog # 2001 CD Koch 8562

No other editions were found for this album.

Ralph Gleason's Jazz Casual television series was an early attempt at documenting live jazz in a studio environment, though the videotapes lay long forgotten until licensed for release by Koch. This compilation includes the complete audio portion of two separate appearances by Woody Herman leading his big band. The clarinetist was always open to new repertoire of music from a number of different fields, so Nat Pierce's dark but swinging arrangement of the then-current pop hit "A Taste of Honey" in the first program should surprise no one. Of course, there are plenty of familiar standards like "Deep Purple" and gems from Duke Ellington such as "Satin Doll" and "Mood Indigo," all of them swinging. The second program includes both rehearsal and master takes of Bill Holman's "Jazz Hoot," a piece new to the band's repertoire that Herman was unafraid to share as a work in progress before a national audience. The slowly savored take of Ellington's "Just Squeeze Me" showcases Bill Chase's muted trumpet and Herman's sardonic alto sax. "After You've Gone" (after Herman's subtle introduction on clarinet) is transformed into an explosive swinger. The loose, bluesy workout of "Cousins" is a perfect closer for the second broadcast, with plenty of hilarious solos. The only shortcoming of this release is the failure to identify the soloists in the notes. Although this CD remained in print for a rather brief period, these performances have since turned up on various DVDs with the video portion as well, so they shouldn't be too difficult to acquire in one format or the other. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

Name Credits Bill Chase Trumpet Bill Hunt Trumpet Bob Rudolph Trombone Bobby Lee Jones Sax (Tenor) Carmen Leggio Sax (Tenor) Chuck Andrus Bass Dave Gale Trumpet David Nolan Trumpet Frank Hittner Sax (Baritone) Gerald Lamy Trumpet Henry Southall Trombone Jake Hanna Drums James Stevens Sax (Tenor) Ken Wenzel Trombone Nat Pierce Piano Paul Fontaine Trumpet Peter Keepnews Liner Notes Phil Wilson Trombone Sal Nistico Sax (Tenor) Tom Anastos Sax (Baritone) Tom Gleason Liner Notes Woody Herman Leader, Main Performer, Clarinet, Sax (Alto)