Search - Woody Herman :: Road Band

Classic west coast swing

RaleighObserver | Eastern USA | 08/31/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This recording dates from the mid-1950's and captures Herman's 3rd Herd in some of its typical "book" numbers. Like the Four Brothers band, this one had a sax section of 4 tenors and one baritone, givig the band a mellow sound (punch came from the 5-man trumpet section). At this period, the band featured Bill Perkins and Richie Kamuka on tenors, Nat Pierce on piano, Cy Touff on bass trumpet, and an 18-year-old Chuck Flories on drums. For all its west-coast-mellow sound, the band does swing, and there are fine solos from Kamuka, Pierce, and in particular bass trumpeter Touff, who has a pungent sound and swings harder here than I have heard him do elsewhere. Woody's clarinet playing is good, too; I just wish we didn't have to put up with his alto on a couple of tracks. Give a listen to Horace Silver's "Opus de Funk", "I Remember Duke", and "Cool Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." This is enjoyable, swinging 50's big-band jazz -- maybe not up there with Basie's "Chairman of the Board" or Ellington's "Newport 1956" as highlights of that era, but not too far behind."