Woody Herman

In 1986 when Woody Herman's band marked its fiftieth anniversary, it was the last of the four great Swing Era bands--the bands of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, as well as Woody Herman--still perfoming with its leader on the road. Early hit recordings, exceptional soloists, a talented leader committed to making big band music, and a willingness to be road musicians all contributed to the longevity of this extraordinary band that transformed itself from a dance band in the 1930s to a great jazz band in the 1940s. Compiler Dexter Morrill examines the Herman band's Jazz identity and its relationship to the mainstream of American music throughout the Herman career. Morrill also emphasizes the high quality of musicianship and the numerous gifted Jazz soloists who contributed to a consistent high level of musical performance. Not a biography, this guide offers substantial musical discussions that focus on currently available commercial records and compact discs and that locate the Herman oeuvre both in historical perspective and in relationship to other contemporary music. Focusing completely on the recordings from a musician's point of view, Woody Herman contains a thorough chapter on the Essential Recordings that reviews all the big band's available recordings and refers directly to the book's other invaluable lists that detail repertoire, arrangers, instrumental soloists, vocalists, compact discs, and more.

This major list of recordings is compact and easy to reference. Each entry provides information on the date of the recording, the arranger, and the vocalists and soloists. Readers will also find several other lists of repertoire, a complete index of arrangers, soloists, and vocalists, and two additional separate indexes of record labels and tune titles with recording dates. There is also a chapter on compact disc releases, with a complete current list. Other chapters are devoted to Stan Getz solos, trombone solo ballads, 12-inch long playing records, and a bibliography. This guide with its outstanding musical discussions fills a gap in good written material on the Herman band and will serve as an unparalleled reference for public and university libraries, record collectors, musicians, jazz aficionados, and students.