Other than a previously unreleased version of blues on parade from 1939, the music is all from february september 1940. Stream adfree or purchase cds and mp3s now on amazon. This band recorded for the decca label, at first serving as a cover band, doing songs by other decca artists. Four brothers is a jazz standard written by jimmy giuffre in 1947, based on the chord changes of jeepers creepers. As the years passed and woody herman continued to age, his orchestra s music stayed young and contemporary. He stayed faithful to his orchestra until the end of his life. The early years 18901950, woodchoppers ball big wig in the wig wam, and the thundering herds 19451947.
His father had a deep love for show business and this influenced woody herman at an early age. Woody herman has just begun a relationship with hal leonard publishing, a firm specializing in the college and high school market. After early experience in chicago with the bands led by tom gerun and harry sosnik, woody herman toured with gus arnheim. He was not only a jazz clarinetist and a saxophonist, but at the same time, he was a singer as well. During the 1940s hermans band, then known as hermans herd, was noted for its exuberance and technical brilliance. Swing band music, morning music, piano and guitar music, music while. Woody hermans first band became known for its orchestrations of the blues, and was sometimes billed as the band that plays the blues. Woody herman cl, carmen leggio, sal nistico, jackie stevens ts, nick brignola bars, bill chase, danny nolan, paul fontaine, gerry lamy, billy hunt t, phil wilson, henry southall, kenny. Woody herman heavy exposure this stereo lp record album was released on cadet records lps835 in 1969.
This cd also has some of the lesser known works of woody herman. Woody herman joined the tom gerun band and his first recorded vocals. He was a clarinetist in the orchestras of joey lichter, harry sosnik, gus arnheim, and indiana jones, then formed his own orchestra, appearing in hotels, theatres and ballrooms. Woody herman inherited the isham jones orchestra in new york city in 1936. Woody herman and his orchestra love of my life chords. Woody herman orchestra music, videos, stats, and photos. Other highlights of this enjoyable cd include four titles. Woody herman woody herman sings songs for hip lovers 2 lp.
Theres great musicianship and a great variety of songs. Beyond woody conducting the orchestra, playing the clarinet and providing lead vocals, he and the orchestra are accompanied by other acts in some numbers. Woody herman music listen free on jango pictures, videos. I grew up listening to beat me daddy eight to the bar on a 78. He was a famous big band leader, american jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, and singer. If a member of the band comes up with a new chart, be it swing, funk, or reggae, herman will try it out on a gig. As a child he worked as a singer and tapdancer in vaudeville, then started to play the clarinet and saxophone by age 12. In 1934, he joined isham jones, and when joness group disbanded in 1936 herman used its leading sidemen as the nucleus for his own orchestra. His bands often played music that was experimental for the. During his lifetime, he led some of the most exciting big bands of the twentieth century. Hermans band that plays the blues had already dabbled in the emerging progressive jazz of the 1940s by. Woody herman 1 bandleader, saxophonist, clarinetist for the record 2 the evolution of the herd 3 kept his personality in the background 4 difficult times in the 1960s and 1970s 5 selected discography 6 sources 7 no other bandleader in the history of jazz had the staying power of woo.
Woody herman, byname of woodrow charles herman, born may 16, 19, milwaukee, wisconsin, u. Blue prelude woodchoppers ball faithful forever vocal. In november cornel wilde was cast her henies leading man. World jazz series 2 cbs 7 8 pm louis armstrong dizzy gillespie woody herman gene krupa mitch miller 06051960. It was first performed by ray heatherton and mitzi green. Woody herman was renowned for being the leader of one of the most popular bands that specialized in jazz by the name of thundering herds.
I think woodys band arrangements from the 1970s stand out above the rest. Herman had recorded an advanced dizzy gillespie arrangement down under the year before, and during 1943, herman s band became influenced by duke ellington. Play along with guitar, ukulele, or piano with interactive and simple chords, transpose, capo hints, changing speed. If you watch turner classic movies enough then you know that various warnervitaphone shorts are. Complete your woody herman and his orchestra collection. Woody herman society, keep the blue flame infinitely burning. Woody herman, who prevailed for decades as a top swing band leader only to become in his final days a sad figure overwhelmed by debilitating illness and a crushing debt to the federal government. See more ideas about big band leaders, music and band.
A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by johnny hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist, woody herman s greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands. Herman is a swinging, friendly singer heard doing such timetested standards as the humorous makin whoopee, a more upbeat than typical willow weep for me, and i wont dance. Woody herman and his orchestra discography discogs. Woody is the singular moving force behind the band, the man who pulls it all together, gets it going, and goes with the bandperhaps a bit ahead of them. Woody herman and his orchestra mister meadowlark 1940. In accordance with the directives of government and health authorities, we have temporarily suspended operations. The history of the following band evolution can be structured in the following way.
Jim rupp observed, you really never know what woodys going to call. If you see woody herman s toothy grin on a cd cover, do yourself a favor and snatch it up. Woody herman and his orchestra thats right youtube. French music, retro music, saxophone music, italian music, jazz music, sw. Woody herman and his orchestra sequence in jazz discogs. When the latter decided to retire in 1936, herman was the core of the hot fraction of the disbanded orchestra. Together with 8 other musicians of this band, he founded his own orchestra woody herman and his orchestra, which became legendary as a source of jazz talents over decades. Flip phillips, and bill harris by the mid1940s, under the name hermans herd. Great love songs of the 1940s 3cd collection oldies 320k. On this lp from 1975, the big band performs an excellent version of chick coreas spain, explores material by tom scott and stevie wonder and sounds fine on come rain.
From the 1940 s, the expression the herd was used in variable context, which was always a synonym for woody herman s orchestra. His parents were otto and myrtle bartoszewicz herman. Big band remotes they existed from the 1920s until local disc jockeys took over late night radio programming in the early 1950s. They were heard by millions but ignored by the rating services because they were broadcast after peak listening hours and were invariably sustaining. Woodrow charles herman may 16, 19 october 29, 1987, known as woody herman, was an american jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. He started playing saxophone when he was 11, and four years later he was a professional musician.
The first side herman recorded was laura, the theme song of the 1944 movie of the same. Old bakelite 78 record columbia 36785 co 34288 laura fox trot from laura vocal chorus by woody herman mercerraksin woody herman and his orchestra 36785 co 34290 i wonder fox trot vocal chorus by woody herman gantleveen woody herman and his orchestra. Australia brazil canada china france germany india italy japan mexico netherlands singapore. Herman played clarinet and saxophone and sang in a charming, bluesy voice. Past perfect is a cool uk nostalgia music label that remasters the greatest popular music of the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50 and early 60s with absolutely superb sou. With woody herman and his orchestra, lee wiley, hal abbott, honey abbott. Woody herman remote cbs cafe rouge hotel penn nyc 8211944. After working in the big bands of woody herman, lionel hampton, and stan kenton, he devoted most of his career to playing music in las vegas. Soon after, he began playing the saxophone and later the clarinet. The top 10 jewish top 10 jewish jazz musicians and. Herman made his way into the professional entertainment orchestra scene of the 1930s, where his enthusiasm, friendliness, and musical versatility served him well, and ended up with songwriter. Woody herman, american jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, bandleader, and singer who was best known as the front man for a succession of bands he dubbed herds.
Release dates 1 also known as aka 2 release dates usa 27 july 1940. The drummers of woody herman modern drummer magazine. As a child he worked as a singer in vaudeville, then became a professional saxophone player at age 15. Woody herman and his orchestra perform a five song set in concert. Chords used are for woody herman and his orchestra love of my life. Find the latest tracks, albums, and images from woody herman orchestra. Todays woody herman drummer has to be ready to play just about anything. Candolis power and bandstand flamboyance earned him the title of superman with a horn so much so that, while with the woody herman orchestra in the 1940s, he began to. Woody herman and his orchestra from famous door nyc 17 1940. Hermans big band combination of swing and bop sounds just as good today as it did when his various a a herdsa a originally stampeded in the 40s. Early life and career herman was born woodrow charles thomas herman in milwaukee, wisconsin on may 16, 19. From then on, herman s first group would be known as the band that plays the blues. Woody hermans orchestra plays five tunes, and guest.
The complete woody herman decca, mars and mgm sessions 19431954 mosaic woody herman and his band were most closely associated with the columbia and capitol labels, but in the 1940s and 50s the clarinetist, saxophonist and influential leader also recorded for the companies you see named in the headline above. Herman was a child prodigy who sang and danced in vaudeville at age six. Woody herman had a breakthrough during the period of time covered by classics third herman cd. Woodrow charles herman may 16, 19 october 29, 1987, better known as woody herman, was an american jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. The complete woody herman decca, mars and mgm sessions 19431954 may 16, 2019. Woodrow charles herman may 16, 19 october 29, 1987 was an american jazz clarinetist.
I have heard cds that were made a lot more recent that did not sound half as good as this. Never willing to have a mere nostalgia band, he continued looking ahead for new music without lowering his standards. After playing with the isham jones orchestra for two years, woody herman formed one of his own in 1936, out of the remaining nucleus when jones broke up the band. In october woody herman and his orchestra were signed to appear in the film, replacing glenn miller who had joined the army. His father otto was a big influence in his early years of childhood, because otto was in love with show business.
That same year, hal kemp recorded a popular version. Raymond scott orchestra blackhawk restaurant 111 1940. Where or when is a show tune from the 1937 rodgers and hart musical babes in arms. Twin city blues by woody herman from the album the great. Herman was born in milwaukee, wisconsin, on may 16, 19. The fifth in the classics woody herman series has overall the strongest jazz set for the band up to that point. The complete woody herman decca, mars and mgm sessions 19431954 presents woody on seven cds over a remarkable span of his development. Woody herman left his clarinet and alto sax behind for this all vocal release. Woody herman read more about this and other grammys news at. Woody herman the road father woodrow charles woody herman was born may 16, 19 in milwaukee, wisconsin. Leading various groups called the herd, herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and 40s bandleaders. Woody herman homepage, home of the woody herman society. Woody herman s orchestra plays five tunes, and guest performers sing and dance. Aug 05, 2015 woody herman cl, carmen leggio, sal nistico, jackie stevens ts, nick brignola bars, bill chase, danny nolan, paul fontaine, gerry lamy, billy hunt t, phil wilson, henry southall, kenny.
Created most of the music performed by his orchestra. Legendary clarinetist, composer at the woodchoppers ball, singer and bandleader the thundering herds, educated at marquette university. The great majority of the early herman recordings feature the bandleader as a ballad vocalist, but it was the instrumentals that caught on, leading to his group being known as the band that plays the blues. A lovely rendition of mister meadowlark woody herman and his orchestra 1940 vocal by woody herman enjoy. Feb 9, 2014 some of the best listening music was played by the big band leaders. The record is notable for its extended 34 bars drum solo by. Woody herman biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Herman reformed the band in 1947, and the distinctive feature of the. Woody herman began performing as a child, singing in vaudeville. He always encouraged young talent and more than practically any bandleader from the swing era, kept his repertoire quite modern. It was a gradual process, but by the end of 1944, woody herman had. He picked up early experience playing with the big bands of tom gerun, harry sosnik, and gus arnheim, and then in 1934, he joined the isham jones orchestra. Carl charles fontana july 18, 1928 october 9, 2003 was an american jazz trombonist.