John Tapscott

This album has some of the very best Rosolino I have ever heard. Absolutely stunning playing. He and Menza made a monster front-line.

Yes, you'll really like the Herman set, I'm sure. But what you'll find is that Nistico's playing had changed a bit by the time of the Beehives, tonally anyway, perhaps showing more influence of "Trane, Joe Hen, Shorter and others. I like Nistico either way (I think his playing is terrific on the Curtis Fuller Beehive date), but I may slightly prefer the sheer tonal purity and joy of his playing with Herman. I'll tell you, Jake really kicked his butt(or maybe it was the other way around, a mutual butt - kicking).

I have two other Herman bios on my shelves - a shorter one called "Woody Herman" by British writer Steve Voce, and "The Leader of the Band" by Gene Lees (which typically is 1/3 Lees and 2/3rds Herman, but has good insights, too). I'm enjoying Clancy's book which is very good on Herman's early years (pre First Herd).

The only Atlas releases I own (at least that I can think of). Enjoyable Pepper for sure, but perhaps not essential.