I recall reading about the octet 50 or more years ago when I first got into jazz. I was intrigued by the article but I''ve never heard the group. Something to remedy.
Recordings of the original Wilder-led group are hard to come by these days, since the CD reissue of Frank Sinatra Conducts Alec Wilder album is now out of print and fetching collectors' prices. There are a couple of CDs containing recent recordings of Wilder's octet music along with other Wilder compositions, such as this one by the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra:
I know, last time I looked, admittedly a while ago now, there was nothing.