Big New Herd at the Monterey Jazz - Woody Herman

[Tom 1960]

I heard a track off this album earlier today and was really intrigued by the many great musicians the announcer mentioned who played on this live date. Recorded at the 1959 Monterey Jazz Festival, musicians included:

Herman on clarinet or alto, Al Porcino and Bill Chase on first trumpets, Conte Candoli and Ray Linn taking trumpet solos, trombonist Urbie Green, Victor Feldman on piano and vibes, guitarist Charlie Byrd, bassist Monty Budwig, drummer Mel Lewis, baritonist Med Flory, and the tenors of Zoot Sims, Don Lanphere, Bill Perkins, and Richie Kamuca.

Any thoughts on this release?

[John Tapscott]

Herman fans will definitely want it. It's a good session, and how couldn't it be, given the musicians. Mel was a good fit for Herman. And there's Ted Richards' great blues chart "Like Some Blues Man, Like..." Good recording quality despite an overhead plane which you can hear in places. A couple of cautions, though - very short playing time - around 35 minutes, as I recall. A bit frustrating. And this was a "pick-up" band by the looks of things, not Herman's regular Herd. Does that make a difference? Yeah, maybe a bit. Not the best Herman record and not the worst either. Might fit in the top 25, but certainly not the top 10, IMO.

[Free For All]

I agree with John's assessment. Definitely a pick-up gig, lots of stars but not the touring band. Still, an enjoyable set with lots of good playing. Surprising that it isn't longer than it is.

[JSngry]

Didn't know that Bill Chase was with Woody in 1959. Was he a pick-up player as well, and if so, from where? Kenton?

[John Tapscott]

Didn't know that Bill Chase was with Woody in 1959. Was he a pick-up player as well, and if so, from where? Kenton?

I think the whole band was pick-up. I believe that at that particular moment Chase was between Ferguson (whom he had just left, under a cloud apparently) and Kenton, whom he joined shortly thereafter. Bill was not yet the player he would become just a few years later.

Edited to say that on my CD, Chase is listed with the trombone section, a mistake obviously.

Edited October 31, 2009 by John Tapscott

[JSngry]

How did one leave the 50s-era Ferguson band "under a cloud"?

[John Tapscott]

How did one leave the 50s-era Ferguson band "under a cloud"?

Let me make it plain - he was fired, canned, axed, down-sized, right-sized, out-sourced, laid-off, let go, whatever term you prefer. Ferguson didn't think his chops were up to the task. A season under Bud Brisbois and Dalton Smith in the Kenton trumpet section was just was Bill needed.

Edited October 31, 2009 by John Tapscott

[JSngry]

Oh, it was a skills issue, then. I gotcha'. I thought it was maybe a character issue or something, and that had me kinda...wondering.

[Stereojack]

This has long been among my favorite Woody albums, lots of spirit on this one!

Edited November 1, 2009 by Stereojack

[Free For All]

How did one leave the 50s-era Ferguson band "under a cloud"?

Well, you know those buses can get pretty smoky. :eye:

[JSngry]

Indeed....

[king ubu]

I enjoy this disc a lot!

Might have been my first Herman disc...

[Tom 1960]

Thanks for the input fellas. While I do enjoy some big band performances, Woody Herman wouldn't be someone I would normally gravitate towards. Hearing the track played on the radio station and then the announcer mentioning all these familiar names sparked alot of curiousity. Adding this one to the wishlist.