Woody Herman — The Living Legend

 

 

 

Woodrow Charles Herman was born in Milwaukee and
entered show business at the age of 8 as a child prodigy
clarinet player and tap dancer — Derby hat and all! Since
that time on, his life has been devoted to nothing but music.
As a result, Woody Herman has been a major influence
these many years on contemporary jazz music throughout
the world.

When he fronted his own band for the first time, Woody's
blues and jazz roots started to come to the fore, making
the group a straight ahead, hard swinging jazz band that.
never stopped creating excitement wherever it performed.

About the time that Woody started to achieve acclaim
through national radio broadcasts, the band recorded an
arrangement of a blues number for Decca Records. It was
called “Woodchopper’s Ball” and became an instant hit.
Since then it has become legendary. Not only is it one of
the big band jazz classics of all time, but it has also sold
well over five million copies. From then on Woody went
on to win every jazz poll in existence.

A west coast writer probably best summed up the con-
tinuing popularity of Woody Herman’s music: “Woody
has that marvelous ability to turn on the kids of the kids he
turned on 25 years ago.”

His alumni includes: Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Dave Tough,
Chubby Jackson, Flip Phillips, Bill Harris, Conrad Gozzo,
Conte and Pete Condoli, Nat Pierce, Sal Nestico, Bill
Chase, Ralph Burns, and Berklee Alumnus Alan Broadbent.

 

Tenor Sax
Tenor Sax
Tenor Sax/Flute
Baritone Sax
Trumpet
Trumpet
Trumpet
Trumpet

Personnel

Frank Tiberi Trumpet Allen Vizzutti
Joe Lovana*™ Trombone James Daniels
Charley LaGonde™* Trombone Dale Kirkland
Bruce Johnstone Trombone Ralph Lalama
Bill Byrne Piano Pat Coil

Tim Hagens Bass Harold Hollaway
Nelson Hatt Drums Dan D’Emperio
John Hoffman *Berklee alumnus