| | |  | Big Dance Bands | Home » » » 20th Century Jazz Masters: Woody Herman & His Swingin' Herd | | | | | | | Description: | | Exceptional release featuring Woody Herman captured live on three separate American TV programs in the 60s. With The Band That Plays The Blues, showcasing Sal Nistico, Nat Pierce, Bill Chase. | | | Product Details: | | | Format:
| DVD, Import, NTSC | | Language:
| English | | Number of Discs:
| 1 | | Studio:
| 20th Cent Jazz Mast. | | Run Time:
| 90 minutes | | DVD Release Date:
| July 08, 2003 | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 2 reviews |
| | | | Used and New: | | | |
| All | |
| $4.87 | New | | | $4.90 | New | | | $7.91 | New | | | $7.92 | New | | | $7.93 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.94 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Mint | | | $9.59 | New | | | $11.94 | New | | | $13.48 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $14.81 | Used
- Mint | | | $14.81 | New | | | $14.89 | New | | | $18.98 | New | | | $18.98 | Used
- Mint | | | $119.99 | New | |
| New | |
| $4.87 | New | | | $4.90 | New | | | $7.91 | New | | | $7.92 | New | | | $9.59 | New | | | $11.94 | New | | | $13.48 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | New | | | $14.81 | New | | | $14.89 | New | | | $18.98 | New | | | $119.99 | New | |
| Used | |
| $7.93 | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.94 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- VeryGood | | | $7.95 This item is eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. | Used
- Mint | | | $14.81 | Used
- Mint | | | $18.98 | Used
- Mint | |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 2 customer reviews )
Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Enjoyable Herman on Jazz CasualAug 29, 2011
By jazznut
This DVD collects three Woody Herman appearances on Jazz Casual circa 1963-64. The arrangements and soloists (including Sal Nistico and Phil Wilson) are top-notch, and there's even a short and fascinating rehearsal segment. 90 minutes total of great big band jazz. Please note that the information on the DVD case indicates that saxophonist Bobby Jones is in the band for the first two shows, but it looks like he's only on the first show, with Carmen Leggio having replaced him for two and three. (This is the same Bobby Jones who briefly made a name for himself a few years later as a member of the band of Charles Mingus.) Lastly, dig Jake Hanna, a great big band drummer!
90 wonderful minutes of Woody Herman's Swingin' HerdApr 29, 2011
By Gary Coffrin
This superb DVD is a collection of three episodes of Jazz Casual, dating from 1963-64. The show was hosted by critic Ralph Gleason on the old public NET network (the predecessor to PBS). Interestingly, Woody Herman was the only guest to appear more than once.
The Woody Herman big band released a series of exciting live albums in the 1960s. They usually featured hard hitting arrangements from Herman's younger players as well as the always swinging arrangements of pianist Nat Pierce. It's worth noting the Pierce performed most of the functions of musical director during these years.
Program 1 has the Herman Herd at its swinging best. The band has superb soloists in each section: Bill Chase plays powerful trumpet, sounding musical even when playing at stratospheric heights; trombonists Phil Wilson stuns with speed, technique and range; tenor man Sal Nistico has the virtuosity of a Jimmy Dorsey. Chase's arrangement of El Toro Grande lets Sam Nistico wail, and drummer Jake Hanna propels and solos masterfully. This episode is 29+ minutes of energy and blowing.
Program 2 focuses on ballads, including performances of A Taste of Honey (made famous by Herb Alpert), Satin Doll and Mood Indigo. Here the pace is slower, the sound more traditional. Still Herman, like Basie, can swing and have jazz content on even the slow numbers. Every number has plenty of room for solos. The band was playing many college dates at the time, usually featuring a concert section followed by three or four sets of music for dancing. This episode helps give insights into the more mellow side of the Herd and its soloists.
Program 3 starts with a couple Bill Holman charts. The amiable Herman credits his arrangers here and elsewhere. Herman never tries to hog the spotlight and solos on alto more than clarinet.
As always, the band's focus is on swing and melody, but with Herman's eagerness to do new things - play popular tunes of the time, allow young sidemen to contribute to the book, improvise with invention. The Herman band was unique, but closer to Basie then Ellington. This band has great players and plenty of room to solo. Additionally, Herman allows a few bop elements into arrangements and solos, and the band tackles rhythms with more complexity than the normal 4/4 of earlier swing.
These TV episodes features one of Herman's best groups. This congregation never bores. This was in no small part due to a swinging rhythm section. Drummer Jake Hanna is always tasteful, always swinging. Hanna combined the versatility of Dave Tough and the kick of Sonny Payne. Pianist Nat Pierce punctuates in exactly the right places, and he has the chops to impress when he takes a rare solo. Bass player Chuck 'Charlie the Arm' Andrus swings like mad on his solos - and then you notice he plays with perfect drive all the time. This is Herman's strongest rhythm section in decades, maybe ever.
Bottom Line: A delightful bargain for Herman and big band fans - 90 minutes of live performances for under $15 (April 2011). Fidelity is excellent. The picture quality is typical for 1960s B&W television. Only side 2 (NTSC format) is designed for USA players - flip over your DVD if it will not play.
| | |
|
