WOODY HERMAN & HIS ORCHESTRA - The Woody Herman Collection 1937-1956
Acrobat ADDCD3221 (Two CD Set)
A Variety of personnel recorded between 1937 & 1956 with some vocals by Woody Herman, Frances Wayne, Dolly Houston & The Four Chips
It is difficult to know which section of the CD buying public this Two CD Set is aimed at, the Woody Herman fans will already have most of these tracks and those people who wish to know more about Woody Herman will be confused by the number of vocal tracks on the album. Whoever compiled this collection would seem to have little knowledge of Woody Herman or has limited access to the recordings available.
This does not denigrate the music on the album which in some cases is the music which many people would select as some of the tracks are Herman classics.
Woodchoppers Ball, Blue Flame, Caldonia, Northwest Passage , Four Brothers and Lemon Drop are tracks you would expect to find on any collection of Woody Herman tracks.
There are some surprising and welcome inclusions on this collection for instance, Stravinsky’s “Ebony Concerto” which was written specially for the Woody Herman Orchestra is included in its entirety and “ Lady McGowan’s Dream” is another surprising choice. There are two tracks from the 1946 Carnegie Hall concert and it would have been interesting to have the complete concert.
It is the choice of so many vocal tracks that go against this release most jazz fans are happy to have a few Woody Herman Vocals included as he is a very personable vocalist but they outweigh the instrumental tracks.
Just be clear the music is fine, it is the choice of tracks which makes it impossible to recommend this release.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
Acrobat ADDCD3221 (Two CD Set)
A Variety of personnel recorded between 1937 & 1956 with some vocals by Woody Herman, Frances Wayne, Dolly Houston & The Four Chips
It is difficult to know which section of the CD buying public this Two CD Set is aimed at, the Woody Herman fans will already have most of these tracks and those people who wish to know more about Woody Herman will be confused by the number of vocal tracks on the album. Whoever compiled this collection would seem to have little knowledge of Woody Herman or has limited access to the recordings available.
This does not denigrate the music on the album which in some cases is the music which many people would select as some of the tracks are Herman classics.
Woodchoppers Ball, Blue Flame, Caldonia, Northwest Passage , Four Brothers and Lemon Drop are tracks you would expect to find on any collection of Woody Herman tracks.
There are some surprising and welcome inclusions on this collection for instance, Stravinsky’s “Ebony Concerto” which was written specially for the Woody Herman Orchestra is included in its entirety and “ Lady McGowan’s Dream” is another surprising choice. There are two tracks from the 1946 Carnegie Hall concert and it would have been interesting to have the complete concert.
It is the choice of so many vocal tracks that go against this release most jazz fans are happy to have a few Woody Herman Vocals included as he is a very personable vocalist but they outweigh the instrumental tracks.
Just be clear the music is fine, it is the choice of tracks which makes it impossible to recommend this release.
Reviewed by Roy Booth
