Loved Woody Herman and his bands. Got to share birthday cake with him one year when he played "Gillys" I remember when he walked out he was looking very feeble at first, this was very late in his career when he was forced to keep touring because of tax issues. But then he put the clarinet up to his lips, reared back and gave the downbeat. It was as though he lost twenty years of age in that single moment and he SWUNG his band. It was obvioius his players really loved and respected him.
JimCAP, my man Mike Brignola (Woody’s Baritonist 1980-current) told me Woody’s Clarinet (and Alto/Soprano he thinks) ended up at The Smithsonian. I went to (collections * si * edu), and searched on WOODY HERMAN CLARINET: 1. WOODY’s CLARINET: LeBlanc Paris Boehm System, 1940-1950, Gift of Jack Siefert (Woody’s dear friend) --------- Then, change search to WOODY HERMAN SAXOPHONE: ALSO, they have Woody’s ALTO + SOPRANO, also donated by Jack Siefert: 2. WOODY’s ALTO SAX: Selmer Radio Improved Super Sax, #19513, ~1934 3. WOODY’s SOPRANO SAX: LeBlanc Paris Vito Model, #17225, 1946-1950 ------------------ The problem of all this is we’re not sure if these are the last 3 horns he played. Obviously, he had several of each over the 6 decades he played. But, the 3 horns Jack Siefert donated to the Smithsonian are a good start.
Also, my Tribute to monster tenorist Sal Nistico who solos here at 2:47. => A 34 minute video compilation of 19 of his solos with Woody’s Band in 1963 & 1964 - extracted from 5 TV Shows (“Jazz Casual”, BBC/TV, and Montreal/TV). Every time I watch that man play, ALL I can do is shake my head in disbelief. To say nothing of Woody’s ‘63-64 band. Here’s to YOU, Sal. th-cam.com/video/a8Gml5uK-YI/w-d-xo.html
I also agree that Woody's 1963 and 1964 bands may in fact be the greatest bands in history. All of the 1964 album "Woody Herman:1964" is as good as it gets, every track. And "Sister Sadie" from "Woody Herman - 1963" is also essential. But let's not forget "Woody's Winners" as perhaps one of the greatest, and most frantic, live albums ever recorded. Thanks for the Sal tribute...I agree.
Here is my Tribute to the great trumpeter PAUL FONTAINE, who split the solo duties with Billy Hunt in this great Herd of the early-mid 1960’s. He solos here at 2:33. These are 9 of his Solos (videos) with The Woody Herman Thundering Herd in 1963 & 1964, extracted from 5 TV Shows (“Jazz Casual”, BBC/TV, and Montreal/TV). Here’s to YOU, Paul. th-cam.com/video/RJVrqH7pVUA/w-d-xo.html
The best Heard!
Loved Woody Herman and his bands. Got to share birthday cake with him one year when he played "Gillys" I remember when he walked out he was looking very feeble at first, this was very late in his career when he was forced to keep touring because of tax issues. But then he put the clarinet up to his lips, reared back and gave the downbeat. It was as though he lost twenty years of age in that single moment and he SWUNG his band. It was obvioius his players really loved and respected him.
Gotta give some thanks to the BBC for recording these sessions.
Let me be the first to say: THANK YOU!!!!!! A treasurable performance...wonderful discovery...........
JimCAP, my man Mike Brignola (Woody’s Baritonist 1980-current) told me Woody’s Clarinet (and Alto/Soprano he thinks) ended up at The Smithsonian. I went to (collections * si * edu), and searched on WOODY HERMAN CLARINET:
1. WOODY’s CLARINET: LeBlanc Paris Boehm System, 1940-1950, Gift of Jack Siefert (Woody’s dear friend)
---------
Then, change search to WOODY HERMAN SAXOPHONE:
ALSO, they have Woody’s ALTO + SOPRANO, also donated by Jack Siefert:
2. WOODY’s ALTO SAX: Selmer Radio Improved Super Sax, #19513, ~1934
3. WOODY’s SOPRANO SAX: LeBlanc Paris Vito Model, #17225, 1946-1950
------------------
The problem of all this is we’re not sure if these are the last 3 horns he played. Obviously, he had several of each over the 6 decades he played. But, the 3 horns Jack Siefert donated to the Smithsonian are a good start.
Also, my Tribute to monster tenorist Sal Nistico who solos here at 2:47. => A 34 minute video compilation of 19 of his solos with Woody’s Band in 1963 & 1964 - extracted from 5 TV Shows (“Jazz Casual”, BBC/TV, and Montreal/TV). Every time I watch that man play, ALL I can do is shake my head in disbelief. To say nothing of Woody’s ‘63-64 band. Here’s to YOU, Sal. th-cam.com/video/a8Gml5uK-YI/w-d-xo.html
I also agree that Woody's 1963 and 1964 bands may in fact be the greatest bands in history. All of the 1964 album "Woody Herman:1964"
is as good as it gets, every track. And "Sister Sadie" from "Woody Herman - 1963" is also essential. But let's not forget "Woody's Winners"
as perhaps one of the greatest, and most frantic, live albums ever recorded. Thanks for the Sal tribute...I agree.
DE LA HOSTIA !!!
I always have wondered what happened to Woody's Clarinet, Who has it?
Here is my Tribute to the great trumpeter PAUL FONTAINE, who split the solo duties with Billy Hunt in this great Herd of the early-mid 1960’s. He solos here at 2:33. These are 9 of his Solos (videos) with The Woody Herman Thundering Herd in 1963 & 1964, extracted from 5 TV Shows (“Jazz Casual”, BBC/TV, and Montreal/TV). Here’s to YOU, Paul. th-cam.com/video/RJVrqH7pVUA/w-d-xo.html