Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 03/14/2006
At one of the memorable
West Coast jazz festivals organized by
Ken Poston, altoist
Phil Woods was teamed with a specially assembled big band to perform the "Unheard Herd," selections played but not recorded by
Woody Herman's Second Herd. Actually though, of the eight numbers that were performed, only three fit into that category, since four of the songs were recorded by
Herman and
"My Old Flame" is a feature for
Woods with the rhythm section. No matter, for
Woods plays brilliantly throughout, the band put together by trumpeter
Ron Stout is excellent, and the many soloists, which include trumpeter
Carl Saunders,
Stout, the full sax section, trombonists
Scott Whitfield and
Andy Martin, and pianist
Ross Tompkins, add a great deal to the music. There is plenty of good spirit both in the playing and the storytelling by
Stout and
Woods.
Phil Woods' four-minute monologue is full of funny stories, including some involving
Al Cohn and
Gene Quill. Highly recommended.
~Scott Yanow, All Music Guide