Woody Herman First & Second "Wild Root" Radio Sessions CD - Import

Personnel includes: Woody Herman (vocals, alto saxophone, clarinet); Frances Wayne (vocals); Sam Marowitz, John La Porta (alto saxophone); Pete Mondello, Flip Phillips (tenor saxophone); Skippy DeSair (baritone saxophone); Neal Hefti, Pete Candoli, Conte Candoli, Sonny Berman (trumpet); Bill Harris (trombone); Marjorie Hyams (vibraphone); Tony Aless (piano); Billy Bauer (guitar); Chubby Jackson (bass); Dave Tough (drums).
Recorded on October 13 & 20, 1945.
Personnel: Woody Herman (vocals, clarinet, alto saxophone); Billy Bauer (guitar); John LaPorta, Sam Marowitz (alto saxophone); Flip Phillips, Pete Mondello (tenor saxophone); Skippy de Sair (baritone saxophone); Conte Candoli, Irving Lewis, Neal Hefti, Pete Candoli, Sonny Berman (trumpet); Ralph Pfeffner, Ed Kiefer, Bill Harris Quintet (tenor trombone); Tony Aless (piano); Marjorie Hyams (vibraphone); Chubby Jackson (double bass); Dave Tough (drums).
Recording information: 10/13/1945/10/20/1945.
Arrangers: Neal Hefti; Ralph Burns.
This CD has a pair of broadcasts, the first two Wild Root radio shows by Woody Herman's orchestra, the band later known as the First Herd. The programs include some straight ballad vocals from Frances Wayne and Herman along with some not-so-hip attempts at comedy using bassist Chubby Jackson. However there are also some rousing performances along the way and, even on the straighter tunes, there are generally some colorful solos. Check out Sonny Berman's rather radical trumpet improvisation during an otherwise conventional "On The Atcheson, Topeka And The Santa Fe." With solos also from tenor-saxophonist Flip Phillips, trombonist Bill Harris, vibraphonist Marjorie Hyams and pianist Tony Aless on such tunes as "Apple Honey," "Wild Root," "Gotta Be This Or That" and "Caldonia," the First Herd, one of the finest orchestras of 1945, sounds like a band halfway between swing and bop. This excellent CD adds to its legacy. ~ Scott Yanow