Search - Woody Herman :: Woody Herman's Finest Hour

Exultant music, frustrating corporate decisions...

Peter A. Sokolowski | Northampton, MA USA | 05/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"FIRST things first. The digitally remastered stereo recording of "Mo-lasses" is worth the price of this CD all by itself. This is one of the great recordings in big band jazz, a felicitous mix of perfect groove with hipness, discipline with abandon, fire with control. A superb sound and a superb performance -- one of the exultant moments in recorded jazz.But why, oh why, does Universal (ex- Polygram) only reissue this music in inscrutable dribs and drabs??? Context: the Philips recordings of the Woody Herman "Swingin' Herd" were a renaissance professionally and musically for the Chopper. Grammies and accolades followed the tremendous recordings of this band, which featured Sal Nistico, Nat Pierce, Bill Chase, Phil Wilson, and Jake Hanna. But not one of the albums he made for the label (1962-1964) has ever been reissued intact. Not one.However, on the excellent "Jazz Masters," Verve released a great and welcome sampler. A teaser. Between that and the earlier "Compact Jazz," we now have three different issues of "Caldonia" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." Both classics and great performances by this alchemically perfect combination of inspiration, charts, players, and recorded sound.But there is so much more, including (presumably) plenty from the three nights spent taping at Basin Street East. Where is it?? Why are the same handful of tunes constantly recycled when dozens of tracks remain unreissued since the early 60s -- many unreleased altogether?? Mosaic Records, can you hear me????Two other notes: the intro to "Leo the Lion" is lopped off through inattention and incompetence. If the engineers need a complete copy of this (already) digitally remastered tune, they should just go to their own "Compact Jazz" reissue. Or email me if you'd like to borrow my copy. Come on, folks. Get with the program and shame on you. Also, despite the careful liner notes, I couldn't hear Woody singing on "Blues on Parade." Even when I listened twice."