Woody Herman Featuring Stan Getz

AMG Review of Woody Herman Featuring Stan Getz

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

This CD has highlights from what was originally a two-LP set taken from the 40th anniversary Carnegie Hall concert of Woody Herman. That event was most notable for having sets featuring alumni and the current version of the Woody Herman Orchestra. Despite the impressive personnel, not everything came off that well ("Four Brothers" is just so-so), and Herman's tendency to introduce soloists while they are playing is a bit intrusive. The only New Thundering Herd features to make it to this CD reissue are "Fanfare for the Common Man" and a lengthy "Blues in the Night"; tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano has spots on both numbers. Stan Getz is showcased on "Blue Serge," "Early Autumn," and "Blue Getz." Flip Phillips makes his only significant appearance on "Sweet and Lovely," and there are cameos from tenors Jimmy Giuffre, Al Cohn, and Zoot Sims, as well as pianists Ralph Burns and Jimmy Rowles, with the closing "Caldonia" being taken way too fast. There are some worthwhile moments along the way (Getz plays quite well), but this concert fell short of being the classic event it could have been.