The appearance of P. Herbolzheimer's fine band "Rhythm Combination and Brass", at the 18th International Jazz Festival "Jazz Jamboree'75" in Warsaw, was a prelude to the approaching "year of big-bands", as the year 1 976 has been called in Poland. Indeed there was during it a real invasion of big-bands upon our platforms which had surpassed our wildest dreams. And what is even more important - quantity went together with quality: Woody Herman's "Thundering Herd", the bands of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, of Stan Kenton, Gil Evans and a little later - in March 1977 - Buddy Rich's "Killer Force", all of which are in the first rank of contemporary big-band jazz.
After a year of such strong emotions we are already used to the names of legendary band leaders. And yet we felt unusually excited before the two (in one day) concerts by Woody Herman's band. I do know very well Woody Herman groups - there have been many of them during the forty years since the first one was formed in 1 936; I did present their recordings on numerous occasions on the radio, I spoke about them at meetings. But the knowledge of a record is one thing and being able to hear the band at a concert - another. Well, it was the most sensational event on our jazz platforms since Duke Ellington's big--band appearance at the „Jazz Jamboree '71"!
The Warsaw concerts by Woody Herman's big-band could not only be appreciated by the most demanding music--lovers, they also succeeded in satisfying various tastes of the public: the afternoon, chamber-like concert was intended for the lovers and connoisseurs of jazz, whereas at the evening sessions it was the contemporary rock repertory that prevailed.
"That's really keeping abreast of the times!" - wrote one of the critics. "Woody Herman does not favour the idea of a museum with the relics of a great past in it. (...) He surrounds himself with young and talented musicians, owing to which a sixty three-year old clarinetist and saxophonist is able to keep his art young".
Perfection and artistry, experience and youth, the impeccable sound of particular groups of instruments and of the band as a whole, full of imagination solo parts .of young musicians, worthy successors to their great predecessors who had gottbeir initiation in the bands lead by Woody Herman: Stan Getz, Herbie Stewart, ZootSims, Jimmy Giuffre, A! Cohn, Ralph Burns, and others - that is for what Woody Herman's big-band today is noted. And he himself is in control of it all, "the coach of big--bands", as he calls himself, the virtuoso-musician who duly performs on the clarinet through his orchestra.
Transl. Ludwik Wiewiorkowski
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