PHIL WOODS & THE LA JAZZ ORCHESTRA

PHIL WOODS & THE LA JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Unheard Herd

Complete recording

Be Sure to listen to track 8. Not music but hilarious.

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

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.

Joel Hamilton

Bass, Guitar (Bass), Main Personnel

Kim Richmond

Clarinet, Clarinet (Alto), Main Personnel

Phil Woods

Composer, Flute (Alto), Main Personnel, Primary Artist, Sax (Alto)

Ron Stout

Director, Main Personnel, Primary Artist, Trumpet

David Tull

Drums, Main Personnel

Ross Tompkins

Main Personnel, Piano

Keith Bishop

Main Personnel, Reeds, Tenor Reeds

Jerry Pinter

Main Personnel, Reeds, Tenor Reeds

Bill Trujillo

Main Personnel, Reeds, Tenor Reeds

Bob Carr

Main Personnel, Reeds

Bryant Byers

Main Personnel, Trombone (Bass)

Andy Martin

Main Personnel, Trombone

Scott Shitfield

Main Personnel, Trombone

Mike McGuffey

Main Personnel, Trumpet

Carl Saunders

Main Personnel, Trumpet

Bob Summers

Main Personnel, Trumpet

Frank Szabo

Main Personnel, Trumpet

Scott Whitfield

Trombone