Woody Herman Live in England 1964.

Woody Herman is scorching one-hour concert from 1964 with the participation of one of the hottest sets themselves "Swinging Herd", including the trumpeter Bill Chase, trombonist Phil Wilson and the amazing saxophonist Sal Nistico, and drummer Jake Hanna, bassist Chuck Andrus and pianist Nat Pierce arranzherovschika . Woody and his team for the whole show, is such composition as, "Lonesome Old Town''and" After You've Gone ", as well as new original Charles Mingus" After You've Gone ".

[@ajagostinelli]

Still fresh and exciting after 60 years!

[@perrygoldstein6332]

back around 1972 or 1973 my father took to me to a racetrack. he took me that day because there was a horse running there named secretariat. there was a band playing there and the leader was a guy named woody herman. i had no clue as to who he was. i sat there with my pops just watching the band play. when they were done my pops asked me what i thought about it and i told him it was the coolest thing ever and i wish i could meet a guy like that. my pops said "let's go" and we walked up to the band as they were packing instruments and stuff and my pops said "hey woody, my son wants to meet you". he walked up to us and i was telling him how much i liked hearing them play. he was a very gracious guy. i asked him "how do i get to do this kind of thing"? he said, "well kid, we can always use a good bass player". i had just graduated from elementary school to JHS and i told my pops i wanted a bass for a graduation present. the next day he took me with my mom, bought me a bass and an amplifier and paid for lessons. I was a terrible music student. i could not learn to read music. i quit taking lessons and started playing by ear. i switched to guitar when i was 14. i also learned the mandolin, flute, sax, clarinet and some basic keyboards. i've made a decent buck playing in bands and doing studio work but always had a day job. i'm 55 now and still go do open mikes and that sort of thing. you never can tell how a chance meeting with someone can affect the rest of your life. THANKS FOR THE 1O MINUTES OF YOUR TIME WOODY.

[@katella12]

was it the Saratoga racetrack? If so, I attended that performance.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Great share!

[@jimcapone2593]

Have the great pleasure to know Paul Fontaine and Phil Wilson. The stories they can tell!

[@DavidWilliams-sp8gv]

Haha my Teacher Gary Klien next to Sal Nestico. Gary would solo next to me on Super Sax Bird Blues and he almost blew me off my chair. He had a platinum coated Tenor that was like a bullhorn yet rippin' and like Thors hammer icicles or somthin'. God! I left those sessions flyin' on a meteor. OMG.

[@orchplayers]

Great post - thanks for sharing the memory!

[@gregdolecki8530]

He was my teacher for 1 year at WCSU in Danbury. He used to talk about Sal and this performance.

[@user-fb3vd8yn5i]

I bet you could feel the vibration coming from Bill Chase.

[@saxsolos9]

Sal Nistico is a often overlooked highly under-rated player.

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

He gets me choked up.

[@Rasplata5]

Yeah, he was great.

[@jacobruiz97]

Such a shame a Coltrane-level player was lost in obscurity.

[@saxsolos9]

@@jacobruiz97 I would have loved to have seen a tenor battle between him and Tubby Hayes. Can you imagine?!

[@nealbfinn]

I agree. He was always known as a sideman rather than a leader. He was "Woody Herman's jazz tenor soloist". He was content with that, I guess. Fortunately for us, he laid down a lot of tracks for us to enjoy.

[@geraldheidel8523]

This period is one of the finest of the great Herman bands. I never had the opportunity to hear the 1964 band in person but did have the pleasure of of knowing and playing alongside two members of later Herman sidemen, trombonist Bob Stroup and several years later bassist Joe Cripps. If only we could experience those days again. Woody Herman and all the great alumni of his bands are truly missed.

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

I got to see him at the Palomino Club in N. Hollywood around 1985 and he cooked. He extended his hand when I held mine out. Very gracious man.

[@pgroove163]

these cats in the band sound like they are as good as many of the famous top players of the day

[@davidfernandez5012]

one of the most dangerous bands that ever existed in the history of american music r.i.p.woody herman.

[@grahamlyons8522]

'Dangerous' Love it!

[@daven8905]

One of the greatest bands of all time. So underrated.

[@247hdjazz]

Played in this band in 67!

[@peterbouchier751]

Which band did you not play in? ;)

[@txcyclist57]

I'm trying to find info on a drummer who played with the Thundering Herd in the late 40's (Vic Dery). Did you ever happen to cross paths? I'd love to find a recording with him on it, but haven't had any luck yet. I know he also played with Billy Holiday and Stan Getz at some time during his career before ending up in Florida with his own trio including Red Matthews on bass and Perri Deane on piano.

[@247hdjazz]

txcyclist57 I'd not heard of him until you mentioned the name… I did a quick online search and he came up tied in to Boston, and one guy studied with him in Tampa Bay……not too much on this guy, although from the comments he seems to be quite a good drummer…Thanks for trying to find him…I wish a few people (not bill collectors) would try and find me….lol!

[@txcyclist57]

Thanks for the reply Rich. I have his old ride cymbal, and I'm trying to learn some of the old stuff he used to play in his honor. All the best to you!

[@247hdjazz]

txcyclist57 His cymbal! That's a symbol of friendship! Very cool! I have tons of memories, similar to that…which eventually will be in my book…stay with it! Kindly, Rich

[@pauletheridge2412]

God bless the person who miked the bass.

[@robertdugmore5190]

Also the director.One of the best directed TV music shows ever.

[@PaulMcConahy-ir6ju]

I was in the US Airforce stationed at Elgin AFB in 1954 and saw a fantastic performance by one of Woody’s early bands. Got to meet some of the band and Woody in his dressing room at Intermission. What a perfect gentleman he was . Unforgettable as you can tell. I am nearly 90 YOA now but remember it like it was last week.

[@keithk.3963]

‘63 & ‘64… swingin’ their a**es off and tight. Can’t say enough about Chase and the trpt section. Incredible.

[@ericdreizen1463]

Woody's band - the BEST! And Jake behind those Slingerlands! Can't beat it!

[@kennethcollins2813]

Thanks to the BBC for recording this and keeping on record the best of all the Herman Bands

[@Super241946]

Outta this world....I need oxygen............

[@peterfeltham5612]

Nobody swung quite like Woody,

[@Firebrand55]

The Band is sensational yes........but also is Woody's gentle presenting, a lesson to all presenters today who simply have to overtalk themselves. This film is fabulous with amazing soloists at the peak of their powers....and mercifully, no guitars which virtually replaced all these wonder musicians. Sal Nistico, tenor, was supurb with sublime fingering and phrasing........and to think many today have never even heard of Woody and his Band........but I have for 60 years!

[@JonErikKellso]

Boy do I miss Jake Hanna--wonderful!

[@jas026able]

Here's to Jake: Dorchester, 3-families and the Sox!

[@arame29]

Insane tempo My arms fall off trying to keep up without sticks on opening number

[@MrGary164]

Well, folks . . . I met drummer Jake Hanna at a hotel lounge in Orange, CA, in "82. Told him I was studying with a prominent teacher in Pasadena, whom he knew well. He said, "Keep at it---we need all the troops we can get in our army!" A different way of stating the fact . . . JAZZ accounts for only 3% of American music sales! We are small, but MIGHTY! Gary / July '14

[@Tatman1212]

Phil Wilson's solo was mind shattering!

[@arame29]

He was a great arranger too Did Mercy Mercy, Basically Blues and Mr Lucky for Biddy Rich when he taught at Berklee

[@jonathanparker7551]

Phil Wilson played around Boston for years, sometimes formed his own big bands while teaching at NE Conservatory and Berkelee. He is still kicking’ at 83.

[@TheEddieLandsberg]

I like how intensely Woody listens to his soloists. He must have been an incredibly supportive and nurturing leader.

[@Jacques5646]

Met the whole band here in Switzerland, decades ago. They all, young and old, loved Woody

[@DavidWilliams-sp8gv]

@@Jacques5646 Wood was a fantastic arranger. Here we see the herd doing Mingus "better git in your soul"

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

He's getting a super-natural high off of 'em

[@grantharrismusic]

Nah. He's just listening for wrong notes so that he can dock their pay.

[@joelane6006]

Eddie, he not only listened to the soloists closely, when we’re new on the band, he would come over and stand near us to listen to the section blend. Luckily, I was at home with almost half the band, which was with me at Berkkee eight years earlier!!! Great guys and friends!!

[@bobthompson3739]

Woody's best outfit, safe to call it an all star band, swinging like the clappers and generating effortless excitement.

[@arame29]

In 1964, the year the Beatles came to America, this band went to England and levitated I never heard this much power and accuracy in any jazz orchestra. Stocked wilith such depth of talent Nistico and Romano went on to play with Buddy Rich Nat Pierce played with Basie Bill Chase started a Blood Sweat and Tears type band Phil Wilson became a top flight artranger, did Mercy Mercy for Buddy Rich and Mancini's Mr Lucky, an unbelievable chart

[@otmq]

Lol, Chase’s band “Chase” was WAY BEYOND what BST did.

[@Joshualbm]

Jeez, what the hell happened to music? This is ferociously amazing.

[@brianbyrne437]

Joshua Klein u

[@ktlofland]

Some of the finest players you will EVER hear!!

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

Bunch of ferrel cats..swingin

[@d4rk1ze95]

Music has gotten on a significant decline after Jazz was left in the dust. You barely hear anything Jazz related nowadays in main stream media

[@Joshualbm]

@@d4rk1ze95 It's part of the great dumbing down.

[@Mephistocephalic]

Sal Nistico! Good God!

[@brianmccarthy714]

My dad introduced me to Woody. What a legend. I was 15 and he offered me a job to be his personal assistant.

[@denniskitchen3523]

As a high school student, I had the pleasure of seeing the "63" band. Essentially the same band here. A "life changing experience".

[@ludwig26]

I'm Billy Hunts son-in law (also a musician). This is AMAZING stuff to watch & appreciate. It's great dad is visible in a lot of the footage. BTW, I'm a drummer & Jack Hanna is amazing!

[@Efendi_Bass]

The talent of gathering so many talents together. And also the talent of playing clarinet. Despite some opinions, Woody was huge on clarinet. His sound is unique.

[@ajagostinelli]

What else might y'awl listen and watch on a rainy day in New England...a few northeastern players on that band...you know the players...

[@Dobie_Gillis]

You better have a good set of lungs to blow for Woody. These guys could have run a marathon!

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

I just had open-heart. My wife bought me a CONN 10 M right before I went under the jig-saw. My poor neighbors!

[@KB4QAA]

These guys are scorching hot. Woody at his best! Thanks.

[@rickpierotti2676]

Sal was an animal! Greatest tenor sax ever.

[@JazzMaven]

DAYAM! Phil Wilson!!!

[@dsinnn]

This band blows the windows out. Thanks for posting.

[@Retrographer]

Phil Wilsons trombone solo at 12.25 is just out of this world!. What an intro !!

[@gregd3551]

I watched this a few times and realized that Gary Klein is playing tenor. He plays the solo on Sig Ep. He was my sax teacher in 1982 at Western Connecticut State University. He taught there in the early 80's. Great guy and player. This band was amazing.

[@VvjoCh]

Such an incredible level big band playing! One of the best Herds of Woody Herman.

[@loumcconnell503]

And the I.R.S. hounded Woody to an early grave because his band manager embezzled the tax monies, bastards !

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

They really make you think long and hard about that musicianship thing.

[@davidcarson1959]

The "Great" Bill Chase!

[@pgroove163]

so many incredible cats came out of Woody Herman's bands...

[@DavidWilliams-sp8gv]

That is Gary Klein on second tenor playing with Sal. I was in a sax quintet with Gary back in the late 90's. Having him standing right next to me while he was soloing was absolutely mind blowing. We played a lot of Super-sax stuff. I would leave the studio on Cloud 9 after a session and then some. Wow! Gary also had his masters in music for piano. We (just us two) would just break out a fake book and start playing tunes. People would stop in and thought it was a live recording. My favorite to play was Clifford Brown's "Joy of Spring."

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Pretty effing cool hearing stories like that. Great share!

[@oldfashionedphil]

Just superb. I'm so pleased that this band existed and we have this amazing footage to enjoy over and over. Great stuff.

[@zipptag5538]

Mind blowing! R.I.P. Woody...Thank you!

[@andrewhooker8798]

Sal Nistico, he who had indestructible chops! Good lord these guys could play...

[@genehull2071]

A virtuoso band at the height of it's incredible energy.... and Woody's tempos! Sal Nistico was a young player with uncanny technique. What an awesome treat this set is! Gene Hull

[@bobcurrier7983]

Hello Gene, How are you doing?

[@gregdolecki8530]

According to Gary Klein Sal was always practicing.

[@bullshttttttt]

Woody was the absolute best big band.

[@acedrumminman]

Sal Nistico is insane!

[@arame29]

Died too young Played with Buddy Rich in small group 74

[@DavidWilliams-sp8gv]

I played in a sax quintet with Gery Klien who is the 2nd tenor-man, You had to be phenomenal to play in that band.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

@@DavidWilliams-sp8gv Do you mean Gary Kline? My dad used to speak of him.

[@DavidWilliams-sp8gv]

@@rudolphguarnacci197 Yes, Gary. Taught me more theory and big band stuff than you could shake a reed at! Great guy, true mentor. So was Dr. Ruben from Gene Krupa's Band. I studied with both and Dick Dirlam, Best Classical alto player on the planet.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

@@DavidWilliams-sp8gv Heavy cats. You ever hear of a tenor man named Bobby Jones?

[@210caulfield]

Jake driving the bus with just two cymbals and four drums but with his technique that's all he needed.Wonderful.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

More with less wins out every time.

[@laurihuuskonen2719]

HOT DAMN what a BAND!

[@onceovereasy1529]

Saw Woody many times at the Palais Royale in Toronto. This particular band was a cooker...strong cats like Bill Chase and Sal Nistico and Jake on drums...hell of a band man! Miss ya Woody..great great memories.

[@footstompinleroyscott6892]

Banging. Relentless hard driving jazz playing of the highest standard.

[@barrycraven9385]

I saw this great orchestra at Birmingham (England)town hall in 1964, and subsequently bought the two vinyl LP’s “Woody Herman 1963 and Woody Herman 1964” which I still have.

[@Hornman64]

Wonderful Herd! Herman fan since the sixties. This group is really cooking! In subsequent years I enjoyed discovering his Blues period and other performances from the 30's.

[@bramowitz]

Great live recording by one of Woody's most swingin' herds. Sal Nistico's work On "Sister Sadie" and "Hallelujah Time" are timeless.

[@philmoseley2259]

Man, that bass player is in a groove all his own for that first song, but I gotta go to bed now

[@DiegoFerreira-ok1wl]

Wonderful bassist.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Chuck Andrus.

[@moses_irl]

That bassist deserves much more credit.

[@ScaryL]

That bassist is great but he needs to turn down.

[@ThatDudeJCrash]

Larry Scala Turn down for what?

[@Rickriquinho]

He is just fantastic!

[@DiegoFerreira-ok1wl]

He is amazing.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

@@ThatDudeJCrash Larry has no clue what he's talking about.

[@ElMonoLescano]

Jake Hanna.. What a DRUMMER!!!!!!!!.. 100% swing, big band drive specialist ...guauuuuu!

[@garysaddleback]

Well, folks . . . as another pointed out, we should be grateful to the BBC for preserving this great session. Lot's of "camera-angle" planning involved. Billy Hunt's trumpet on "Wine & Roses" is sweet. And Andrus on bass makes your jaw drop. Oddly though, Woody fails to credit the composer of "Better Get 'Hit In Your Soul", the gifted, difficult Charles Mingus. I've been searching for the modern---UNCENSORED---version of his blistering auto-biography, "Beneath The Underdog." Gary in Arizona

[@thedamndiz2343]

Yes Andrus!!! What the fuck!????? Driving the fuck outta the band! I love bass players like this!

[@user-tu2zb3qg4y]

fantastique big band j adore❤❤❤😅😅😅😅

[@nelsonpenaranda2745]

Inspirador GRAN RIQUEZA CREATIVA

[@jamesf1525]

There was no better band performing during this era. Wilson, Nistico, Chase, Hanna, Pierce - that's an A-list lineup. And the rest of the band held their won with any other.

[@daveyboy731]

this brings back memories iwas lucky enough to see Woody Herman herd in concert at the DOME Brighton what a tremendous that was Sal Nistico was superb

[@henridelagardere264]

00:00 [01] After You've Gone 03:02 [02] Sig Ep 07:15 [03] That's Where It Is 10:37 [04] Lonesome Old Town 14:40 [05] Sister Sadie 18:09 [06] Better Git It In Your Soul 23:16 [07] Hallelujah Time 26:30 [08] Don't Get Around Much Anymore 31:09 [09] Jazz Me Blues 34:23 [10] Days of Wine and Roses 37:58 [11] Four Brothers 41:21 [12] To Sum It Up 46:36 [13] Caldonia

[@Johnnycdrums]

Thank you.

[@gregd3551]

This band was so good it brings tears to eyes. So good to hear the bass clearly, what an excellent recording. Who are the 35 brain-dead twits who gave this thumbs-down??

[@Jacques5646]

The show was taped by the BBC, definitely the reference TV network

[@scrunchymacscruff1244]

Woody had it figured out: If you want the kind of dance music YOU like to dance to, you better make it yourself.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

Damn right.

[@mslindafreeman]

I had the pleasure of meeting Woody in the mid eighties, his band was performing at Doc Severinsen's in Oklahoma City. Woody's band in '64 was as good as it gets. The rhythm section was amazing with Jake Hanna and bassist Chuck Andrus. Brass was fabulous and arrangements were great! Thanks to the BBC and to the musicians who made this happen for without their talents this music would never have been heard.

[@stixkubwa]

mslinda freeman Great to give credit to the video and audio teams at the BBC. Their appreciation of the live performance and presentation is second to none. The “Jazz 625” productions of the 1960s promoted the best of great jazz and are in the archives now.

[@margaretm.baptiste6268]

Fran, as I told Ronnie Drumm yesterday, when Chuckie (the arm) /Andrus, came off the road from Woody's band (with cancer) he and I became paralegals for Andy and he played bass with my small and big bands as well as doing many jazz things with Andy. Chuckie was a great guy. Donnie ,

[@bobcurrier7983]

Hello Margaret, How are you doing?

[@user-tg3qh1gu1w]

Это просто фантастика не могу сразу придти в себя

[@Bill30273]

Just absolutely the very best.

[@jazzibo1]

What a great joy to hear this wonderful music from when i was in some of the happiest days of my life.Thanks for making it possible to bring back such fond memories. Eugene

[@nealbfinn]

Damn Sal Nistico was such a badazzzzz!

[@SheridanJazz]

Sure was. For me, the real star was Jake Hanna. I worked with Jake off and on from 1988 until shortly before his death in 2010. The man had no peers.

[@nealbfinn]

The way Jake and Chuck "The Hand" Andros drove those fast tempos was classic. Andros eventually quit the business and became a postal carrier in Las Vegas.

[@arame29]

SheridanJazz. My hands get tired just trying to tap along to that flag wave number

[@rayjr62]

Sal Nistico made a deal with the devil. No one knows what Sal got, but the devil got some lessons on how to play the tenor saxophone.

[@nealbfinn]

But I'll bet he still can't play anywhere as good as Sal.

[@artisticpianos]

1964....What an AMAZING BAND!!!!

[@gabedoesmusic]

Most of these people are dead... RIP Absolutely amazing musicians

[@dharkomens]

jesus mother of joseph this is magnificant

[@bernhardbruening7546]

Ich finde nicht genug Worte um meine Begeisterung auszudruecken!! Fantastische Musiker

[@Dobie_Gillis]

Woody Herman the music machine!

[@georgelyman3519]

Sal Nistico; a true master of his instrument!

[@misslindacjones2392]

Jake Hanna .............that guy was the stuff!

[@hughn1]

We saw this band three years in a row at the Biloxi USO at around the same year this video was made. Most of the crowd was composed of young Air Force personnel and their girls. The performances were tailored to dance arrangements. I would've loved to see them playing some of the charts they used in this performance. As it was the crowd seemed to enjoy it very much. Every once in a while the band got loose with a hard swinging number to my delight.

[@BH21206]

Woody really liked playing those extra fast beat tunes-twas quite good at it (band too) R I P Woody .

[@tedroe7621]

Holy Moly, Chuck Andrus on bass! He's got some fast fingers.

[@aarondyer.pianist]

My first exposure to Woody Herman was hearing the 1964 Herd perform "My Favorite Things" on the radio back in 1974. Later, I saw Woody Herman live in Cincinnati in 1979. That band was nothing compared to the 1964 group, which I seriously think is his best ever. Jake Hanna is a great musician and you can hear his humor in his playing.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

I agree. Carmen Leggio duels Nistico on Hallelujah Time on the album Woody Herman: 1964 and plays much more articulately and creatively than Nistico. Bill Chase, Billy Hunt, Dusko Goykevich in the trumpets, Jack Nimitz' baritone. Burns my needle up every time i play that album.

[@hawkrider88]

Joe and Sal just killing it!

[@cjgaddy]

Awesome!!! THANKS for posting!! The Herman Herd!!!! L-R: TPTS: Billy Hunt, Danny Nolan, Bill Chase, Gerald Lamy, Paul Fontaine - - BONES: Kenny Wenzel, Phil Wilson, Henry Southall - - SAXES: Tom Anastas(b), Gary Klein, Joe Romano, Sal Nistico - - P: Nat Pierce, B: Chuck Andrus, D: Jake Hanna - - After You’ve Gone, Sig Ep, That’s Where It Is, Lonesome Old Town, Sister Sadie, Better Git It In Your Soul, Hallelujah Time, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, Jazz Me Blues, Days Of Wine And Roses, Four Brothers, To Sum It Up, Caldonia

[@FearlessDreamer3]

Thanks for the band info!!!!!!

[@DavidWilliams-sp8gv]

Studied with Gary Klein, best teacher I ever had. He had bird transcriptions of BOP, coleman green dolphin and many others that he did himself and they were spot on. We had a quintet and when he would solo on top of us slouches, GOD! he would rip it!

[@KeithHedger]

I had an ensemble led by Paul Fontaine when I was at Berklee. Great guy, helluva trumpet player......

[@EndangeredMooseknuckle]

What a legendary group of musicians Woody had here... Thanks for this upload!

[@D.N..]

loved every minute of this session. it must have been an awesome experience to hear it live. this music is so sharp so clear so much better than the stuff out today

[@onejagjeff]

It was an awesome experience.

[@davidosnowitz7084]

Sal Nistico was a monster! Hallelujah!

[@retrorocker44]

I'm in Heaven !

[@WilfriedBerk]

Great era !

[@drumstix20]

Oh my, thanks for the post. Dam, what a great band. Jake was something else for sure. I had the pleasure of drumming with Chuck Andrus the last 10 years of his life .Loved him. I believe that's Kenny W. on T-bone. Worked with Kenny here in FL. with Lou Colombo. Kenny's a wonderful bass player as well. Keep the big bands alive.

hoho! this is so good! whoa!!! SWING IT BABY! YEAH!

[@cpcattin]

In the fall of 1972 one of the high schools in Juanita Washington (suburb of Bellevue) sponsored Stan Kenton’s band. Unfortunately, Stan was working a lounge in Boise (apparently) so…… Nat Pierce was there to cover for Stan. I was 18, sat at the bottom row of the bleachers. The piano was right there. 👇 I was so lucky to be around for the last serving of true big band music. Woody !!! The Band that plays the Blues !

[@BigBassDaddy01]

That is one smokin' concert!

[@ConwayT91]

i absolutely love this show!!

[@Hornman64]

Great band and all. That period is when I became a real fan of Herman and bought several albums that are classics to me.

[@MikeNoonan-qp4ye]

Swinging!!!

[@stevenewmanwriter7926]

Saw Woody's band in concert many times in the '60s. Brilliant video.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

I'm quite envious.

[@gustavotblanco]

A m a z i n g ! ... thank you very much !

[@Malcura]

Damn that’s good