Woody Herman And The Herd – Blowin' Up A Storm!

Woody Herman And The Herd – Blowin' Up A Storm!

Blowin' Up A Storm! brings together a lively selection of recordings from the career of "Woody Herman", one of the most important bandleaders of American swing and big-band jazz. The programme combines blues, swing standards and original Herd repertoire, showcasing the powerful horn sections and energetic arrangements that became synonymous with Herman's various bands.

The collection opens with the legendary "Woodchopper's Ball", originally recorded in New York in 1939 and one of Herman's signature pieces. The recording became a major success and ultimately a jazz standard.

Several of the remaining selections come from Herman's celebrated First Herd period of the mid-1940s. "Caldonia", "Northwest Passage" and "The Good Earth" are associated with the band's 1945 Columbia sessions, while "Wildroot" and "Blowin' Up A Storm" come from the following year. These recordings feature the adventurous, hard-driving big-band style for which the First Herd became particularly renowned.

The programme also includes jazz standards such as "Lullaby Of Birdland", "Midnight Sun", "Crazy Rhythm" and "I Cover The Waterfront", giving the collection plenty of variety while retaining the characteristic swing and ensemble sound of Herman's orchestra. The result is an enjoyable snapshot of the bandleader's classic pre-1950 period, with recordings spanning approximately 1939–1946.

For collectors and listeners interested in Woody Herman, The Herd, big-band jazz, swing, classic American jazz, First Herd and 1940s jazz, Blowin' Up A Storm! offers a spirited selection of some of the orchestra's best-known repertoire.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Woodchopper's Ball
2. Caldonia
3. Lullaby Of Birdland
4. Midnight Sun
5. Northwest Passage

Side B

1. Wildroot
2. Blowin' Up A Storm
3. Crazy Rhythm
4. I Cover The Waterfront
5. The Good Earth