Woody Herman - The Old Gold Rehearsals

This CD consists of 24 numbers recorded during rehearsal in New York by the Woody Herman Orchestra for broadcasts on CDS Old Gold Cigarettes summer radio shows in 1944. The band had just undergone significant personnel changes, marking the arrival of PETE & CONTE CONDOLI on trumpets, BILL HARRIS on trombone, FLIP PHILLIPS on tenor sax and an exciting new rhythm group consisting of RALPH BURNS on piano, BILLY BAUER on guitar, CHUBBY JACKSON on bass and DAVE TOUGH on drums. This renovated Woody Herman Orchestra became known as 'The First Herd.' The repertoire consists of many Herman standards, some new tunes and popular favourites.Included are many great arrangements by Neal Hefti and Ralph Burns and the music on these rehearsal sessions reveals the Herman Orchestra well on their way to a peak of musical artistry and public acclaim