Gentlement s Quatertly

Woody Herman - Woody's Gold Star
Vinyl Rip in 24-Bit/96-kHz | FLAC tracks | no cue | no log | Covers | MU, RS, FF | 1.08 GB 3% recovery
1987 | Genre: Jazz | Label: Concord Jazz | CJ-330 | US pressing
Rated 4 out of 5 star by AllMusic Guide

Herman's final recording, made just weeks before his health began to seriously fail, is actually quite good. With future leader Frank Tiberi contributing some strong tenor solos, John Fedchock writing some colorful arrangements for a varied program (ranging from "Rose Room" and "'Round Midnight" to Chick Corea's "Samba Song"), and three guest percussionists on some of the pieces, this is an enjoyable release. Herman takes short solos on three of the pieces, recorded approximately 50 years after he formed his first successful big band. This serves as a fine closer to a significant career.

(Scott Yanow - All Music Guide)

Here's a collection of Bach pieces where the performances fit together exceptionally well. The basic sound is that of Canada's veteran Baroque ensemble Tafelmusik under violinist and director Jeanne Lamon: smooth, bright, French in its light seductiveness. Sample the almost accentless Rondeau from the Suite in A minor, a violin-and-strings transcription (and according to musicologist Joshua Rifkin a reconstruction of an original version) of the Suite in B minor for orchestra, BWV 1067; you couldn't call it gutsy, but the degree of control and consistency is impressive.