The Raven Speaks (Remastered) Woody Herman

• 1 Fat Mama 04:31
• 2 Alone Again (Naturally) 05:39
• 3 Sandia Chicano 05:12
• 4 It's Too Late 04:18
• 5 The Raven Speaks 04:21
• 6 Summer Of '42 06:24
• 7 Reunion At Newport 1972 06:50
• 8 Bill's Blues 03:51
• Total Runtime 41:06

Info for The Raven Speaks (Remastered)

Always eager to reach contemporary audiences without compromising his values, Woody Herman saw to it that his repertoire included interpretations of material carefully chosen from the pop charts. In 1972, such choices were still possible, and The Raven Speaks presents Tony Klatka’s arrangement of “Watermelon Man,” Bill Stapleton’s of “It’s Too Late,” and Alan Broadbent’s of “Summer of ’42.” The band incorporated a demon trumpet section led by Al Porcino, the drumming of Joe LaBarbera, and tenor sax solos by the rising star Gregory Herbert and by Frank Tiberi, who was to take over the band following the leader’s death 15 years later. Herman himself solos brilliantly on clarinet and soprano sax.

"The best of his Fantasy releases of the '70s, this well-rounded album is highlighted by a great jam on "Reunion at Newport" and strong soloing from Herman (on soprano and clarinet), pianist Harold Danko, trumpeter Bill Stapleton and the tenors of Gregory Herbert and Frank Tiberi. The Herman orchestra performs a couple of modern ballads ("Alone Again Naturally" and "Summer of '42"), some blues and a few swinging numbers, showing off their versatility with expertise and spirit." (Scott Yanow, AMG)

Woody Herman, alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet
Alphonso Johnson, bass
John Pacheco, congas
Joe LaBarbera, drums
Harold Danko, Fender Rhodes
Pat Martino, guitar
Steve Lederer, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
Tom Anastas, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
Frank Tiberi, tenor saxophone, flute, bassoon, cowbell
Greg Herbert, tenor saxophone, piccolo flute, alto flute
Bob Burgess, trombone
Harold Garrett, trombone, bass trombone
Rick Stepton, trombone, bass trombone
Al Porcino, trumpet
Bill Byrne, trumpet
Bill Stapleton, trumpet, flugelhorn
Charles Davis, trumpet, flugelhorn
John Thomas, trumpet, flugelhorn

Produced by Ozzie Cadena

Digitally remastered

Please Note: We offer this album in its native sampling rate of 96 kHz, 24-bit. The provided 192 kHz version was up-sampled and offers no audible value!

Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles “Woody” Herman was born May 16, 1913 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was a famous big band leader, American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, and singer. His father Otto was a big influence in his early years of childhood, because Otto was in love with show business. Woody started his career as a young child singing and tap-dancing and by the time he was 12 years old he began playing clarinet and saxophone. By 1944, he had the band the First Herd. The First Herd was famous for their progressive jazz, which was heavily influenced by other famous jazz musicians Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

His most successful band Herman Band was forced to disband in 1946 and this was Herman’s only financially successful band. He left his band to be supportive of his wife and family while his wife, Charlotte Nestle who was struggling with alcoholism and pill addictions. Fans and Critics have said that the big band era ended in December 1946 when Herman’s band and seven other bands disbanded. Herman created in 1947 the Second Herd band and in the 1950s the Third Herd Band. The Third Herd had a successful tour in Europe. By the 1960s he was famous for hiring many young but stellar up incoming musicians for his Herd Bands.

By the end of the 60s his music library was heavily influenced by rock and roll. He featured brass and woodwind instruments that before this time were not associated with jazz music. Into the 1970s Herman began spreading his knowledge of music through jazz education, which eventually leant him the name as “Road Father.” He kept performing into the 1980s and he was awarded the Grammy Lifetime achievement award in 1987. Herman passed away October 29, 1987.

This album contains no booklet.