Woody, the Herd and one blazing white suit.

Listen/Download -Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd – Crosswind

Greetings all.

Welcome to another week here at the funk ranch.

I hope all is well with you and yours.

I wanted to get the week started with something funky, but also a little jazzy, and then I thought “cover-y, too” so I went digging in the Funky16Corners Digital Funk Silo, plugged the coordinates into the GPS and arrived at the track you see before you today, Woody Herman’s version of ‘Crosswind’.

Originally recorded (and composed) by drummer Billy Cobham in 1974 on his ‘Crosswinds’ LP, the tune is one of the finer examples of jazz funk from the era.

I’ve gone on the record in this space (and other places as well) about my love for late-period Woody Herman.

Though he was an acknowledged jazz master for his work with the original Thundering Herd(s), Herman kept big bands going long past the time when most folks thought it financially and artistically feasible, and he did it well.

His late 60s/early 70s sessions for Cadet, done with the assistance of folks like Richard Evans show that Herman was able to stay relevant, keeping his head and ears in the game.

His version of ‘Crosswind’ was recorded at Montreux in 1974 and appeared on the (self-explanatory) ‘Herd at Montreux’ LP, which also features a very groovy, funky reworking of Aaron Copland’s ‘Fanfare for the Common Man’.

The arrangement is very funky, with lots of electric piano, bass and drums, as well as soaring brass.

I was surprised when I picked up this album and realized that I knew almost none of the players, though it was cool to see that Herman still had Richard Evans arrangement of ‘Can’t Get Next To You’ in his book.

It’s a fine example of early-70s jazz funk and I hope you dig it.

See you on Wednesday.

 

Peace

Larry

 

 

 

 

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One Response to “Woody Herman and the Thundering Herd – Crosswind”

1. Stu says:

   January 30, 2012 at 2:28 pm

   Hey Larry,

   Just swung by for a bit of F16C and IL goodness to brighten up the start to my week – and what a selection of tasty treats I have discovered!

   Thanks as always Larry.

   You da man (as the kids don’t say any more)!

   Stu, Glasgow, Scotland