Album Review

Scott Yanow [allmusic.com]

At the 1959 Monterey Jazz Festival, Woody Herman headed an all-star orchestra that served as the house band for the weekend in addition to performing its own sets. The lineup is quite remarkable, including Herman on clarinet or alto, both Al Porcino and Bill Chase on first trumpets, Conte Candoli and Ray Linn taking trumpet solos, trombonist Urbie Green, Victor Feldman on piano and vibes, guitarist Charlie Byrd, bassist Monty Budwig, drummer Mel Lewis, baritonist Med Flory, and the tenors of Zoot Sims, Don Lanphere, Bill Perkins, and Richie Kamuca. Nearly every one of these players is featured in one spot or another. The saxes have a workout on ''Four Brothers,'' ''Monterey Apple Tree'' is a renamed ''Apple Honey,'' Urbie Green is in the spotlight on ''Skylark,'' and the three other numbers keep the momentum flowing during a relatively brief program that does not quite reach 36 minutes. No less than 11 soloists are heard here, with Zoot Sims clearly inspiring the others. Exciting music.