Of all the big-band leaders of the swing era,
Woody Herman went the most out of his way to interpret current material and keep his orchestra young, enthusiastic, and modern. For this Fantasy date,
Herman's band not only plays two
John Coltrane songs, but material from
Frank Zappa ("America Drinks and Goes Home"),
Stanley Clarke ("Bass Folk Song"), and even
Carole King ("Corazon"). This is one of
Herman's most successful efforts of the period, for the arrangements (by
Alan Broadbent,
Bill Stapleton, and
Tony Klatka) are inventive and generally swinging, with such soloists as
Frank Tiberi on tenor, flügelhornist
Klatka, and electric keyboardist
Andy Laverne keeping the music continually interesting. "Blues for Poland," "Lazy Bird," and the
Zappa piece are high points.