Woody Herman - Chick, Donald, Walter & Woodrow (1978)

The 1970s was a questionable era for a jazz big band. Groups led by Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and Woody Herman tried to encapsulate the ideas of jazz fusion while still holding true the ideas of the golden age of Big Bands of the 1940’s and 50’s. What you get are these funky, powerful, and at times, cheesy arrangements played by masterful musicians old and new. Some albums and arrangements work and are still played today, like Maynard Ferguson’s immortal version of "Chameleon", while others, well, let’s get to Chick, Donald, Walter & Woodrow.

Woody Herman is one of the most important figures in the Big Band era. In his prime, his “Heard” was one of the most popular bands of their day, mixing in sounds of the blues and bebop better than any white band at the time. Hell, Stravinsky was so impressed he wrote a piece for the band. By the 1970’s, his band was just like every other big band, trying to find work and trying to stay relevant. Throughout the 70’s, his band recored many fusion based albums of varying quality (HIGHLY recommend the album Giant Steps). by 1978 with the release of Chick, Donald, Walter & Woodrow, the Fusion sounds of the Woody Herman band had started to reach it’s last few breaths.

The album opens with a massive 19 minute, three movement piece written by Chick Corea entitled “Suite for a Hot Band”. If you dig Corea’s writing and harmonic ideas, it’s really worth your time. I really don’t know any other tunes he arranged for a large ensemble such as this and it’s a treat! The first movement is typical 70’s era Corea, writing fusion ideas for a large ensemble. Then we get to the second movement. I think what pushes this to the extreme is when Herman starts SINGING (about 9:30 in for the curious). The 3rd section of the suite is a typical Corea latin inspired tune that I keep mistaking for "Armando’s Rhumba". Overall, despite the vocals, it’s a really cool piece. If you dig Corea’s writing and harmonic ideas, it’s really worth your time.As for the rest of the album, we’re left of covers of Steely Dan tunes (mostly from Aja), and all I can say is… They Work! There’s really not too much to say, Steely Dan tunes make great jazz arrangements. A little schmaltzy, elevator music esq at times, but in theory they work.

Chick, Donald, Walter & Woodrow is comparable to a mid life crisis; trying to stay as hip as possible for fear that you’re growing old. Regardless, this album really does have a few surprises that warrant a good listen. What I always forget about the 70’s version of Herman’s band is that Joe Lovano was a member of it. I don’t why, but all throughout its existence, the Woody Herman band always had the best sax players. Even at this era of his career, Woody Herman still knew how to stack a band. Is this an immortal album that should be regarded as the return to big band jazz? Not at all! Is it an interesting novelty of the fusion era that should be given a good listen? Absolutely!