Woody Herman
Woody Herman began playing saxophone and clarinet at a very early age, as part
of his theatrical career. During his teenage years, he continued in this vein,
this time joining orchestras with which he toured. Among these was Woody Herman,
who took over the Isham Jones' Juniors in the '30s, when the ensemble was on the
verge of disbanding. A few years later, Igor Stravinsky was seduced by this
group, renamed The First Herd, for whom he composed the prestigious "Ebony
Concerto". Woody Herman then organized an orchestra that differed in its choice
of musicians, but whose name, The S...
