This music consists of 25 tunes (73 minutes) of previously unreissued radio broadcasts made between 1944 and 1947. At this time The Woody Herman Orchestra was comprised of musicians who came to be called the famous first Herd. These included such jazz stars as trumpeters Shorty Rogers and the Candoli Brothers, trombonist Bill Harris, pianist Jimmy Rowles, vibraphonist Red Norvo and vocalists Mildred Bailey and Jo Stafford. Almost all the tunes were arranged by the prominent arrangers Ralph Burns, Neal Hefti and Shorty Rogers. The music exhibits plenty of verve and enthusiasm, imaginative voicings and arrangements, a roaring big band sound and non-stop SWING. The Woody Herman Orchestra was in its prime during this period, being edged out of first place in the Esquire Jazz Awards by Duke Ellington.
