We've already outlined a general history of jazz by strolling down the many highways and byways of its different styles during the first fifty years of its life; now we're going to propose another approach to this music, the most popular and creative of the 20th century, and incidentally, one that's still continuing to develop, though in a different manner. We'll be offering a chronological approach to the life and music of some great jazzmen. There are already several anthologies and compilations in this world to do with jazz and those who are part of it, but we wanted to take a different approach and go one step further if possible. We'll be following our selected artists into every corner of their life, their critical and popular successes, anything unusual or innovatory they introduced, all in their order of composition; another "extra" with us will be the sound which will be cleaned and restored. So here goes. Jazz to listen to, accept, listen to again, appreciate, think about. For these are the high points of a musical story belonging to the 20th century that's still relevant fifty years later. Andre Francis (Jazz Characters creator)

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Muskrat Ramble (E. Ory - R. Gilbert) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'10
2. Weary Blues (A. Matthews) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'24
3. Woodchopper's Ball (Bishop - Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'13
4. Down Under (D. Gillespie) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'46
5. Apple Honey (W. Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'15
6. Caldonia (F. Moore) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'02
7. Goosey Gander (W. Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'21
8. Northwest Passage (Herman - Jackson - Burns) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'10
9. The Good Earth (N. Hefti) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'31
10. Bijou (R. Burns) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'20
11. Your Father's Moustache (Harris - Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'19
12. Wild Root (N. Hefti - W. Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'54
13. Blowin'Up A Storm (W. Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'23
14. Red Top (W. Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 4'08
15. Lady McGovan's Dream (R. Burns) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 5'14
16. Summer Sequence (R. Burns) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 11'48
17. Back Talk (M. Rogers - R. Norvo) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'59
18. The Blues Are Brewing (DeLange - Alter) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'12
19. The Goof And I (A. Cohn) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'51
20. Four Brothers (J. Giuffre) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'15
21. Lemon Drop (G. Wallington) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'50

Disc 2:

1. Early Autumn (R. Burns) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'10
2. Keeper Of The Flame (S. Rogers) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'00
3. More Moon (S. Rogers) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'11
4. Not Really The Blues (J. Mandel) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'50
5. Rhapsody In Wood (R. Burns) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'08
6. Stompin' At The Savoy (Goodman - Sampson - Webb -Razaf) Woody Herman And The New Third Herd 2'30
7. Cohn's Alley (A. Cohn) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'52
8. Would He? (M. Albam) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'29
9. Why Not? (N. Hefti) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'04
10. Autobahn Blues (Burns - Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 4'06
11. Misty Morning (Burns - Herman) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'23
12. Moten Swing (Basie - Durham) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 2'52
13. Skinned Again (G. Williams - D. Dexter) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'23
14. Cool Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (R. Burns) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 3'14
15. Captain Ahab (M. Albam) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 5'07
16. HI-FI Drums (Cavenaugh - Dexter) Buddy Rich With The Woody Herman's Herd 4'57
17. 9:20 Special (Warren-Engvick-Palmer) Woody Herman And His Las Vegas Herd 6'10
18. Bag's Other Groove (M. Jackson) Woody Herman And His Las Vegas Herd 3'33
19. Junior (M. Jackson) Woody Herman And His Las Vegas Herd 3'35
20. Basin Street blues (S. Williams) Woody Herman And His Las Vegas Herd 3'03
21. Blues Groove (J. Coppola) Woody Herman And His Orchestra 6'10