ProJazz.net

Woody Herman and His Orchestra – Four Brothers (1947)

“Four Brothers” (1947) is a jazz standard composed by Jimmy Giuffre and performed by the Woody Herman Orchestra.

The song features four saxes (three tenors and one baritone) in an arrangement that gives each “brother” a solo and culminates in a hard-swinging sax section chorus.

The song so typifies the sound of Woody Herman’s second “Herd” that the band is also known as the Four Brothers Band. The title also refers to the four musicians that played in the original version: Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Herbie Steward, and Serge Chaloff. All four played in a light-vibrato style that was originated by Lester Young of the Count Basie Orchestra and popularized by Stan Getz. (Wikipedia)

From the album ‘THE 3 HERDS’ (Columbia Records).

Personnel: Stan Fishelson, Bernie Glow, Marky Markowitz, Shorty Rogers, Ernie Royal (trumpet), Earl Swope, Ollie Wilson (trombone), Bob Swift (bass trombone), Woody Herman (clarinet, conduct), Sam Marowitz (alto sax), Herbie Steward, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims (tenor sax), Serge Chaloff (baritone sax), Ralph Burns (piano), Gene Sargent (guitar), Walter Yoder (bass), Don Lamond (drums), Jimmy Guiffre (arrange)