PRESENTS
FOLLOWING THE HERD
THE MUSIC OF WOODY HERMAN
“One of the best Woody Herman
tribute bands around”
ABOUT THE SHOW
Cliff Longhurst’s Jazz Knights Orchestra present a tribute to the legendary clarinetist Woody Herman – 50 years of thundering herds.
Performing material from throughout Woody’s long career which started in the 1930’s right up to his final performances in the 1980s, the music from six decades of popular Jazz is just too good to ever be forgotten. Enjoy the excitement and drive of classic live performances that made Woody Herman a legend.
Jazz Knights use the same line-up as Woody used over most of his career and the many eras his music covered – 5 trumpets, 3 trombones, 5 saxes with 3 tenors (The Four Brothers line-up) and 5 rhythm including vibes. Although most of the charts are instrumental, as Woody was a recognised and well respected singer, the concert/dance repertoire also includes vocal arrangements that he recorded over the years, as well as the songs from his tribute to Al Jolson album – The Jazz Swinger. Many other artists recorded and performed with the Herds, so the band can feature both male and female vocalists, including songs from Woody’s own band singers in the ‘40s, especially Francis Wayne and Mary Ann McCall.
THE BAND
Jazz Knights Orchestra are a live band of first class Jazz musicians who really know how to swing. They put power and drive into their performances, recreating the mood of the Woody Herman big band sound that became affectionately known as ‘the thundering herd’. Jazz Knights Orchestra is an 18 piece band performing mostly instrumental numbers, but we also have first class male and female vocalists who perform as part of the show. This combination mirrors the make-up, atmosphere, and above all, the sound of an authentic Woody Herman performance.
DRUMS/LEADER
CLIFF LONGHURST
TRUMPETS
DAVE BORASTON/PETE COOPER/SAM EASTMOND
ADAM FURNESS/JOHN HINCH/MALCOLM KNAPP/DAVE PEERS
TROMBONES
ADAM CRIGHTON/DAVID HORDEN/EOGHAN KELLY
MARTIN LEE THOMSON
ALTO SAX/CLARINET/SOPRANO SAX/FLUTES
NICK CHARLES
TENOR SAX/FLUTES/SOPRANO SAX
WES FRANKLYN/TRACY MENDHAM/SIMEON MURRAY/STEVE SALKIND
BARITONE SAX/BASS CLARINET
GLEN JOHNSON/PHIL WAYMAN
KEYBOARDS
DAN EDWARDS/DAN DIBDEN
BASS/BASS GUITAR
HENRY THOMAS
GUITAR
ALFIE CARROLL/RICHARD BOLTON
VIBES/PERCUSSION
GRAHAM DARE
VOCALS
ANTHONY TROTT/PAM PECKO-SMITH
ARRANGERS
PAUL BUCK/DAVE FLAY/JONATHAN LEWIS/ROB NIELD
PHIL STEEL/SIMON TOWNLEY
Sneak Peek of a Recent Rehearsal!
A REPERTOIRE OF OVER 200 TITLES
This Woody Herman tribute leave no gaps in their repertoire with an extensive library covering six decades from the 1930’s to the 1980’s.
You can listen to a few to samples below or view our full repertoire here >
INTRODUCING CLIFF LONGHURST
Cliff has been a professional drummer for over 50 years and has worked across the globe with a wide array of international artists. Famous names including Matt Monro, Frankie Laine, Bert Weedon , Anne Shelton, Helen Shapiro, Nat Gonnella, Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent have all benefited from Cliff’s dynamic performance style.
As the regular drummer with Bob Miller and the Millermen, Chico Arnez, Terry Reaney, Denny Wise and Tommy Hawkins bands Cliff gained an enviable reputation for professionalism and performance.
He was resident drummer and Music Director at the Circus Tavern cabaret club in Essex and backed many artists over the years at the Cesars Palace, Blazers and Lakeside cabaret nightclubs. He toured with Herb Miller and with Harry Bence in the New Squadronaires orchestras, performed with artists such as Norman Wisdom and Max Bygraves and acted as musical director for Bobby Crush, Danny Williams and Bob Monkhouse.
Cliffs love for the music of Woody Herman led him to start to collecting genuine Herman arrangement charts over a decade ago. In the end he collected enough material, with specially written or adapted charts, that in 2009 he was able to bring together musicians and begin to rehearse the band that was to become the Jazz Knights Orchestra.
“Music of the highest quality.”
“Hard swinging to a man”
“Tremendous entertainment”
WHY WOODY?
Vitality and versatility were the hallmarks of the Woody Herman big band sound. Over more than half a century, Woody was a band leader who refused to sit back on his laurels. He was always searching for new sounds and new talent, nurturing great future players and taking inspiration in his arrangements from genres as diverse as bebop and even jazz fusion. It is this dynamism that endeared Woody Herman and his ‘Thundering Herd’ to legions of big band fans spanning many generations.
THE COMBO
A 12 piece band including vocals (female and / or male) playing hits and favourites from the world of jazz, latin, blues and pop (and film themes).
You can listen to a few to samples below or view our full repertoire here >
WE ARE AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE HIRE AND BOOKINGS
If you are looking for an utterly professional big band, the Jazz Knights Orchestra and the Jazz Knights Combo are available for hire. We can fill any venue with a great wall of sound to excite and delight listeners. Get in touch and let us deliver you a truly memorable evening of jazz to stir the senses and lift the soul.