Woody Herman – Giant Steps (Fantasy, 1973)

Woody Herman (cl, as, ss); Greg Herbert (ts, picc fl, alto fl); Frank Tiberi (ts); Steve Lederer (ts); Harry Kleintank (ts, bs); Bill Byrne (tr); Gil Rathel (tr); Larry Pyatt (tr); Walt Blanton (tr); Bill Stapleton (tr, flgn); Geoff Sharp (tb); Jim Pugh (tb); Harold Garrett (b tb); Joe Beck (g); Andy LaVerne (el p); Wayne Darling (b); Ed Soph (d); Ray Baretto (cga)

Recorded on April 9 - 12, 1973

Woody Herman and his bands were like the Energizer Bunny.  They just kept going and going and going and going...  Furthermore, he continued to make vital music into the 1970s and beyond.  I think Giant Steps is the strongest release, top-to-bottom, from his latter years.