Effective period / Period of releases: 1942 - 1956

Members: Woody Herman, Barry Galbraith, Tiny Kahn, Don Lamond, Joe Shulman, Ralph Burns, J.C. Heard, Jackie Mills, Frank Carlson, Chuck Wayne, Trigger Alpert, Walt Yoder, Gene Sargent, Hy White, Tommy Linehan, Dick Kane, Andy Lambert (4)

American jazz ensemble in 1940. Woody Herman took a quartet from 'The Band That Plays the Blues' (Woody Herman And His Orchestra - Carlson, White, Linehan and Yoder) in order to produce records in studio. This selection were the main musicians of the contemporary big band. The first recording sessions took place in New York, September 9, 1940.
The ensemble was reactivated in February 1947, shortly after Herman disbanded the first herd. Those sessions lasted until March 31st, 1947 and were made with a different ensemble but with the same name.