In recognition of the Centennial celebration of Woody Herman s birthday in 2013, this feature-length documentary provides an in-depth look at the legend s 50-year career as a big band jazz leader. Feature-length documentary about big band jazz leader Woody Herman, who led his group for more than 50 years from 1936 until his death in 1987. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Graham Carter, this DVD includes interviews with 35 musicians and jazz historians, including Woody himself, as well as Phil Wilson, Joe Lovano, Terry Gibbs, Jeff Hamilton, Sonny Igoe, Frank Tiberi, Dr. Herb Wong, and Dan Morgenstern. Features several rare performances, including broadcasts from The Ed Sullivan Show and Iowa Public Television. Includes almost 400 photographs and images of Woody and his various bands over a 50-year career. Herman s story parallels the changes in jazz, from the 1930s Swing Era to bebop and cool jazz in the 1940s and 1950s, and the emergence of jazz/rock fusion in the 1960s and 1970s. Many jazz stars got their start in Herman s band, including Pete & Conte Candoli, Flip Phillips, Neal Hefti, Terry Gibbs, Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Sal Nistico, Bill Chase, Frank Tiberi, Alan Broadbent, Joe Lovano, and Jeff Hamilton. The Herds featured some of the finest jazz composers of the last seven decades, such as Ralph Burns, Neal Hefti, Shorty Rogers, Gene Roland, Gerry Mulligan, Bill Holman, Nat Pierce, and Alan Broadbent.