Woody Herman And His Orchestra

American jazz orchestra and big band. From the 1940's, the expression 'The Herd' was used in variable context, which was always a synonym for Woody Herman's orchestra. Woody Herman inherited the Isham Jones Orchestra in New York City in 1936. The history of the following band evolution can be structured in the following way: 1936 - 1944: The Band That Plays The Blues.