Much of the credit for the continued success of the Woody Herman Orchestra must go to Frank Tiberi, whom Woody himself designated as musical director of the band in 1987.

A 20-year veteran of the Thundering Herd, Frank personifies the tradition of building upon the jazz past with taste, integrity, and intelligence.

He joined the band in 1969 after stints as a sideman with Bob Chester, Benny Goodman, and Urbie Green. He became lead tenor saxophonist and was featured soloist on the band's Grammy-winning albums of the '70's. His performance on "Central Park West", the John Coltrane composition on the 1986 50th Anniverary Tour album, was praised by critics as "another masterpiece".

In addition to tenor sax, Frank handles Woody's solos on clarinet and takes an occasional part on flute and bassoon as well. He is also a superb arranger whose orchestrations of the Coltrane compositions "Giant Steps" and "Countdown" were recorded by the Herman Orchestra in 1973 and 1979.

"You can consider yourself very lucky if you can hear in the course of a year one great tribute-type concert as brilliantly executed as was the JVC Jazz Festival's "The Legacy of Woody Herman". The 15-piece thundering Herman Herd was played with as much fire and fun as any big band out there today. Anyone who wouldn't want to hire the Herd after hearing Sunday's Carnegie Hall Concert would have to be crazy."

Jazz Festival Review