Bobby Sherwood was a musically gifted individual. He could play several instruments, he was an arranger in demand, he composed and, after giving up a lucrative position as a Hollywood studio musician, he headed his own orchestra toward the end of the heyday of the big-band era. He was so multi-talented, he made a novelty one-man band recording for Coral Records where he performed on eight instruments, and sang! This LP captures the best of his recordings including his two hits The Elk's Parade and Sherwood's Forest. But his other work deserves attention as well. With his Bobby Hackett-like trumpet, he leads a variety of groups playing ballads like Avery Parish's After Hours, Moonglow, and up-tempo material such as 356 in the Books and Hodge Podge. The latter features a decent tenor sax solo by Ray Beckenstein. Sherwood has some good people playing with him including Dave Pell, Herbie Haymer, and top lead trumpet player Mannie Klein. Despite his significant capabilities, the Sherwood bands never established their own identity. Sometimes they sounded dramatically haunting, somewhere in between Boyd Raeburn and Stan Kenton. Other times, their playing is just plain ragged, as on Moonglow. The band folded after just a few years. As some jazz critics of the day pointed out, it was ill-disciplined and one of the most slovenly looking crews ever to take the band stand. This album should attract only those interested in the development and demise of the big-band era. ~ Dave Nathan, Rovi

1		Sherwood's Forest
2		Hodge Podge
3		Giant Panda
4		After Hours
5		In A Mellowtone
6		Blue Lou
7		Lonely Serenade
8		Suddenly It's Swing
9		The Elk's Parade
10		T-Bone For Two
11		Moonglow
12		King Cotton
13		Never Mind
14		Song Of The Wanderer
15		356 In The Books
16		Snuff Stuff