Woody Herman And His Third Herd

American jazz ensemble, active from 1950 until June 1955. In April 1950, after dissolving Woody Herman & The Second Herd due to internal problems (e.g., some of the members were addicted to drugs), Woody Herman founded his Third Herd, keeping the "Four Brothers Sound" with four saxophonists. The group was active until Woody Herman disbanded it at the end of June 1955 in order to form Woody Herman And His Octet / Woody Herman And The Las Vegas Herd. On New Year's Eve 1955, these ensembles were succeeded by Woody Herman And The Fourth Herd, which was sometimes also called "The New Third Herd."