American jazz ensemble, which was specially casted for the recording of parts of [url=https://www.discogs.com/Woody-Herman-Featuring-Nat-Adderley-Zoot-Sims-Eddie-Costa-The-Fourth-Herd/master/567550]The Fourth Herd[/url] recordings in New York City on August 1st, 1959. Being known in literature as 'Woody Herman Octet', the recordings credit them simply as 'The Octet'.
The Octet marks the last core of musicians of Woody Herman And The Fourth Herd. After these recordings, Woody Herman And His Orchestra was rearranged for the Monterey Jazz Festival in October 1959 as Woody Herman's Big New Herd. Starting in January 1960, the band underwent bigger changes and reappeared as Woody Herman And The Swingin' Herd.