TOM NYGAARD (not Nygard) - Lead TPT with Woody Herman Herd 1968
cjgaddy
Thundering Herd in the late 1960's, TOM NYGAARD. He lives in the San
Diego area, and apparently is still Blowin' His Socks Off there. I
saw him with the HERD in Boston in 1968, and will NEVER FORGET his
Power and Taste. Here's a post of the entire thread thus far, with
his name spelled right, with 2 A's.
#1 1997/03/18
From: STAR TRMPT (star...@aol.com <mailto:star...@aol.com>)
Subj: Re: SDSU big band & Kim Richmond
Is Tom Nygard still playing lead for Bill Yeagers band?
#2 10-2-2002 from cjg...@earthlink.net
Did you ever find out any more Tom Nygaard? I saw him playing Lead
with The WOODY HERMAN THUNDERING HERD in 1968 in Boston, and
I’ll NEVER FORGET the Power and Taste he had. Man, he blew the
Roof off that Club there on the main downtown strip. I heard that he
later ‘blew out his chops’, and if so I can see why.
I’d love to know what became of him.
Colonel cjg...@earthlink.net
#3 10-2-2002 from DHoff56012 (dhoff...@aol.com)
Tommy is still in San Diego. I see him from time to time. Still
playing
great, his chops are definitely not burnt out. I don't think he is
playing with SDSU's band, however. He hasn't done that in a couple of
years, I don't think. David http://www.mp3.com/davidhoffman
Finally, here's an Email I just sent to Tom himself, after getting his
email address from Bill Yeager at SDSU:
-----Original Message-----
From: cjg...@earthlink.net
Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 9:54 AM
To: Tom Nygaard
Subject: Remember 1968 in Boston?
Hi Tom,
You’re One Guy I’ll Never Forget!
When I was 20 and a Sophomore at Clemson, I got a Summer Job in
Fitchburg MASS in a Computer Dept as a Trainee. They sent me to
Computer School in Boston for 3 days. While there, I had a blast
– first I found Berkelee School of Music, walked in there like I
owned it, and checked that amazing place out. Then, I was walking
around and found Fenway Parek, and heard something off in the distance
– the closer I got, the better it sounded. I walked up, and
there was the Buddy Rich Band doing a Free outdoor Concert –
Good God they were Great. I was in Heaven.
THEN, one night, I walked down the main Street in Boston – kind
of a semi-circle street if I remember – I THINK it was Boylston
Street. Well, as I was walking up and down, I stumbled across this
Club and on the Sign it said, “WOODY HERMAN ORCHESTRA
TONIGHT”! Good God again, how could one human being get so
lucky. The cover charge was $3.50 !!!! I about had a heart attack.
They fired up, and I’ll never forget what a Great Band it was.
A major Reason why: The LEAD TRUMPET MAN WAS AMAZING. To this
day, I’ll never forget the POWER & TASTE & DRIVE of that guy.
Of course, that was You, My Man… I found out your name and
never forgot it. I’ll never forget you Driving that TPT Section
– the Drops and Curls and Pows etc etc – you know what I
mean. I’m an amateur Saxist, and had a blast watching the Sax
section. I remember that I could just walk up and practically SIT in
the Sax Section. I could even Read the Music as they played. The
Sound was Perfect. A night I’ll never forget. I’ve
head the Herd probably 30 times, and have loved every one of them, but
that was a very special night. Maybe because I was so young then.
But I’ll guarantee you, a Big Reason was that Lead work you did
that night – WOW. Do you happen to remember that Joint in
Boston, Tom? Surely you don’t remember the gig.
I stumbled across your name in Al Julian’s THE HERDS newsletter.
I know Al well, as well as Mike B, Frank, Nuge, Fed’s, Roger,
and most of the guys. I’m coming out to the WOODY HERMAN
TRIBUTE Oct. 18-19 in Hollywood. Will you be there?? Hope so –
I’d Love to see you again. I did a Google search, and found
that you had played with Bill Yeager at SDSU. I emailed him, and he
sent me this back, including your email address:
“Tom Nygaard is alive and well in SD. He is not in my band now,
but is a top
call musician in SD. He is such a great guy and really plays up a
storm!!
His e-mail is: Ton...@aol.com
10-3-2002 from Bill Yeager, Director of Jazz Studies
San Diego State University yea...@mail.sdsu.edu
<http://jazz.sdsu.edu> Off: 619-594-4680”
I had to Email you, and recount my “meeting you” back then
in 1968. Sometime later, in the 70’s or so, I remember asking
about you (probably at a Herd Gig) and someone told me that you had
“blown out your chops” – is that true? Actually,
that didn’t surprise me a bit, because you were really playing
in-human stuff. I assume you ‘got ‘em back’
eventually. How do you like San Diego? How much are you still
playing?
Well, gotta go now – send me back an update. R U coming to the
Tribute in October?
Take care,
Col.