Formed 1958

Toshiyuki Miyama was born in Chiba on October 31, 1921, joined the Japanese Naval Military Band in 1939, served aboard warships during the Second World War, and after the war joined the Lucky Puppy Orchestra before leading his own ensemble from 1950. The group, initially called Jive Ace, expanded to full big-band size and became the New Herd in 1958, with Kozaburo Yamaki as its principal arranger across several decades. From the late 1960s the New Herd moved decisively beyond the dance-band and repertoire-band model: “Perspective” (1969) announced the transition, and the collaboration with pianist and avant-garde composer Masahiko Sato produced “Canto of Libra” (1970) and “Yamataifu” (1972), the latter winning Japan’s Geijutsusai Yushu Prize. The New Herd recorded with Charles Mingus in 1971 and released “Tsuchi No Ne (Sound of The Earth)” on Three Blind Mice in 1973, among the most internationally sought-after records in the TBM catalogue. The ensemble toured worldwide through the 1970s and 1980s, providing a working band for Japanese jazz composers and soloists including Jiro Inagaki and Hidefumi Toki at different points. Miyama led the ensemble for more than fifty years. He died on May 24, 2016, aged 94. The New Herd continues as an active ensemble.