Dave Whitney trumpet/flugelhorn/vocals, Jeff Hughes trumpet/flugelhorn, Dan Gabel trombone/whistle, gourds, Steve Dale piano, Eric Baldwin guitar, Dave LeBleu bass, Reid Jorgensen drums

It was a sunny but cold New England afternoon, 2-4 pm, a great time for us to hear our own Armstrong, Beiderbecke, and Tommy Dorsey paying a tribute to Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass.

The Tijuana Brass was popular in the 60’s and 70’s, when many of these musicians and fans were still in college.  They grew up with that marvelous brass sound, and they especially liked it because it was one of the few purely instrumental bands of the era.

The Tijuana Brass had top hits on Radio and TV, and in the Movies, and many albums – Going Places, SRO, Herb Alpert’s 9th, Whipped Cream (the guys remembered this one best), The Lonely Bull.

They opened with The Lonely Bull that put The Tijuana Brass on the map.  Dave first trumpet, Jeff Hughes second trumpet, sometimes both on flugel horns, with Dave playing a horn borrowed from Bob McInnis:  What Now My Love, Sweet Georgia Brown, I’ve Got a Lot of Living to Do. 

Two trumpets with trombone playing counterpoint – Spanish Flea had ladies in the front row of the Amazing Things Arts Center ‘dancing’ in their seats.

There was a jazz interlude with a bit of straight-ahead jazz.  After all, these are Jazz Musicians!  From 1935  Thanks a Million, with Dave taking the vocal.  From Herb Alpert Volume 2, 1963,    Winds of Barcelona.

In the Going Places album, Alpert did Mae with a big string section.  Whitney took lead trumpet, Jeff softly harmonizing on 1923 King Trumpet, Dan on smouldering trombone. It was magnificent, who needs strings??

Two trumpets traded 4’s in the Broadway tune Mame with the whole group doing a vocal.  They are all master musicians, and great friends, they were having a good time.

All vocalizing!

Bring Me Sunshine, Dave on vocal backed by Jeff on soft trumpet; premiere drummer Reid Jorgensen playing snare drum with brushes.  An expert time keeper, On More and More Amor he used his hands, and mallets on Bossa Nova. 

Reid Jorgensen

 Dan was featured on trombone with the tune that gave Tommy Dorsey the name of “Sentimental Gentleman of Swing” – I’m Getting Sentimental  Over You.
Dan Gable is one young, talented musician.  He never ceases to amaze us.  Besides leading his own Big Band, The Abletones, and the High Society Orchestra that plays music of the 20’s and 30’s, and founding the Big Band Preservation Society with Amanda Carr, and playing marvelous trombone (given to him by Bud Trow of the Tuxedo Classic Jazz Band) at this session he also was shaking a gourd and  whistling as good as Ted Weem’s Elmer Tanner on Acapulco and What’s New?

 

With all the guitars in the hall, it was surprising to hear Jeff featured on trumpet with Django’s Nuages.  Magnificent!  He can make a trumpet or cornet do miracles!

 

 

 

 

 

Many other musicians were in the audience, Gray Sargent-guitar, Jon Wheatley-guitar, Deb Larkin vocalist and Jeff Stout, trumpet.

Eric was featured in Wes Montgomery’s  Watch What Happens.
Eric VIDEO

Tijuana Taxi was Herb’s biggest record, but there were many more. Whipped Cream started out as a Jazz Waltz.   A Taste of Honey was so hot it set off the fire alarm – and we literally had to evacuate – 3:45pm – fifteen minutes before the finish.

A fire in the Fire House!  They lifted the huge fire door and ushered us all out into the cold.  Apparently it was a wire problem.  Fifteen minutes later, we returned and the band finished in overtime, starting A Taste of Honey from the beginning.

 

 

They closed with Lollipops and Roses.

 

Complete list of tunes:

The Lonely Bull
Acapulco
Green Peppers
What Now My Love?
Spanish Flea
Thanks a Million
Whipped Cream, Cover Tune
Winds of Barcelona
A Walk in the Black Forest
Mae
Mame
Wall St. Rag
Bring Me Sunshine
Sweet Georgia Brown
Tijuana Taxi
What’s New
I’ve Got a Lot of Living To Do
Abbodanza
More and More Amor
Jeff: Django’s Nuages
Dan featured  on I’m Getting Sentimental Over You
A Taste of Honey
Watch What Happens
Lollypops and Roses