Dan Gabel’s Hot Jazz Trio

Dan Gabel trumpet/drums, Conway Campbell Jr. bass, Cameron Campbell piano

Dan Gabel said his Hot Jazz would present something different – he was right. Fresh from directing a successful play of Cinderella with a 30- piece orchestra, Dan continued with this amazing Trio.  He introduced two of his students from Holy Name High School, Worcester MA.

The Campbell brothers (16 and 18) may be young, but are already playing like Pro’s, “improvising songs of the 30’s and 40’s in a modern vein, but always coming back to the melody”   said expert Jerry Wadness).

Conway Campbell Jr.

They started with Honeysuckle Rose and Softly As In The Morning Sunrise, with marvelous solos by bassist Conway.  Not only is he a fabulous bassist, but he did the arrangements for Night and Day, and also Jimmy Van Heusen’s It Could Happen To You. He took the vocal on a tune from Annie Get Your Gun, Love is  Wonderful, and played slap bass on All Of Me.

Cameron Campbell

They slowed it down for a special tune,  Benny Goodman’s 1937 Body and Soul, with younger brother Cameron on piano.  He can sing too, taking vocal on Georgia On My Mind.

Cameron plays melodies with a level of musical sophistication way beyond his years!  Here he is on Duke Ellington’s Cottontail.

Dan Gabel gave us some Millis history with the 1921 At Sundown.   Cliquot Club Soda employed many people from Millis and local towns at the time.

The Trio then played a special feature. “I’m in the Mood For Love” is a 1932 by Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh. In 1949, saxophonist James Moody recorded the tune in Sweden, and it became known as “Moody’s Mood for Love.” In 1952, Eddie Jefferson added lyrics to the solo, making it a #1 R & B hit for King Pleasure.

We’ve known Dan Gabel as a trombone player – especially lately, spreading Vaughn Monroe’s legacy.  Here he enjoyed playing trumpet and drums at the same time.  He said “It was fun”.  Here’s Dinah:

Other tunes played by the Trio:
East of The Sun
Tangerine
All of You
A Lovely Night (from Cinderella)
Work Song (Nate Adderly)

They closed with a fantastic A Train, in triple-time, with Conway taking the role of leader.

The enthusiastic audience applauded throughout the whole evening.  We all hope they will return so we can hear them again!!

(My apologies for the quality of the videos – the brothers should have had more light, and microphones should have been louder.   Next time!  Marce)