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)
Trombone
Leader Dan Gabel, also vocals & megaphone
Saxes/Clarinet
Austin Yancey tenor sax
John Clark alto
Richard Garcia alto
Trumpets
Adam Mejaour
Kai Sandoval
Keyboard
Herb Gardner
Rhythm:
Bill Doyle guitar/banjo
Rick MacWilliams tuba
Steve Taddeo drums
Dan Gabel brought his upligting Ten-piece High Society Orchestra to Primavera Ristorante for a rehearsal on Thursday, relaxed, without the usual mandatory suits and ties. They were challenged by Dan, though, with the sight-reading of charts and arrangements they have never seen before. They read charts like we read books – they were amazing! It was a wonderful evening of dance music played during the depression of the 20’s and 30’s; way before their time!
In a 1927 tune that Bix did with Whitman, From Monday On, John Clark’s alto sax traded fours with Dan Gabel’s trombone . Marvelous! They sounded just like the Paul Whitman Band!
Rolling Along With The Breeze was breathtaking with the three clarinets
Three clarinets, Austin Yancey, John Clark, Richard Garcia
The orchestra played a lovely Irving Berlin medley, all doing second endings on a nice waltz, Marie and Coquette. Gabel says he’s known as “The Waltz King”. We agree.
Tuba and trombone were in sync for Frank Skinner’s Big City Blues.
Bill Doyle
There was a dance craze in the 1920’s, called The Baltimore, with a tune by the same name.
Rhythm guitarist Bill Doyle was great on banjo.
Clark likes arranger Archie Bleyer. They played both up and down parts on Up a Lazy River, with none of the usual stops – georgeous!
Dan on megaphone.
Dan took out the megaphone for a rousing vocal on an early Bing Crosby tune, Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella.
Upbeat – especially great banjo!
He also sang ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night.
The saxes were featured on Sax Appeal. Fletcher Henderson’s Sugar – I Call My Baby My Sugar, was crisp and very fast, John Clark featured on alto sax.
Austin Yancey tenor, John Clark alto, Richard Garcia alto
I Surrender Dear (Bing Crosby) featured Adam Mejaour’s open, expressive trumpet, with Dan pushing out high notes on fine trombone.
The trombone and trumpets really got into the Big Band feeling, swaying back and forth, onPlease.
Kai Sandoval and Adam Mejaour on trumpet
There was a request for Take The A Train, piano intro, featuring Richard Garcia on alto sax.
Dan Gabel is President of the American Big Band Preservation Society, which gives him access to about 1500 arrangements. He gave them a medley of really old tunes:
The Bowery, Sidewalks of New York, Little Girls in Blue, Maizie, Daisie Bell, Comrades, Little Annie Rooney, She May Have Seen Better Days, The Band Played On, After The Ball is Over. We couldn’t believe our music coming out of young musicians, some still in Berklee and The Conservatory! Dan says he did this because he loves this music. So do we, Thank You, Dan!!
They closed with a WILD Archie Bleyer arrangement of China Boy.
There were three familiar faces on rhythm, newcomers to this orchestra:
Herb Gardner
Rick MacWilliams
Steve Taddeo
Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra was very busy this summer, handsome in their fine crisp uniforms, consistently playing for sell-out crowds, especially for young people and dancers. This kind of music is in good hands with them!
Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra roared into Ken’s Steakhouse on Tuesday August 18 after a busy summer playing the town gazebo circuit throughout New England. The 11-piece band was “hotter than ever” said one patron, and “Dan Gabel and his bands never disappoint!”
Gabel’s 11-piece outfit featured Elise Roth on vocals presenting favorites and rarities of the 1920s including some rarely-heard verses and patters to some old unpublished songs. Liz of Millbury said “Elise’s voice is the absolute best, and her wardrobe is tops, bar none!”
An enthusiastic crowd came early and stayed late, filling half of the expansive room at the steakhouse. Several couples danced, and the band was extremely well-received by the mixed-age audience. A couple in their mid-20s and one in their late 70’s danced to the band’s catchy dance rhythms. Some first-time listeners were in the audience as well who came for dinner, but were all thrilled to enjoy some live music as well, and even purchase several CDs.
“This is a fantastic space” said Bill Doyle, banjo, guitar, and band manager. “The room has a great, warm, sound, and a nice audience to band connection.” The band concurred.
“Playing here was particularly special for me” said bandleader Dan Gabel. “As the President of the American Big Band Preservation Society, and working on a biography of my hero Vaughn Monroe, it was great to be able to play right next to where Monroe’s Meadows club was, and at Ken’s, a historic venue itself. Also, it’s right here in Framingham where I call home, and a great location. We’re looking forward to next time!”
Dan Gabel
Everyone agreed: there should be a next time. Ken’s Steakhouse is negotiating to bring in more bands, either on a Sunday afternoon or Tuesday evening.
Mike Peipman trumpet, John Clark clarinet/alto, tenor, and baritone sax, Billy Novick clarinet/alto sax, Dan Gabel Trombone, Scott Philbrick guitar, Herb Gardner keyboard, Stu Gunn tuba/string bass, Nancy McGhee vocals, Bill Reynolds leader/drums.
Back Bay Ramblers are the result of the late Ed Reynolds dream. He created a great Traditional Jazz Band in the 1980’s that would record the rarely heard tunes of the 1920’s. Ed passed in 2014 at age 90. (More about Ed and his band below.)
His son, drummer Bill Reynolds, promised him he would continue the Back Bay Ramblers. Ed would be proud of the band that Bill has meticulously created; it is absolutely outstanding!! (He added tuxedos for class par excellence.) Most of these talented musicians lead bands of their own. This band uses structured arrangements, as did the larger earlier bands.
In New Orleans Traditional Jazz Bands were all improvisation, with emphasis on musicians’ solos. But as the music spread northward in the 20’s and 30’s, the bands grew larger to play in bigger rooms around the country, in restaurants and hotels in Chicago, Detroit. Their music became Hot Tunes, they played to larger dancing crowds. This obviously made written arrangements necessary, with tight sections playing in syncopation. The music was written and arranged so they could play together, sometimes on the same note, sometimes in harmony. It’s a balance of simplicity and complexity.
Tonight’s Back Bay Ramblers began with a tom-tom drum beat intro to Dream Sweetheart, words and music by Bud Green, 1932. Bill Reynolds has made this their theme song.
Nancy McGhee
They continued with Daddy, Won’t You Please Come Home, introducing the lovely and talented Nancy McGhee (who happens to be Bill’s cousin).
She is a classically trained vocalist. She graduated from Berklee and then went to the New England Conservaory. She is currently choral director at Lawrence High School
She continued with a tune written by Walter Donaldson and sung by The Boswell Sisters in 1931, An Evening in Caroline. It starts slowly with two clarinets, backed by guitar, then the brass comes in and it jumps up into two-beat barn burner!
Dan Gabel trombone, Mike Peipman trumpet, Bill Reynolds drums
Structured arrangements mean many rehearsals. Billy Novick and John Clark were familiar with the Back Bay Ramblers Book, but Dan and Mike were not. This was especially difficult for Mike, who was home in Australia at the time they were rehearsing and missed all but the last full band rehearsal. Mike and Dan played spectacular solos, and representing the brass section of a big band, they nailed it!
1929 Little by Little, four piece front line, nice exchange between Billy on clarinet and Scott’s guitar. A great Tiny Parham tune, Congo Love Song, played by two mellow alto saxes, and a vivid Congo drum beat.
Nancy was back with Top of The Town a 1937 Jimmy McHugh tune made for the movie of the same name. McHugh was a Boston native. His songs had an infectiously swinging quality that instantly endeared them to the listener. Perfect for Nancy.
The Ramblers used arrangements from various people. Cho King, a tune by Sonny Clay was arranged by Robin Verdier.
Scott Philbrick
The 1919 Alcoholic Blues was written by Edward Laska with music by Albert Von Tilzer. (Tilzer also wrote Take Me Out To The Ball Game in 1908.)
Some of these tunes the Ramblers played were written for guitar, others for banjo. Scott and Stu stayed in sync. Scott switched between guitar and banjo. When Stu Gunn played string bass, Scott played guitar. When he played tuba, Scott played banjo.
Scott is like vanilla extract in a cake; you can’t taste it when it’s there, but you know when it’s left out.
Marvelous bass man, Stu Gunn
Stalwart Stu Gunn instinctively moves from string bass to tuba, playing chords that maintain that very essential Traditional Jazz beat.
When he isn’t playing in a Jazz Band, you’ll find him playing classical music in several local symphonies.
Nancy returned with I Have to Have You, backed by soft trumpet; and one of Bill’s favorites, a Bob Connors arrangement, That Wonderful Something (is Love).
For those who don’t know Bob Connors, he led a marvelous band in the 1970’s, The Yankee Rhythm Kings; they excelled at Lu Watters two-beat California jazz. Bob was the original leader of The Back Bay Ramblers. Their book has 121 arrangements; Connors wrote 91 of them.
He and his wife now live in Florida. He’s retired from music, but keeps busy restoring archived movies and silent films. If you’re interested in movie history, he has a vast collection of rare films that you won’t find anywhere else.
A Bennie Moten tune, That Too, Do had audience participation and everyone in the band responding “Yeah” and “Right”; another Bob Connors arrangement.
Herb Gardner
Herb Gardner was invaluable, transitioning the musicians from one section to another and offering just the right chords behind soloists.
He’s been the pianist-in-residence here at Primavera, playing with numerous bands on piano, trombone and vocals.
Mike Peipman is originally from Australia
Bill did the tom tom drum intro to their newest tune – 1951 – the Australian Nullabor. Robin Verdier’s Monte Carlo Jazz Ensemble plays this all the time.
Mike says it means ‘flat plain with no trees’ – “null arbor”? It may have come from the Australian aborigines, with heavy drum accents.
Bill Reynolds, leader
Bill’s drum continued the beat into ‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night. This was a Frank Powers arrangement – he was a reed player from Chicago who did many arrangements for Ed’s band.
It is also the name of one of the albums that Ed Reynold’s original Back Bay Ramblers recorded for Bob Erdo’s Stomp Off Records. Some are still available. (See below) All of the tunes played today came from these CDs.
Nancy is crazy about her man.
Nancy was back for Dreaming About My Man. She really feels the words and puts heart and soul into her singing.
Fat’s Waller’s Concentrating on You was recorded by Hunter’s Serenaders, a territory band from Omaha, Nebraska.
Ed Reynolds liked territory bands and often used some of their tunes.
Ridin’ but Walkin’, a 1929 Fats Waller tune was played at The Cotton Club. The Ramblers did it justice. It brought out Clark’s tenor sax – nice, Billy on clarinet with drum beat tapping on the choke cymbal, Mike on muted trumpet. Short but in the groove!
The River and Me was recorded by the Absolut Duke Ellington, who played it every night at the Cotton Club. It’s a fabulous swinging tune. The Ramblers used the Frank Powers arrangement. Trombone, trumpet, clarinet and tenor sax, Stu Gunn pushing them on string bass, all the musicians pushed the boundaries with some profound, imaginative swinging! They raised goose bumps!
Right Kind of Man was sung by Ruth Etting in 1929. Nancy’s fine vocal was followed by two alto saxes taking 32 bars in multi-dimensional harmony. Billy Novick and John Clark are always pushing music forward, expanding on it.
Back to instrumentals, Vipers’ Drag is a 1930 Fats Waller tune made popular by Cab Calloway.
Jungle Blues was arranged by Billy Novick. He and Bill Reynolds have been ‘partners in crime’ for over 30 years. Two clarinets harmonizing backed by steady drum beat.
Dynamite! Billy Novick and John Clark on various reeds
Nancy feels so blue!
Nancy was back with Nobody Cares, backed only by Herb Gardner on piano. She’s so blue, you can absolutely feel it!
Ed would definitely be proud of this band; it is absolutely outstanding! Their passion for this music is obvious. Hot Dance Music at its best!! We hope to hear more from them really soon.
Meantime, you can still get the fine music. Bill still has several CDs from Ed’s band.
Red Hot Band
Cuttin’ Up
‘Leven Thirty Saturday Night (4 left)
My Mom is in Town (1 left)
… also LPs and Cassettes of Boston Shuffle
Ed Reynolds, New England’s premier Jazz Historian and collector of Traditional Jazz records, deftly drew rarely heard traditional jazz ditties from 1925 to 1931 for his outstanding jazz musicians from our area and New York City.
Karen Cameron is originally from North Dakota. She was with Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians, and has sung with the Artie Shaw Band and other commemorative big bands around the country.
These are Ed Reynold’s Back Bay Ramblers 2001 at the Hot Steamed Jazz Festival. This band played some of the finest 1920’s period music at the festival. This is not swing – this is Traditional Jazz-Hot Dance Music at its best!
The High Society Jazz Orchestra played to a small but appreciative audience at Primavera Ristorante on Thursday. Sounding way beyond their numbers, the 11-piece band reached deep down and created beautiful music that enlivened our spirits.
Leader, Dan Gabel
They led with their theme song Whispering, and continued with arrangements by Dan Gabel and John Clark, revoicing tunes from the 20’s and 30’s. They kept this memorable music flowing, giving the musicians a chance to show off their fine solos as well as ensemble.
The weathermen scared people away, but with a smaller crowd the atmosphere was more intimate, with the members of the band exchanging banter with the audience and taking requests.
Trumpets: Mike Peipman, lead: Adam Mejaour Saxes Tyler Burchfield on tenor, John Clark on bari, Richard Garcia on alto,
The energetic instrumentals made the band feel twice its size, rekindling this enduring music associated with a bygone era. This is as good as it gets! They practiced new arrangements swinging so hard you’d never know it was the first time they saw the chart.
Elise Roth sings Irving Berlin’s refrains for the first time.
Vocalist Elise Roth’s warm sweet voice seemed effortless. She even sang three refrains using Irving Berlin’s original 1927 lyrics of Am I Blue, made famous in the 20’s by vocalist Annette Henshaw.
Mike Peipman
Mike Peipman was on trumpet for their inventive reimagining of the Artie Shaw theme Nightmare.
Herb Gardner plays Earl ‘Fatha’ Hynes’ Cavernism
We had our own ‘Fatha’ Hines in Herb Gardner, playing his1933 Cavernism.
(He and daughters Abbie and Sarah are performing at the Bickford Theatre in Morristown New Jersey on Groundhog Day, February 2nd.)
There was a new arrangement of Stormy Weather, appropriate for the Nor’Easter that just left us with three feet of snow. One of our favorites was John Clark’s arrangement of Chicago Rhythm.
The Rhythm Boys, Herb Gardner, Bill Reynolds, Bill Doyl, Rick MacWilliams
Dan had an arrangement of Rogers and Hart’s Thou Swell, with Clark playing solo on baritone sax and Elise singing Lorenz Hart’s beautiful lyrics.
Bill Doyle moves to 1928 banjo
Bill took out a 1928 banjo for Fats Waller’s St. Louis Shuffle, with the ensemble playing a rarely heard verse, and drummer Reynolds playing the breaks on choke cymbal. Bill regularly plays Benedetto guitar.
Tubist Rick MacWilliams had a chance to show his stuff on a solo on You Belong To Me – a request from Tom James in the audience, with Dan taking the vocal.
There were two altos and a tenor sax on King Oliver’s Mule Face Blues. We heard Duke’s Cotton Club Stomp, Who’s Sorry Now vocal by Dan Gabel. One tune we never heard before, Maori, (A Samoan dance) was arranged by John Clark, composed in 1919 by William H. Tyres and Henry S. Creamer.
They closed with Elise singing Dan’s arrangement of There’ll Be Some Changes Made, with new strains we’ve never heard before. It was an exhilarating evening of melliflous music. We were glad that we ignored the weathermen!
Members of the band were:
Trumpets: Mike Peipman, Adam Mejaour
Saxes: Tyler Burchfield on tenor, John Clark on bari, Richard Garcia on alto, and all played clarinet.
Trombone and leader: Dan Gabel.
Keyboard: Herb Gardner
Guitar and banjo: Bill Doyle, band manager
Tuba: Rick MacWilliams
Drums: Bill Reynolds
Vocals: Elise Roth
The High Society Jazz Orchestra will be at the Feast of Music After Party at the Oval Room of the Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston February 21 for NEC’s scholarship fundraiser. March 7 they will be at the WGBH studio for An Evening Inspired by Downtown Abbey, and at Sculler’s March 26 for the HOT release of their CD, Business in “F”, recorded at PBS Studios by Peter Kontrimas with cover and drawings by Elise Ross. Elise’s recital of classical vocals at NEC is March 29th 4:00pm at Williams Hall, and is free and open to the public.
Jazz at Sunset is the premier outdoor Summer Concert series sponsored by The American Big Band Preservation Society and SAC Park.
“Hundreds of people enjoyed a remarkable performance by The Four Freshmen last night at SAC Park, backed up by Dan Gabel and the Abletones – and in memory of and dedication to Charlie Messier! Enjoy these delightful photos by Candace Imming!” https://www.flickr.com/photos/swimcsi/sets/72157644991636217/
Dan Gabel and the Abletones with the Four Freshmen at SAC Park
(I’m betting Charlie Messier and his friend Leo Curran were sitting near the Stan Kenton Band up there, and enjoying this too. Marce)
Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra, by C. S. Imming
CJALL – Classic Jazz at Lincoln Library – recently hosted Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra at Bemis Hall in Lincoln MA. http://www.cjall.org/ Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra plays music of the early 1900’s and has over 400 arrangements in their book.
Harold McAleer was MC, and always ready with his video camera. Whispering and The Charleston by Harold MacAleer
Musicians are:
Mike Caudill tenor sax/clnt, John Clark bari/alto sax/clnt, Lou Stamos alto sax/clnt Adam Mejaour and Jeff Hughes trumpets, Dan Gabel trombone, Ross Petot piano,
Rhythm: Bill Doyle guitar/banjo, Rick MacWilliams tuba, Steve Taddeo drums
Dan Gabel’s High Society Orchestra by C. S. Imming
Candi’s Video of The Stampede (1926) and Mama Inez (1929)
It was a pleasurable evening of Fantastic Swing and Jazz with many tunes from the early 20’s and 30’s:
Whispering (theme song) The Charleston Alexander’s Ragtime Band (Dan singing with megaphone) Wa Wa Wa, from 1926 King’ Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, Clark on bari sax Sophisticated Lady, Duke Ellington 1934 featured Mike Caudill on tenor sax Because My Baby Don’t Mean Maybe Now, Walter Donaldson, they used Bix’s chase chorus Boy In The Boat, arranged by by John Clark. Definitely not nautical. Three Little Words, Henry Bussy collection now in Dan’s possession at Big Band Preservations Society The Stampede, early 1926 transcribed by John Clark, Hot One! featuring clarinet trio Cuban Rhumba, made famous by Pérez Prado in the 1950’s Mama Inez
Happy Feet let all musicians cut loose with solos St. Louis Shuffle I Don’t Know Why I Love You Like I Do The Brainstorm, original arrangement, featured Adam Mejaour trumpet Stardust featured Jeff Hughes trumpet Cinderella Girl, dedicated to Bud & Wes Trow of Tuxedo Classic Jazz Band
(Bud was Dan’s Mentor and gave him the band’s arrangements) Encore: Sugar Foot Stomp, Adam Caudill clarinet solo
You can hear them on Tuesday, June 1st at the Sherborn Inn, 33 North Main St. Sherborn MA or check out Dan Gabel Music for their schedule.
The Dan Gabel’s High Society Jazz Orchestra was sponsored by The Friends of the Lincoln Library, who have video and tape presentations at the Lincoln Library on the 2nd Wednesday of every month, and a Jazz Jam on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Library at 3 Bedford Rd. Lincoln MA. http://www.cjall.org/
TAG Trio: Steve Taddeo, Nikolas Anadolis, Dan Gabel
Dan Gabel’s TAG Trio (Taddeo-Anadolis-Gabel) performed for the second time at Music at Mendon, held at the Unitarian Church in Mendon MA. Thanks to Rev. Ralph Clarke, with a grant from the Mendon Cultural Council and aided by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Music at Mendon has great performances once a month in the Spring and Summer.
The TAG Trio plays music of the 1920’s from the Great American Song Book, with a varied program of ballads, melodies, and Jazz written by some of America’s greatest composers. Dan started this evening singing the verse of their theme song, Whispering, written by Vincent Rose. It was most famously recorded by Paul Whiteman and his Ambassador Orchestra on August 23, 1920
Dorothy Fields-Jimmy McHugh Exactly Like You, was followed by Cole Porter’s last effort as a composer, a song he wrote for the movie High Society, I Love You Samantha. Dan’s sweet trombone was backed by Nikolas’ magic fingers softly playing harmonies behind him.
A 1921 tune done by the great Jazz singers The Boswell Sisters, Mildred Bailey, Eddy Condon – There’ll Be Some Changes Made was total improvisation, Dan playing trombone, Nikolas watching him carefully and playing counter melody, Taddeo softly tapping choke cymbal, hitting cowbell for emphasis.
Art Hickman pioneered Big Bands; he was the first to include saxophones. In 1917 he had one of his biggest successes with the song “Rose Room“, which was named after the hotel room. In 1919 Rose Room was done by Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. Nikolas started slowly playing stride piano, then worked up to sophisticated, creative piano. Dan’s trombone played warm and sentimental.
Staying in the 20’s, 1928 I Don’t Know Why I Love You Like I Do, Dan invited the audience to sing along, a few did, while he resumed his “inner Bing”.
The mood changed with a 1950’s Greek tune played by Nikolas. The name of the tune is “Asta ta malakia sou” , in greek “Ασ’τα τα μαλάκια σου”. He says in Greece they play the same song in many of their movies. Translated it means “Let yourself go, feel free.” Fast waltz – absolutely WILD piano!
Leo Robbin & Ralph Rainger wrote Easy Living, done by Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson on piano. Nikolas enjoyed the drum backup and kept turning around to smile at Steve, softly tapping on choke cymbal. Steve doesn’t always play this softly on drums.
A ‘good ol’ good one’, (there’s one in every performance) that they played recently with Steve’s Swing Senders at the Sherborn Inn – Sweet Sue. It was a GOOD ONE!
Getting back to Cole Porter, they played a tune that Sinatra sang – Your Sensational, Dan singing in his lowest crooner voice. (He’s practicing Sinatra tunes for his next appearance at The Imperial Ballroom just down the street in Mendon on April 25th.)
Closing tune – time to let the Tiger Out – with The Swing Senders’ theme song Dinah. Taddeo let his exulting Gene Krupa loose on drums. Krupa is his idol. Dinah hit the crowd like a bombshell!
Steve Taddeo goes wild on drums
He attempted his famous Krupa walk-around, but was too restricted by the altar’s balustrade, so he just kept drumming onanything within reach.
Steve attempts ‘walk around’ tapping anything in reach
It was an amazing ending to an hour of great 1920’s ballads, melodies, swing and Jazz.
Both Dan and Nikolas will be graduating from the New England Conservatory of Music in May. Dan will be around New England for many years. Nikolas is hoping to join the faculty at the University of Lausanne on Lake Geneva, Switzerland. But he will be playing in Festivals all over Europe. We will miss his smiling face, and he’s promised to return whenever he can. www.nikolasjazz.com/
Video excerpts from the First Friday dance held April 4, 2014 at SAC Park in Shrewsbury, MA. Dan Gabel and the Abletones with vocalist Elise Roth.
by C. S. Imming.
“First Friday Swing” – Dancing to Dan Gabel and the Abletones, authentic 18-piece Big Band, SAC Park, 438 Lake St., Shrewsbury MA. Plenty of free parking. Conveniently located between route 9 and route 20. 7:00 dance lesson, 8:00-10:30pm listen and dance to New England’s favorite big band attraction!
$15 per person/$10 students. Singles and couples welcome
Large wooden dance floor, full cash bar, table seating, handicap accessible.
More info: www.theabletones.com Or from Dan Gabel: 774-280-1502
See you at the Imperial Ballroom in Mendon on April 25, and back at SAC again on May 2, 2014.
Dan Gabel and the Abletones Big Band with Elise Roth vocals
The Abletones Big Band debut at The Imperial Ballroom in Mendon MA (formerly Myriad, formerly Nipmuc) was a complete success. The floor was filled with jubilant ballroom dancers, many were Abletones’ fans from SAC in Shrewsbury. There was a wide demographic of ages enjoying the return of a real Big Band at Dinner and Dancing at the Imperial Ballroom.
The Big Band played a variety of dances, swing, foxtrot, rhumba, cha cha. The evening began with a cocktail hour at 6pm; people arrived for a 4-course dinner between 7 and 8pm. $39.95 for dinner and dance, $10 for dancing-only at 8pm.
A smaller combo of the Abeltones played for the diners. What Is This Thing Called Love, Avalon, Let’s Do It.
Ross Petot piano, Bill Doyle guitar, Walther Grieneder bass, Jim Gancarz drums (hidden), Dan Gabel trombone
8pm Dan Gabel and the Abletones Big Band appeared in full force with Whispering, Woodchopper’s Ball, String of Pearls, Dan’s Abletones Jive, he wrote to introduce members of the band:
Ross Petot – piano Greg Blair – baritone sax
Bill Doyle – rhythm guitar/banjo Doug Yancey – tenor sax
Walther Grieneder – Bass Richard Garcia – tenor Sax
Jim Gancarz – drums Josh Plotner – alto sax
Mike Piepman – lead trumpet Tyler Birchfield – alto sax
Adam Mejaour – trumpet Craig Robbins – trombone
Dan Fleury -trumpet Joe Burke – trombone
Kai Sandoval – trumpet Leslie Havens – bass trombone
Elise Roth – vocal Dan Gabel leader – trombone
Bei Mir Bis Du Schoen was one of the many really hot numbers; Moon River – a waltz, Vocalist Elise Roth connects with the mood of a song and gives it her own sound – Nat King Cole’s 1942 hit, L-O-V-E. Lead trumpeter Mike Peipman was featured in Hot-Cha Cha Cha . Stan Kenton and Boots Mussulli established bebop in the Milford area. In their memory, the band played a lovely earlier version of Kenton’s Lullaby of Broadway.
The dance floor was in front of the band, and continuously filled with fancy ballroom dancers, (except for the very fast tunes like Strutting With Some Barbecue).
Dan and Elise sang duet on How About You from a Judy Garland-Mickey Rooney movie. From Sunrise Serenade, a Glenn Miller tune, I Know Why And So Do You. In honor of all servicemen, past and present, and also the two firefighters who died last week in the Back Bay fire – they played a powerfully intense American Patrol.
Glen Miller’s In The Mood topped the charts in 1939 in the U.S. and one year later was featured in the movie Sun Valley Serenade. Dan and Elise combined for The Trolley Song that was sung by Vaughn Monroe and Marilyn Duke in 1944. Dan is a font of information on music from the 20-50’s. He just completed his Masters with a biography of Vaughn Monroe, who wrote the lyrics to their next tune, My Devotion.
Elise Roth and saxophones
Elise sang Tonight, reminiscent of West Side Story. Bennie Moten was a pianist/bandleader who was at the center of the Kansas City jazz scene of the 1920s and 30s. Dan Gable and the Abletones are introducing new generations to the fabulous swing music like Moten Swing.
The ‘boss’, Kevin Meehan, requested a Sinatra tune, so they added Witchcraft, sung by Dan Gabel. We had the good fortune of sharing another waltz, Dreamy Old New England Moon; with George the dance instructor at SAC. He provides dance lessons for many big bands in this area.
Blue Tango, Yes Indeed, Almost Like Being in Love, Mack the Knife, Moonlight Serenade. Marvelous! They closed with the Benny Goodman/Gene Krupa classic at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Sing Sing Sing. It was an extraordinary evening, and we hope to see more of Dan Gabel and the Abletones Big Band at the Imperial Ballroom.
You may dance to the Abletones on the first Friday of every month at SAC, The Scandinavian Athletic Club, 438 Lake St, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, (508) 757-3948. George starts dance lessons at 7:15pm, the band starts at 8pm. Next one is April 5th – hope you can make it!
