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.