Dave Whitney and "All That Brass"

reprise, at Amazing Things Arts Center

videos by Harold McAleer (except the last one)

 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 our 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 albums had top ratings on Radio, TV, and in the Movies, Going Places, SRO, Herb Alpert's 9th, Whipped Cream (the guys remembered this one best- a naked girl covered in whipped cream), 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 had a large string section on Mae. Whitney took lead trumpet, Jeff softly harmonizing on a 1923 King Trumpet, Dan on smoldering trombone. It was magnificent, who needs strings??
(Videos by Hal McAleer)

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

 Bring Me Sunshine, Dave on vocal, backed softly by Jeff, premiere drummer Reid Jorgensen playing snare drum with brushes. He was featured on a Bossa Nova, A Bonda, where he used mallets, and even drummed with his hands on More and More Amor.

 Dan Gabel 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. His mentor, teacher and friend, Bud Trow, of the Tuxedo Classic Jazz Band, gave him his library, music, recordings, and his tuba.

 At this session, Dan played marvelous 1935 King Silvertone - the same model and year that Tommy Dorsey played on, and his horn was actually played in Dorsey's band!  And he also was shaking a gourd and whistling as good as Ted Weem's Elmer Tanner on Acapulco and What’s New?

It was surprising to hear Django's Nuages, usually guitar/violin, performed by Jeff on trumpet  Magnificent! He can make a trumpet do miracles!          

 A couple of other great  guitar-players  were in the audience, Gray Sargent and Jon Wheatley, also Deb Larkin vocalist and Jeff Stout, trumpet.

  Eric Baldwin was featured in Wes Montgomery’s Watch What Happens, with Dave LeBleu and Steve Dale.  Nice!

 Tijuana Taxi was Herb’s biggest record, but there were many more. Good Morning, Mr. Sunshine 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.