Any chance Herb will perform live?

[kenny]

I know this was brought up before the reissues came out, but I wonder if Herb will do any live performances. I agreed with the majority of the posts that said there was no chance, but in an interview that ran in the Seattle PI shortly after the first batch of reissues came out Herb mentioned he was thinking about putting a group together. Has anybody heard anything more about this?

 

[LPJim]

One of my dreams is having Herb come to town for a 2-night gig with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, like Burt B. and many others have done. They could pack the venue both nights, easily.
JB

 

[Rudy]

I don't think there's much of a chance of a tour either...however, I'm more than willing to be pleasantly surprised. I just hope that next time, he can pay a visit to the Detroit area, maybe at a smaller outdoor venue like Meadowbrook (where he last played, on the Spanish Moon tour). I'd still be willing to take a trip to Chicago if I could fit it in my schedule.

If anything the timing is right--TJB reissues are coming out heavily for the rest of the year, and there are both old and new fans that would go see a show like this.

 

[Captaindave]

As regards to live performance, in a word...No.

 

[Steve Sidoruk]

I am waiting patiently for you naysayers to be proven wrong. And, I won't even rub it in with an "I told you so."

 

[Mr Bill]

Hmmm. Sounds like Steve-o may know something the rest of don't yet...

--Mr Bill

 

[Captain Bacardi]

If Herb did do a tour, would he just do something retro (which I doubt) or would he do new material? Or would it be just a Herb & Lani show? Either way, I can't wait for it to happen!



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Captaindave]

Are we suggesting here the possibility of a TJB revival type tour, extensive enough that even we folks here in Ohio could expect to see it??? Something widespread enough for many areas of the country to see it?

I'm not talking about a small number of shows at highly select venues in big metropolitan areas; or the simply the West Coast or southwest, for example. To me, that's not a "tour."

I'd love to see it, but I can't see the name Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass gracing the marquee anywhere around here in Ohio, unless it would be Cleveland...but even Cleveland probably isn't likely for this kind of "tour."

The best I could expect here in Northeast Ohio would probably either be Columbus or Cincinnati...

 

[kenny]

This is the part of the Seattle PI article that got me thinking he might play live: -- He also hasn't toured in a while, although he adds, "I'm thinking of getting a group together with my wife" (Lani Hall, the former lead singer for Sergio Mendes' Brasil 66). -- I can see it going either way. Remember that as late as 6 months ago, most posters on the board were saying there was very little chance of any TJB reissues in 2005 and here they are (I know Capt Bacardi and few others predicted 2005). You never know. I'm sure hoping for a tour of any kind. I figured someone here on the board might have heard some rumors.

 

[martin]

If he's in good health and still plays every day, as he says, I can't see any reason why he should NOT want to come out and play for people. There is a tradition for jazz players to keep playing up to considerable ages. Herb is only 70. During the 96 tour I had a conversation with one of the Almo employees in connection with the first concert at London's jazz café. He told me that Herb enjoyed so much playing those European jazz venues, that he was talking about doing at a yearly basis. As for playing the Tijuana Brass material it has always been a part of Herb's concerts. With Jeff Lorber it was very loose and improvisational but Herb took requests from the audience and even played "Casino Royale" completely unaccompanied. The year after, the TJB songs got the salsa treatment wich worked very well live when I saw it in Copenhagen. The energy and fun didn't quite come across the same way on the German TV taping from Munich.

- greetings from the north -
Martin

 

[LPJim]

To do TJB songs live on tour Herb might like to have that rolling marimba sound we all love in the background. Perhaps Wechter's long-time associate Jules Greenberg could be enlisted.
JB

 

[Mike Blakesley]

Herb ought to do a tour of small-town theater-type venues. I'm sure people wouldn't mind driving a bit!

 

[elswinger]

Herb should do a tour of backyard barbecues and pool parties!

 

[Dave]

Well, there are at least TWO venues near me that Herb could appear at which are:

1. Cheap,

2. Easy To Get To,

3. Have Free Parking ,

4. Places where you could (Hopefully!) meet Herb after the show!!​

--though the lines would probably be incredibly longer than he and/or fans could stand...

One is in Dearborn and the other is in Mt. Clemens, MI...


Dave

 

[Mike Blakesley]

Actually there's a lot more to be considered than Herb just deciding to form a band and go on tour. There's the matter of promoters wanting to book shows.

I'm also a member of an Alan Parsons forum. Mr. Parsons has been very forthcoming with "insider" info on just what it takes to mount a tour. An artist can't just go out and decide to play in a town....they have to be "booked" and the concert(s) promoted by a local or national promoter. Of course, the promoter won't promote unless he thinks the ticket sales will be good enough to pay the band AND the promoter AND all the other expenses; and the band won't play unless the money (guarantee or percentage) is good enough to make it worth the effort.

I'm not saying it won't happen -- just that there's lot more work involved than it looks like on the surface.

 

[Brasil_Nut]

Mike is correct. Touring is complicated at best. It's a true artist who can make it seem effortless to the fan. It's grueling, the hours are long, takes a great deal of coordination and promotion, relocation of equipment, hotels, transportation, etc. The list goes on and on.

Yes, I sure hope Herb will do a tour, but also hope it's within his terms and comfort level to do so. Otherwise, he won't feel as if he's giving his best, and that's just not him. With Herb, it's always top-notch. He puts on one of the best shows I've had the pleasure of seeing.

Jon

 

[Captaindave]

Yes, Herb Alpert's performances are the best I have ever seen by anyone at any time.

I'm totally ignorant on this subject, but I would be of the opinion that touring would be almost cost prohibitive for most performers unless it is a performer who can sell out giant venues at the highest possible ticket prices in promoting high charting albums. I would think that the costs would be enormous, especially when compared to the sixties, when the TJB did much of its touring and concert performing.

I would think that the touring of yesteryear has been largely replaced by the TV/music video of today.

I don't know, but that would be my opinion.

 

[kenny]

I was never thinking that Herb would go on a full blown tour where he'd go to every mid size town in America. I was thinking more like 12 - 15 cities. For example, I could see him just playing LA, SF and Seattle on the West Coast. I just have a feeling he's going to play some live shows. I hope I'm right.

 

[Harry]

I could see him just playing LA, SF and Seattle on the West Coast. I just have a feeling he's going to play some live shows. I hope I'm right.

Back East, we'd call that the Sergio circuit!

Hopefully, if Mr. Alpert gets a little tour together, he'll take it around the country. Maybe I can even to get to see him - it's been over thirty years.

Harry

 

[Captaindave]

I was never thinking that Herb would go on a full blown tour where he'd go to every mid size town in America. I was thinking more like 12 - 15 cities. For example, I could see him just playing LA, SF and Seattle on the West Coast. I just have a feeling he's going to play some live shows. I hope I'm right.

That's exactly what I was afraid of...

I live in Northeaat Ohio.

 

[Rudy]

I'm totally ignorant on this subject, but I would be of the opinion that touring would be almost cost prohibitive for most performers unless it is a performer who can sell out giant venues at the highest possible ticket prices in promoting high charting albums.

You're not far from wrong either--it IS expensive to take a band out on the road. It got expensive in the 60s for a lot of the jazz big bands to go out: having a couple dozen employees on the payroll, for audiences that don't pull in large numbers, meant that most of these bands stopped touring because they couldn't afford it. It's gratifying to see someone like Brian Setzer or Harry Connick Jr. take the plunge and go out on tour with their big bands, but they have to make sure they play in larger venues that they can fill in order to break even and not lose money.

A smaller band can go out on the road, but the promoters have to make it attractive for them. From what I know about smaller bands, their booking agents have to plan their trips to maximize the money they bring in. For longer tours, you're looking at renting a tour bus, and having a road crew with suitable transportation for the equipment. They have to plan to be playing a different city every night, with few nights off (which cost them money). When it's all said and done and the crews are paid, the band is happy to break even, and any surplus is either split up between the members or goes into a general "kitty" for future expenses. The real "profit" comes later, thanks to the additional CD sales that the tour generates. So they need to tour to sell more CDs, so they just have to do it as efficiently as possible.

Heck, it would be great to see a TJB reunion, but you're talking about an eight or nine piece band (three brass, guitar, bass, drums, marimba, keyboards, percussion at the very least), and that could be an expensive undertaking. But if a good promoter can get a decent sized venue filled, and cover the cost of the band's touring expenses, it makes it worthwhile to take up the offers. I'd be glad if he toured in ANY configuration, and came close enough to my area that I could go to the concert.

 

[kenny]

Oh I've got Ohio area taken care of, buddy. Here's the kind of tour I was thinking of: Atlanta, GA
Austin, TX
Boston, MA
Chicago, IL
Cleveland, OH
Denver, CO
Detroit, MI
Las Vegas, NV
Los Angeles, CA
Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, FL
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Phoenix, AZ
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
St. Louis, MO
St. Paul, MN
Washington, DC
This is actually pretty close to the Simon & Garfunkel Old Friends Tour dates with some cities removed and / or changed.

 

[Dave]

Good list of Cities, Coast-to-Coast, there... Think it would look good on the back of those Souvenir-Tour T-Shirts...!!!

Might I suggest a "Folk"-type setting, playing acoustic guitars, a bass (if necessary) and I'm sure Herb's trumpet alone would be enough--or throw in another one and perhaps, the trombone, for the REAL TjB-effect, but that's probably tipping it... As for DRUMS, a "drum machine" or just percussion... (Yeah, forgot about that intro for "A Taste Of Honey") Need keyboards and/or marimba? Those KORG boards, that you really notice onstage, make just about EVERY sound you can think of--and THAT would eliminate the need for a "Big Band", right there...!!


Dave

 

[Mr Bill]

Hey! Where's San Diego on your list??? He's [gotta come to my neck of the woods!

--Mr Bill
noting Herb last played in San Diego at our relatively small Street Scene concert venue four or five years back...