AlongCameMary
New Member
Hi, fellow Herb fans --
I have been a great fan of Herb and the TJB from way back -- oh, thirtysomething years now or more (yes, I was TWO when I started loving his music <g>). He was the one who inspired me to take up the trumpet in junior-high band in Michigan, and while I never was the greatest of trumpet players (solid third or sometimes second part), I gained SO much from participating in high school and then college band. It's been a while since I've picked my horn up (I actually play the Scottish bagpipes now!), but a few weeks ago I was shopping on Ebay and just happened to type in "Herb Alpert" -- what a treasure trove! I ended up buying a VHS copy of "The Beat of the Brass" special -- a TV special I well remember from its first airing, and which I never thought I'd see again! (Where DID that guy get it??)
It inspired me to start digging up all my old Herb collection -- I had all the albums, of course, plus concert programs, posters, clippings -- all the usual fandom collectibles. It's all in boxes somewhere -- I'll find it!! I even have live cassette recordings I made when I sneaked a tape recorder into a couple of Herb's concerts in the '70s and '80s. (Sshh -- don't tell!)
I have to grin when I think of those days -- at a time when all my friends were into the Rolling Stones and all the other late-'60s, early-70s rock, I was into Herb and Sergio Mendes and the Baja Marimba Band! It's good to see I was not alone!
So -- can you all help me to catch up? What has Herb been doing lately? Is he healthy and well? (I last saw him in 1997 when he played in L.A. -- went backstage to chat with him, and SUCH a nice man!! I had met him once before, when a fellow college trumpet player and I went backstage at one of his concerts in the '80s, but my 1997 meeting with him was much more relaxed.) Is there a page somewhere that updates us on the doings of the surviving TJB members? (I know that, sadly, we lost Julius Wechter not too long ago.) I know the great John Pisano is a regular here in L.A., playing in top jazz lounges. What about the rest of them?
Speaking as a current L.A. resident, it was SO hard a few years ago when the A&M Records sign came down at the old Chaplin studios, as the company was closed down. I shed a few tears at the demise of this once-great independent label (and I know Herb and Jerry are very teed off at the way it was all done -- I hope they win!). What memories were there -- what sounds were created for all of us to enjoy!
Anyway -- I have many more thoughts to post, when I have some more time. Very glad to be here!! Mary
I have been a great fan of Herb and the TJB from way back -- oh, thirtysomething years now or more (yes, I was TWO when I started loving his music <g>). He was the one who inspired me to take up the trumpet in junior-high band in Michigan, and while I never was the greatest of trumpet players (solid third or sometimes second part), I gained SO much from participating in high school and then college band. It's been a while since I've picked my horn up (I actually play the Scottish bagpipes now!), but a few weeks ago I was shopping on Ebay and just happened to type in "Herb Alpert" -- what a treasure trove! I ended up buying a VHS copy of "The Beat of the Brass" special -- a TV special I well remember from its first airing, and which I never thought I'd see again! (Where DID that guy get it??)
It inspired me to start digging up all my old Herb collection -- I had all the albums, of course, plus concert programs, posters, clippings -- all the usual fandom collectibles. It's all in boxes somewhere -- I'll find it!! I even have live cassette recordings I made when I sneaked a tape recorder into a couple of Herb's concerts in the '70s and '80s. (Sshh -- don't tell!)
I have to grin when I think of those days -- at a time when all my friends were into the Rolling Stones and all the other late-'60s, early-70s rock, I was into Herb and Sergio Mendes and the Baja Marimba Band! It's good to see I was not alone!
So -- can you all help me to catch up? What has Herb been doing lately? Is he healthy and well? (I last saw him in 1997 when he played in L.A. -- went backstage to chat with him, and SUCH a nice man!! I had met him once before, when a fellow college trumpet player and I went backstage at one of his concerts in the '80s, but my 1997 meeting with him was much more relaxed.) Is there a page somewhere that updates us on the doings of the surviving TJB members? (I know that, sadly, we lost Julius Wechter not too long ago.) I know the great John Pisano is a regular here in L.A., playing in top jazz lounges. What about the rest of them?
Speaking as a current L.A. resident, it was SO hard a few years ago when the A&M Records sign came down at the old Chaplin studios, as the company was closed down. I shed a few tears at the demise of this once-great independent label (and I know Herb and Jerry are very teed off at the way it was all done -- I hope they win!). What memories were there -- what sounds were created for all of us to enjoy!
Anyway -- I have many more thoughts to post, when I have some more time. Very glad to be here!! Mary