JOv2
Well-Known Member
Years 1970-71. The TjB was officially disbanded; Herb Alpert continued to experiment with new musical ideas in the recording studio albeit under no obvious media or sales pressures; and the BMB continued performing. Both LPs from the period featured personnel changes and, predictably, different musical textures.
If Warm was Herb’s first "non-TjB sounding" LP and TBAC was cut as a quasi-retro piece for the fans then what was Summertime? Well, apparently, a collection of recordings during 1970-71 that may or may not have been initially intended for an LP. The fact that the LP is credited to "…and the Tijuana Brass" is further confusing given Herb formally dissolved the group at the end of 1969.
For all the talk floated in the early 1970s of Herb’s chops being compromised these 1970-71 sessions conversely exhibit his most metallic, direct, and downright pretty tone since S-R-O. True, it’s not full-bodied, but the depth and ease of imagination he displays in his playing suggests he reached a goal of sorts: generating a casual, personal if not intimate sounding horn (akin to an extension of a speaking voice) — a sound that he seemed to have been struggling with since Ninth. Stepping out of the limelight, Herb’s 1970-71 music is highly reflective and personal, which is very different from all the previous LPs (including Warm). For this reason, Summertime aligns well with Just You and Me (1976). In light of this, the musical progression following Pisano and Ruff’s Under The Blanket (1970), to which Herb made significant contributions, seems musically logical.
As an LP, Summertime, which failed to make the Top-100, exhibits an early '70s singer-songwriter vibe. For example, finger-picking acoustic guitar has replaced the famous 12-sting electric that defined the GP—WNML—SRO TjB heyday; additionally, electric piano (which Herb started to use on TBAC) with its characteristic muffled sound has replaced the bright string-hammered attack of the traditional piano.
Relative to their 1968-69 LPs, the BMB 1971 LP, As Time Goes By, sounds like an LP virtually anyone with adequate chops could have cut and issued -- given BMB musical personality is clearly absent. Sadly, the exciting De Vito—Pollan rhythm team has been replaced with session players just reading charts. The horns on the LP are also devoid of any BMB character. The music is overall very good, but the performances are just not riveting in a BMB sense — rather, there's an absence of tension and release (i.e., musical emotion) that helped to elevate San Jose, Those Were The Days, and Fresh Air over its predecessors. Partnering with Roger Kellaway, the LP is predictably keyboard-heavy. It’s a good LP, but frankly, just lacks any BMB identity and charisma.
So who from the both groups is present on these LPs? The TjB LP probably has Bob; I’m less sure about John and Nic (I don’t hear their artistic mannerisms — then again, this music is largely different so, each could have accommodated their new roles). For the BMB rest assured the horns and drums and bass and all different. We know Curry was kicked out of the group sometime after Fresh Air. With Kellaway leading the charge the musicians could all be his associates or nameless session cats. It does seem odd, however, that although the BMB was touring into 1970-71, their next LP would seemingly not feature the group.
Vote your poll choice and tell us a bit about why you made your selection.
Summertime (SP 4314) — As Time Goes By (SP 4298)
If Warm was Herb’s first "non-TjB sounding" LP and TBAC was cut as a quasi-retro piece for the fans then what was Summertime? Well, apparently, a collection of recordings during 1970-71 that may or may not have been initially intended for an LP. The fact that the LP is credited to "…and the Tijuana Brass" is further confusing given Herb formally dissolved the group at the end of 1969.
For all the talk floated in the early 1970s of Herb’s chops being compromised these 1970-71 sessions conversely exhibit his most metallic, direct, and downright pretty tone since S-R-O. True, it’s not full-bodied, but the depth and ease of imagination he displays in his playing suggests he reached a goal of sorts: generating a casual, personal if not intimate sounding horn (akin to an extension of a speaking voice) — a sound that he seemed to have been struggling with since Ninth. Stepping out of the limelight, Herb’s 1970-71 music is highly reflective and personal, which is very different from all the previous LPs (including Warm). For this reason, Summertime aligns well with Just You and Me (1976). In light of this, the musical progression following Pisano and Ruff’s Under The Blanket (1970), to which Herb made significant contributions, seems musically logical.
As an LP, Summertime, which failed to make the Top-100, exhibits an early '70s singer-songwriter vibe. For example, finger-picking acoustic guitar has replaced the famous 12-sting electric that defined the GP—WNML—SRO TjB heyday; additionally, electric piano (which Herb started to use on TBAC) with its characteristic muffled sound has replaced the bright string-hammered attack of the traditional piano.
Relative to their 1968-69 LPs, the BMB 1971 LP, As Time Goes By, sounds like an LP virtually anyone with adequate chops could have cut and issued -- given BMB musical personality is clearly absent. Sadly, the exciting De Vito—Pollan rhythm team has been replaced with session players just reading charts. The horns on the LP are also devoid of any BMB character. The music is overall very good, but the performances are just not riveting in a BMB sense — rather, there's an absence of tension and release (i.e., musical emotion) that helped to elevate San Jose, Those Were The Days, and Fresh Air over its predecessors. Partnering with Roger Kellaway, the LP is predictably keyboard-heavy. It’s a good LP, but frankly, just lacks any BMB identity and charisma.
So who from the both groups is present on these LPs? The TjB LP probably has Bob; I’m less sure about John and Nic (I don’t hear their artistic mannerisms — then again, this music is largely different so, each could have accommodated their new roles). For the BMB rest assured the horns and drums and bass and all different. We know Curry was kicked out of the group sometime after Fresh Air. With Kellaway leading the charge the musicians could all be his associates or nameless session cats. It does seem odd, however, that although the BMB was touring into 1970-71, their next LP would seemingly not feature the group.
Vote your poll choice and tell us a bit about why you made your selection.
Summertime (SP 4314) — As Time Goes By (SP 4298)