I'm new here, and don't mean to be a pest, but ...I know many of you had the chance to see the TJB in concert, some of you more than once, during their 1965-68/9 glory years. I've read they traveled with a great sound system, and typically closed with ZORBA. I've seen all three "vintage" specials, including the concert segment featured on one of the shows. But does anyone recall any between song patter, comedy routines, or whatever, that might add to my mental picture? I presume they responded to calls for "encore" -- was this when Zorba was trotted out, or was it the last song of the regular set? For those of you who saw them on multiple occasions, especially over several years -- did they sound appreciably different, say, in 1966, as compared to 1968? Does anyone recall what song the band opened with? Or for how long/how many songs they played? Damn, it must have been fabulous -- unfortunately for me, I wasn't really fully aware of the band until the release of WNML (sister's record) -- and later realized the TJB had played in my town just a few months prior to that. I missed my chance -- my parents would have taken me if I'd known to ask..
TJB in concert questions
- Thread starter Maitlen
- Start date
- Status
bob
Active Member
hi maitlen
how you doing? I saw the tjb in concert back in 1968 at a place called the Blossom music center in between Akron and Cleveland,ohio. as I live in Cleveland. their opening song was the lonely bull which was the same version they played in the brass are coming TV special at the end. and they did the comedy skit with bob edmunson struttin' with maria and they ended with Zorba the greek. and the whole concert was 2 hours. and they played 2 days my parents took me the first night.
bob
how you doing? I saw the tjb in concert back in 1968 at a place called the Blossom music center in between Akron and Cleveland,ohio. as I live in Cleveland. their opening song was the lonely bull which was the same version they played in the brass are coming TV special at the end. and they did the comedy skit with bob edmunson struttin' with maria and they ended with Zorba the greek. and the whole concert was 2 hours. and they played 2 days my parents took me the first night.
bob
Captaindave
Well-Known Member
OK...I saw them perform 3 times; twice in August, 1968, and again in October, 1969. I also saw the reformed group about 1974 on two occasions.
Here we go...
August 5 & 6, 1968; Monday and Tuesday nights - I went both nights...these were a two night stand at the Blossom Music Center, an outdoor amphitheater located about 30 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. It was built to be the summer venue for the Cleveland Orchestra, but some pop acts were scheduled also around the orchestra schedule. Total attendance for both nights combined was about 25,000.
There was a "warm-up" group which played about 40 minutes before the TJB took the stage. That group was Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD, who had a Top 40 hit back about 1968 called Black Pearl.
The opening song was Lonely Bull. The music started with the stage in darkness, and Herb entered the stage while the band was vamping on the rhythm before the horns begin to play the melody. I remember the group ended the song by repeating the fanfare that you hear at the beginning, and I remember Tonni Kalash taking the last note way up into the double high register.
The group played two sets, beginning at about 9:30 pm, and ending about 11:00 pm. There was short intermission between the two sets.
I remember that several of the TJB's more popular songs were played in the form of medleys - several songs all strung together without stopping. These were VERY effective ways of bringing many of the albums' content to the stage without playing each song in its entirety. I had never seen any group like this before, and 1968 was the opening season for Blossom, so professional groups of this caliber were seldom seen around Northeast Ohio previously. Needless to say, I was totally amazed and awestruck by the sound and skill I saw and heard form that stage.
This was the time that This Guy's In Love With You was high on the pop charts. I remember when they got to a point somewhere about the middle of the song, Herb looked down into the rows of seats closest to the stage, and as if he were talking to someone asked, "Would you like to dance?" Herb often talked to the audience, but I do not remember much of what he said. I think he might have asked the audience, "What would you like to hear?" But, I know the show was well planned ahead of time - it was very, very polished.
Songs I remember hearing, along with all the big hits, included Mame, South Of The Border, Bittersweet Samba, Winds of Barcelona, Never On Sunday, Let It Be Me, Slick, and Abanda. There were many others - my memory just won't recall all of it. It seems like they played many, many of the cuts on the albums as well as the big hits.
I remember I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. They started it slow, just like Tommy Dorsey intended - a ballad with Bob Edmondson playing a very beautiful solo while Herb introduced the song. Then, they went into the up tempo arrangement from the album, and ended the song in ballad style as they started. I remember Herb saying as Bob Edmondson played the final notes, "Thank you, Tommy Dorsey, and thank you, Bob Edmondson."
I don't recall much of any comedy - just lots of very well rehearsed, tight, polished playing. You could tell these guys were excellent professionals on their instruments. Yes, the sound system provided a very high quality, almost recording studio sound.
They were dressed in tuxedo style outfits that remind me of the brown or burgundy tuxedos that you see on the Beat of the Brass album. Herb, of course, was dressed in a contrasting yet very dressy outfit - sport coat and tie.
The closing song was Zorba the Greek. Bob Edmondson on the tympani...those two trumpet players ripped through those trumpet lines effortlessly...it was rather amazing to a trumpet player like me who was in high school at the time.
I'll stop with that. If there's anything more specific, I'll try to answer...I'll say this in closing - those were magical nights that I'll never forget. The impression left on my teenage mind was indelible. Beautiful summer nights, beautiful venue, and the TJB at their finest... pure magic.
Here we go...
August 5 & 6, 1968; Monday and Tuesday nights - I went both nights...these were a two night stand at the Blossom Music Center, an outdoor amphitheater located about 30 miles south of Cleveland, Ohio. It was built to be the summer venue for the Cleveland Orchestra, but some pop acts were scheduled also around the orchestra schedule. Total attendance for both nights combined was about 25,000.
There was a "warm-up" group which played about 40 minutes before the TJB took the stage. That group was Sonny Charles and the Checkmates, LTD, who had a Top 40 hit back about 1968 called Black Pearl.
The opening song was Lonely Bull. The music started with the stage in darkness, and Herb entered the stage while the band was vamping on the rhythm before the horns begin to play the melody. I remember the group ended the song by repeating the fanfare that you hear at the beginning, and I remember Tonni Kalash taking the last note way up into the double high register.
The group played two sets, beginning at about 9:30 pm, and ending about 11:00 pm. There was short intermission between the two sets.
I remember that several of the TJB's more popular songs were played in the form of medleys - several songs all strung together without stopping. These were VERY effective ways of bringing many of the albums' content to the stage without playing each song in its entirety. I had never seen any group like this before, and 1968 was the opening season for Blossom, so professional groups of this caliber were seldom seen around Northeast Ohio previously. Needless to say, I was totally amazed and awestruck by the sound and skill I saw and heard form that stage.
This was the time that This Guy's In Love With You was high on the pop charts. I remember when they got to a point somewhere about the middle of the song, Herb looked down into the rows of seats closest to the stage, and as if he were talking to someone asked, "Would you like to dance?" Herb often talked to the audience, but I do not remember much of what he said. I think he might have asked the audience, "What would you like to hear?" But, I know the show was well planned ahead of time - it was very, very polished.
Songs I remember hearing, along with all the big hits, included Mame, South Of The Border, Bittersweet Samba, Winds of Barcelona, Never On Sunday, Let It Be Me, Slick, and Abanda. There were many others - my memory just won't recall all of it. It seems like they played many, many of the cuts on the albums as well as the big hits.
I remember I'm Getting Sentimental Over You. They started it slow, just like Tommy Dorsey intended - a ballad with Bob Edmondson playing a very beautiful solo while Herb introduced the song. Then, they went into the up tempo arrangement from the album, and ended the song in ballad style as they started. I remember Herb saying as Bob Edmondson played the final notes, "Thank you, Tommy Dorsey, and thank you, Bob Edmondson."
I don't recall much of any comedy - just lots of very well rehearsed, tight, polished playing. You could tell these guys were excellent professionals on their instruments. Yes, the sound system provided a very high quality, almost recording studio sound.
They were dressed in tuxedo style outfits that remind me of the brown or burgundy tuxedos that you see on the Beat of the Brass album. Herb, of course, was dressed in a contrasting yet very dressy outfit - sport coat and tie.
The closing song was Zorba the Greek. Bob Edmondson on the tympani...those two trumpet players ripped through those trumpet lines effortlessly...it was rather amazing to a trumpet player like me who was in high school at the time.
I'll stop with that. If there's anything more specific, I'll try to answer...I'll say this in closing - those were magical nights that I'll never forget. The impression left on my teenage mind was indelible. Beautiful summer nights, beautiful venue, and the TJB at their finest... pure magic.
Greg Shannon
New Member
Hi, Maitlen.
Here are my dim memories. I saw the TJB play in Reno in about 66-67, I believe. I was around 10-11 years old and can't remember a lot of details. I do remember a little bit of the shtick, though. I remember that Bob Edmondson was sort of the joker or clown figure. I think he played the horn on TJ Taxi. I remember that at one point, Herb made some joke about the TJB changing its musical direction, followed by John Pisano wailing away like Hendrix on his electric guitar for a moment. It got a big laugh. The opening act was the Baja Marimba Band, and the one memory I have of that is how the band members shuffled on stage as if they were drunk or something and were knocking over microphone stands and other objects. That also got a laugh. Brasil '66 also performed. Julius Wechter joined the TJB for their set. It seems to me that everybody from all 3 groups did some kind of finale, but it's been so long ago I may be misremembering. I do remember how great the show was.
I saw the "Coney Island" lineup of the TJB at Harrah's Lake Tahoe whenever it was that Coney Island came out. I can't remember who the new musicians were, except that the pianist was a young guy. The one piece of humor I remember is that during one song, the pianist began improvising and getting farther and farther away from the melody until everyone else stopped playing and just stared at him. Pretty funny. Can't remember what the song was. Sorry about my memory. Everybody else on this site has a frighteningly good memory and mind for details.
Cheers,
Greg Shannon
Here are my dim memories. I saw the TJB play in Reno in about 66-67, I believe. I was around 10-11 years old and can't remember a lot of details. I do remember a little bit of the shtick, though. I remember that Bob Edmondson was sort of the joker or clown figure. I think he played the horn on TJ Taxi. I remember that at one point, Herb made some joke about the TJB changing its musical direction, followed by John Pisano wailing away like Hendrix on his electric guitar for a moment. It got a big laugh. The opening act was the Baja Marimba Band, and the one memory I have of that is how the band members shuffled on stage as if they were drunk or something and were knocking over microphone stands and other objects. That also got a laugh. Brasil '66 also performed. Julius Wechter joined the TJB for their set. It seems to me that everybody from all 3 groups did some kind of finale, but it's been so long ago I may be misremembering. I do remember how great the show was.
I saw the "Coney Island" lineup of the TJB at Harrah's Lake Tahoe whenever it was that Coney Island came out. I can't remember who the new musicians were, except that the pianist was a young guy. The one piece of humor I remember is that during one song, the pianist began improvising and getting farther and farther away from the melody until everyone else stopped playing and just stared at him. Pretty funny. Can't remember what the song was. Sorry about my memory. Everybody else on this site has a frighteningly good memory and mind for details.
Cheers,
Greg Shannon
I saw the TJB in Portland, Oregon in may of 1975 during the Coney Island tour. I had just "discovered" the Tijuana Brass and as a young trumpeter I was just amazed at the playing. They opened with a darkened stage and Herb singing the first few lines of This Guy and then went right into A Taste of Honey. That was the second and last time the TJB was in Portland fo fortunately I made the most of my only opportunity. The song that the piano player went crazy on was Spanish Flea. When the piano solo came up he just kind of took over and at one point everyone does stop to look at him while Herb checks his watch but when he finished and everyone came back in it was right on beat and perfect. During the concert Herb alluded to a Latin America condert tour that appartently had been very successful. At one point he asked for requests but seemed to ignore all the songs that were bding shouted out and settled on Brasilia. He finished on Zorba the Greek and despite very enthusiastic and prolonged applause there was no encore. One other comedy routine was on Tijuana Taxi where Bob Edmonson would put down his trombone and casually stroll to the front and with absolutely perfect timing pick up the taxi horn and blow it, then casually stroll back and continue playing the trombone. The taxi horn needed blowing several times and it was rather hilarious to see Bob seemingly taking his time during this frantic song but he never missed a beat. We were fairly far back but the venue was rather cozy (8000 or so) so it didn't seem like we were in the next county or anything. Oh yeah, the concert cost $8.50. One last thing, there was no warm up act but Lani did come out in the middle (intermission?) and sing a song or two.
Greg Shannon said:
Greg, you're doing just fine - you're memories of the TjB concerts are probably better than mine and I saw them at least three times. I think I was so overwhelmed as a fan that I must've just sat there taking it all in, living for the moment and enjoying it - and yet now I have very little memories of actual stage goings-on.
I vividly remember our seating arrangements. The first time, at the Spectrum in Philadelphia, a basketball/hockey arena, we sat in folding chairs on the floor and people stood up and clapped along with songs a lot, taking away our view.
The second time, also at the Spectrum, we sat very near the entrance-way where Herb waited in the wings to enter the arena. I still have my ticket stub for that one:
Obviously the opening act for that one was O.C.Smith, and I'm betting he must've sang "Little Green Apples" and "Daddy's Little Man", but really, other than reading it on the ticket - there's zero memory of seeing him there.
In the '70s, we saw the Coney Island tour with the newer Brass members and Lani Hall. This time it was in Devon, PA at the Valley Forge Music Fair, a concert-in-the-round venue. I remember it being jazzier than the classic TjB sound, and now that you mention the Frishberg/piano schtick, I can vaguely recall that.
I guess, since we're talking about events from thirty to forty years ago, we're lucky we have the memories that we do.
Harry
...trying to stimulate a few inactive brain cells, online...
Captaindave
Well-Known Member
I saw that same show with O.C. Smith for which you see the ticket stub above, except it was in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Cleveland Public Auditorium, on Monday, October 27, 1969. Twelve days later.
The album Brass Are Comin' had just been released, and I remember they played Good Morning, Mr. Sunshine.
I think this may have been the very last tour the original TJB group did before Herb disbanded them.
One thing I seem to recall was that the size of the audience had dropped off somewhat by that time. Just over a year earlier at the Blossom Music Center concerts I described above, it was still SRO...
A sad difference a year or so can make in pop music...
The album Brass Are Comin' had just been released, and I remember they played Good Morning, Mr. Sunshine.
I think this may have been the very last tour the original TJB group did before Herb disbanded them.
One thing I seem to recall was that the size of the audience had dropped off somewhat by that time. Just over a year earlier at the Blossom Music Center concerts I described above, it was still SRO...
A sad difference a year or so can make in pop music...
Hi Maitlen,
Welcome to A&M Corner. I saw The TJB a few times. The first concert was the same one Harry was at...The Spectrum in Philadelphia. My vivid memory was this...I was seated in the first section adjacent to the entrance where the band came out. We could lean over the railing, look back and see the guys waiting in the wing to enter. We waived at Bob Edmondson and Nick Ceroli but didn't see Herb until just before the group's introduction. I believe the band came out first to take their positions and then the intro to Herb who came out dressed in a white outfit if my memory serves me. I was so excited. I thought they were excellent. What really caught me by surprise was that the group used no marimba in the program. Obviously, Lou Pagani filled what Julius Wechter played on the albums. Another concert was "The Bullish Tour" at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City. Though I ordered my tickets early, I was stuck up in the nose bleed section of the amphitheater. It was a great program though and even more thrilling than the first because Julius Wechter was there on marimba and percussion. I'm a huge Julius fan. What was really neat was that prior to the start of the show, some guys came out on stage to double check things and make sure all was in order. There was a gent who came out with a hat on (I couldn't tell who it was) and he was unfolding what appeared to be a veltvet cloth, the wood pieces for the marimba and was setting them into the instrument. He picked up a pair of mallets and checked each piece to be sure it sounded right, etc. Approx. twice, he played the intro to A Taste Of Honey, and on the third time of playing it, all the band members, including Herb, came out and joined in. That was awesome. Turns out, of course, that the guy behind the marimba was Julius. I always liked marimba but didn't really zero in on it until The Whipped Cream album and I've been a fan of Julius ever since. One song really stood out at the Bullish concert and I've never heard it since. Herb played the Lionel Ritchie song "Hello" solo. It was absolutely gorgeous and it captivated me. I wish I could find that on a c-d. Just like in the Philadelphia concert, the crowd was all ages including kids who were about 8-9-10 or so all the way up to folks in their 70's.
Those are some of my fond memories. One regret that I know have. I didn't go down to the stage to meet the guys, especially Nick Ceroli and Julius Wechter.
God Bless,
Tom
Welcome to A&M Corner. I saw The TJB a few times. The first concert was the same one Harry was at...The Spectrum in Philadelphia. My vivid memory was this...I was seated in the first section adjacent to the entrance where the band came out. We could lean over the railing, look back and see the guys waiting in the wing to enter. We waived at Bob Edmondson and Nick Ceroli but didn't see Herb until just before the group's introduction. I believe the band came out first to take their positions and then the intro to Herb who came out dressed in a white outfit if my memory serves me. I was so excited. I thought they were excellent. What really caught me by surprise was that the group used no marimba in the program. Obviously, Lou Pagani filled what Julius Wechter played on the albums. Another concert was "The Bullish Tour" at the Starlight Theater in Kansas City. Though I ordered my tickets early, I was stuck up in the nose bleed section of the amphitheater. It was a great program though and even more thrilling than the first because Julius Wechter was there on marimba and percussion. I'm a huge Julius fan. What was really neat was that prior to the start of the show, some guys came out on stage to double check things and make sure all was in order. There was a gent who came out with a hat on (I couldn't tell who it was) and he was unfolding what appeared to be a veltvet cloth, the wood pieces for the marimba and was setting them into the instrument. He picked up a pair of mallets and checked each piece to be sure it sounded right, etc. Approx. twice, he played the intro to A Taste Of Honey, and on the third time of playing it, all the band members, including Herb, came out and joined in. That was awesome. Turns out, of course, that the guy behind the marimba was Julius. I always liked marimba but didn't really zero in on it until The Whipped Cream album and I've been a fan of Julius ever since. One song really stood out at the Bullish concert and I've never heard it since. Herb played the Lionel Ritchie song "Hello" solo. It was absolutely gorgeous and it captivated me. I wish I could find that on a c-d. Just like in the Philadelphia concert, the crowd was all ages including kids who were about 8-9-10 or so all the way up to folks in their 70's.
Those are some of my fond memories. One regret that I know have. I didn't go down to the stage to meet the guys, especially Nick Ceroli and Julius Wechter.
God Bless,
Tom
Wow, great recollections, everyone ... I'm thankful that although I missed seeing the TJB, I did get to see the BMB in concert, during the latter part of 1966 (I think) in Spokane, Washington. They were the opening act for Roger ("King of the Road") Miller, and blew poor Roger away. I also now remember them shuffling out to the stage, to great applause and laughter -- a great concert that my parents and I enjoyed equally. I love the sound of Julius's marimba, both with BMB and the TJB records (I'm a little surprised to learn that the TJB typically didn't tour with a marimba player, given the prominence of the instrument on so many TJB records.) My imagination tells me that, as a side-project, an album of just Herb and Julius would have been something to hear.
I never saw the Brass in concert, but I clearly remember the time when, after I had just discovered the band, I found out they'd played a concert in Billings (2 hours from here) the previous summer, which would have been around '65 or '66. It was an outdoor concert at the Midland Empire State Fairgounds, in front of a grandstand that seats 8,000 people. I always figured they would come back again, but of course it never happened. I think they played 2 Montana concerts (the other one in Great Falls) and that was it.
Captaindave
Well-Known Member
Numero Cinco
New Member
Weclome, Maitien, and thanks for beginning such a terrific thread—the more so for those, like me, who never experienced the Brass live and in concert.
But Capraindave's earlier comments jog my memory of the NBC-TV late-'60s' special, "The Brass Are Comin'." I vividly recall—only because I audio-taped—the last segment of that special (before Herb thanked his viewers for watching and rode off on his pony, along the beach, to the chorus of Warm's "The Sea Is My Soil"). Anyway, that last segment apparently replicated—for a television studio audience—a bobtailed version of the group's concert program. As the band vamped, Herb came running in, to great cheers and shouts of "Olé!" after which Cerolli kicked them into an up-temp version of "The Lonely Bull": Bob Edmondson playing the bridge, Tonni Kalish taking them out exatly as Captaindave describes. After expressing some appreciative words, again with soft vamping in the background, Herb led them all into "Casino Royale," seamlessly blended into "Never on Sunday" (up-tempo), "Mae," "Spanish Flea," "Mame," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Tijuana Taxi" (played as an easy shuffle), and a hard-driving, rock-'n-roll version of "Green Peppers." Soft interlude: Herb sang "This Guy's in Love with You." The finale: "A Taste of Honey," rocking along to Pisano's electric (not acousitic) guitar. Unforgettable.
But Capraindave's earlier comments jog my memory of the NBC-TV late-'60s' special, "The Brass Are Comin'." I vividly recall—only because I audio-taped—the last segment of that special (before Herb thanked his viewers for watching and rode off on his pony, along the beach, to the chorus of Warm's "The Sea Is My Soil"). Anyway, that last segment apparently replicated—for a television studio audience—a bobtailed version of the group's concert program. As the band vamped, Herb came running in, to great cheers and shouts of "Olé!" after which Cerolli kicked them into an up-temp version of "The Lonely Bull": Bob Edmondson playing the bridge, Tonni Kalish taking them out exatly as Captaindave describes. After expressing some appreciative words, again with soft vamping in the background, Herb led them all into "Casino Royale," seamlessly blended into "Never on Sunday" (up-tempo), "Mae," "Spanish Flea," "Mame," "If I Were a Rich Man," "Tijuana Taxi" (played as an easy shuffle), and a hard-driving, rock-'n-roll version of "Green Peppers." Soft interlude: Herb sang "This Guy's in Love with You." The finale: "A Taste of Honey," rocking along to Pisano's electric (not acousitic) guitar. Unforgettable.
Captaindave
Well-Known Member
Just to throw in a little trivia...
I am very sure that the custom sound system that was used in concert was made up mostly of Altec Lansing components - speakers, amplifiers, etc.
At that time, Altec Lansing was known for the famous Voice Of The Theater (A7) speaker system. The speaker enclosures used by the TJB appeared to be based on the Voice Of The Theater concept but greatly expanded to be much larger and much more powerful, and included more speakers in each enclosure, with a much, much larger horn speaker on top of each one.
I am very sure that the custom sound system that was used in concert was made up mostly of Altec Lansing components - speakers, amplifiers, etc.
At that time, Altec Lansing was known for the famous Voice Of The Theater (A7) speaker system. The speaker enclosures used by the TJB appeared to be based on the Voice Of The Theater concept but greatly expanded to be much larger and much more powerful, and included more speakers in each enclosure, with a much, much larger horn speaker on top of each one.
Wonder if any of you saw Herb & the TJB "Bullish" tour back in June or July of 1984 at the Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan (known as the DTE Energy Music Theatre since 2000)??? I saw the AD in the Detroit Free Press back then. I am not sure since 1984 since Herb hasn't come to Michigan since then?? 
Matt Clark Sanford, MI
Matt Clark Sanford, MII had the unique privilege of seeing Mr. Alpert and the original TJB line-up in concert twice on the West Coast in the '60's.
The first time was at the Hollywood Bowl before an extremely appreciative audience in 1967. Mr. Wechter and the Baja Marimba Band opened with an energetic and humorous set, which, of course, featured virtuoso musicianship of the highest caliber (especially Mr. W. on the lead marimba) and lively arrangements spiced with liberal doses of slapsick comedy: lots of fun!
There was a 15-minute intermission (I remember feeling the anticipation
), and then the lights flashing on and off a few times, warning the ticket-holders that the main act was about to appear.
Then the house lights went dark (with the usher crew escorting late-comers to reserved seats with flashlights), and I could dimly see movement on the Bowl stage as the TJB sidemen were getting plugged in with the help of the house hands.
And then, the most electrifying start to a live concert act I've ever seen in my life (and I've seen Paul McCartney twice!): the sound of conga drums in tandem with maracas and light drums, then bass and rhythm guitar entering, and then building...building...building, all the while, the stage lights in muted, background colors.
And then, suddenly, as the lead trumpet line kicks in, a flash of white-hot spotlight on Mr. Alpert, (and the whole band also in brilliant colors), playing an exciting, charged rendition of "A Banda", the lead-off piece from "Herb Alpert's Ninth". Man, it gives me goose bumps just remembering that opener
.
Here I was in a box seat with my family, on a warm SoCal Summer evening at the Hollywood Bowl, experiencing the power of the most popular instrumental act in the world.
The electrified audience of 20,000+ just rose to their feet and cheered. What a rush that must've been for Mr. A. and his gang! And that was just the start: I also distinctly remember that the group played around with a bit of improvisation, not wanting to repeat their recordings note-for-note-for-note, but adding new little touches here and there, a free-flowing solo passage for good measure.
I also remember the TJB instrumentalists all dressed in elegant black tuxes (or someting approximating that, anyway...could've been brown or burgundy), and Mr. Alpert in an all-white, tux-like suit, which was absolutely stunning in the spotlight.
The sound system was first-class, and every note was crisp and clean and clear in that legendary amphitheatre: top-line, just like everything in the 90-minute, polished act which followed.
I hope this humble recollection gives just a brief taste of what it was like to experience the excitement of a live TJB venue. I'll never forget it as long as I live...and I was only seven years old!
The first time was at the Hollywood Bowl before an extremely appreciative audience in 1967. Mr. Wechter and the Baja Marimba Band opened with an energetic and humorous set, which, of course, featured virtuoso musicianship of the highest caliber (especially Mr. W. on the lead marimba) and lively arrangements spiced with liberal doses of slapsick comedy: lots of fun!
There was a 15-minute intermission (I remember feeling the anticipation
), and then the lights flashing on and off a few times, warning the ticket-holders that the main act was about to appear.Then the house lights went dark (with the usher crew escorting late-comers to reserved seats with flashlights), and I could dimly see movement on the Bowl stage as the TJB sidemen were getting plugged in with the help of the house hands.
And then, the most electrifying start to a live concert act I've ever seen in my life (and I've seen Paul McCartney twice!): the sound of conga drums in tandem with maracas and light drums, then bass and rhythm guitar entering, and then building...building...building, all the while, the stage lights in muted, background colors.
And then, suddenly, as the lead trumpet line kicks in, a flash of white-hot spotlight on Mr. Alpert, (and the whole band also in brilliant colors), playing an exciting, charged rendition of "A Banda", the lead-off piece from "Herb Alpert's Ninth". Man, it gives me goose bumps just remembering that opener
.Here I was in a box seat with my family, on a warm SoCal Summer evening at the Hollywood Bowl, experiencing the power of the most popular instrumental act in the world.
The electrified audience of 20,000+ just rose to their feet and cheered. What a rush that must've been for Mr. A. and his gang! And that was just the start: I also distinctly remember that the group played around with a bit of improvisation, not wanting to repeat their recordings note-for-note-for-note, but adding new little touches here and there, a free-flowing solo passage for good measure.
I also remember the TJB instrumentalists all dressed in elegant black tuxes (or someting approximating that, anyway...could've been brown or burgundy), and Mr. Alpert in an all-white, tux-like suit, which was absolutely stunning in the spotlight.
The sound system was first-class, and every note was crisp and clean and clear in that legendary amphitheatre: top-line, just like everything in the 90-minute, polished act which followed.
I hope this humble recollection gives just a brief taste of what it was like to experience the excitement of a live TJB venue. I'll never forget it as long as I live...and I was only seven years old!
Wow, this is a great thread. What is interesting to hear is how different the concerts were. By contrast my wife and I went to a dixie chicks concert last year and came away with the feeling that we could have stayed home and just listened to their cd's. they id have a very interesting lighted stage but there was no deviation from the arrangements that were recorded. On the other hand Herb seemed to mix things up quite a bit to liven it up. I did see Herb and the TJB during the coney Island tour but it sounds like the 1966 to 1969 concerts were the ones to be at.
Please forgive me if I ramble on a bit more about the TJB's live act, but the Hollywood Bowl concert in '67 was only one of the two extremely memorable concerts I experienced with Mr. Alpert and his peripatetic team of crack music-makers. The other one was (he announced) Mr. Alpert's very last gig with the original TJB line-up, in 1969, at the San Diego Sports Arena, and the culmination of his '69 world tour. I attended with my Mother (who bought the tickets for me as a 10th birthday present), my stepdad, little brother, and Grandmother, who was 73 at the time; (yes, the TJB was popular beyond generations and typical, predictable demographics!).
The gig opened with O.C. Smith (who was riding high on the R&B/pop charts with "Little Green Apples") presenting a class act in an elegant black tux, and singing with soulful power.
When Mr. A. and the gentlemen appeared after intermission, it was 2 1/2 hours of pure, foot-tapping, take-your-breath-away entertainment. The guys played their hearts out (especially Mr. Alpert), knowing full well that their team was disbanding after several years of worldwide success and acclamation. As usual, the whole arena was packed with 15,000 enthusiasically supportive fans, who greeted the TJB with loud applause and cheers as they traversed 7 years of million-selling hits (all the biggies: "Lonely Bull", "Mexican Shuffle", "A Taste Of Honey", "Spanish Flea", "Tijuana Taxi", etc.). The tune which got the biggest ovation was "This Guy's In Love With You". I remember sitting on the edge of my seat through the whole evening, and, at the point where Mr. Alpert finished "This Guy's...", I looked around, and people were actually wiping their eyes from the tears. Needless to say, these guys just knocked it out of the park.
Before a rousing finale of "Zorba The Greek" (I think :^), Mr. A. announced that this was the last concert of the last tour of the TJB, at which you could hear an audible gasp from the audience. And then, this extremely classy, elegant, gifted (and wealthy) recording star, producer, entrepeneur, and pretty darn-hootin' good trumpet player did the classiest thing of all: he announced to the hushed SRO house that he was donating every single last penny of the concert's profits to a Tijuana orphanage. After another collective gasp, the audience rose to their feet and roared their approval; you could almost hear the broken hearts and sincere gratitude in that ovation, like everyone was saying "Goodbye...good luck...God bless you!" to an old, beloved friend. And we were. There were tears in my eyes, and everyone around me (although not my little bro: he had slept through the entire evening!).
After that, the crowd remained on their feet through a couple encores, and then the house lights went up, and it was over too soon. Few experiences in my life have equalled the power and the emotion and the excitement of being in that huge arena with so many folks who obviously loved this young man and his band.
The expression of sincere generosity from Mr. A. also deeply touched me, and affected me the rest of my life: here was a real-life hero, not just a guy who knew how to play the trumpet well and have a rollicking good time performing for happy fans, but a generous, kind soul who tried his best to leave the world a better place for having been in it. My hat is off to you, Mr. Alpert, and gentlemen of the TJB: thanks for the incredible memories, and for making a distinct difference in my life!
The gig opened with O.C. Smith (who was riding high on the R&B/pop charts with "Little Green Apples") presenting a class act in an elegant black tux, and singing with soulful power.
When Mr. A. and the gentlemen appeared after intermission, it was 2 1/2 hours of pure, foot-tapping, take-your-breath-away entertainment. The guys played their hearts out (especially Mr. Alpert), knowing full well that their team was disbanding after several years of worldwide success and acclamation. As usual, the whole arena was packed with 15,000 enthusiasically supportive fans, who greeted the TJB with loud applause and cheers as they traversed 7 years of million-selling hits (all the biggies: "Lonely Bull", "Mexican Shuffle", "A Taste Of Honey", "Spanish Flea", "Tijuana Taxi", etc.). The tune which got the biggest ovation was "This Guy's In Love With You". I remember sitting on the edge of my seat through the whole evening, and, at the point where Mr. Alpert finished "This Guy's...", I looked around, and people were actually wiping their eyes from the tears. Needless to say, these guys just knocked it out of the park.
Before a rousing finale of "Zorba The Greek" (I think :^), Mr. A. announced that this was the last concert of the last tour of the TJB, at which you could hear an audible gasp from the audience. And then, this extremely classy, elegant, gifted (and wealthy) recording star, producer, entrepeneur, and pretty darn-hootin' good trumpet player did the classiest thing of all: he announced to the hushed SRO house that he was donating every single last penny of the concert's profits to a Tijuana orphanage. After another collective gasp, the audience rose to their feet and roared their approval; you could almost hear the broken hearts and sincere gratitude in that ovation, like everyone was saying "Goodbye...good luck...God bless you!" to an old, beloved friend. And we were. There were tears in my eyes, and everyone around me (although not my little bro: he had slept through the entire evening!).
After that, the crowd remained on their feet through a couple encores, and then the house lights went up, and it was over too soon. Few experiences in my life have equalled the power and the emotion and the excitement of being in that huge arena with so many folks who obviously loved this young man and his band.
The expression of sincere generosity from Mr. A. also deeply touched me, and affected me the rest of my life: here was a real-life hero, not just a guy who knew how to play the trumpet well and have a rollicking good time performing for happy fans, but a generous, kind soul who tried his best to leave the world a better place for having been in it. My hat is off to you, Mr. Alpert, and gentlemen of the TJB: thanks for the incredible memories, and for making a distinct difference in my life!
Great memories, B-Dub! Thanks for sharing them with us. Sadly the San Diego Sports Arean is rarely used for concerts these days, with acts preferring the Coors Ampitheatre at SDSU. (Yes, I live in San Diego and love it here).
Just a little recommendation on making posts here -- there's no need to physically type a return at the end of a line, or to hyphenate a word if you decide to break it in the middle. (It makes a post harder to read). The forum software automatically "returns" at the end of a line for you. Virtually the only time to use return is to break up paragraphs.
Anyway, welcome to the A&M Corner -- you'll find we're a delightful bunch who aren't nearly as funny as we think we are (I suspect).
--Mr Bill
Just a little recommendation on making posts here -- there's no need to physically type a return at the end of a line, or to hyphenate a word if you decide to break it in the middle. (It makes a post harder to read). The forum software automatically "returns" at the end of a line for you. Virtually the only time to use return is to break up paragraphs.
Anyway, welcome to the A&M Corner -- you'll find we're a delightful bunch who aren't nearly as funny as we think we are (I suspect).
--Mr Bill
Numero Cinco
New Member
Just to corroborate the accuracy of my own (at times dim) memories, I searched this evening for the original program that I still have from the 1969 date at the San Diego Sports Arena, and discovered this on Page 2:
"Incidentally, if you've caught a lot of Herb and the Brass in concert, you may have detected that, like fine jazzmen always, they never play a number exactly the same way twice. Even on tunes they have made standards, like "Tijuana Taxi" and "Spanish Flea", there are subtle differences each time, and room left for individual expression."
(The program copy is credited to Charles Champlin, who provided the liner notes on the "!!GP!!" and "SRO" LPs).
I do remember that there was a bit more improvisation at the '69 concert than at the Bowl gig in '67. Like the program says, there were subtle changes in the arrangements which, no doubt, made them more interesting to play, night after night, for the performers, as well as the paying
customers.
Some of the differences between the recorded versions and the concert performances included starting and ending a piece in a different (and sometimes, surprising) way; changing the tempo slightly; adding new instrumental combinations; and adding a new section (8-16 bars) of a solo passage with a Pisano, Edmondson, Pagani, or Mr. A. himself. I distinctly remember the medleys being used to string together tunes, too.
I also recollect that Mr. Alpert was extremely generous in featuring his other band mates prominently, and giving the impression that everyone on stage had equal billing; (of course, everyone really knew who the star was!
)
On the inside back cover of the '69 concert program, I also noticed this statement: "All proceeds from this book will be donated to charities for underprivileged children", so the TJB's contribution to the orphanage at their final gig was certainly in character with what they were already doing with the program proceeds. Way to go, guys!
"Incidentally, if you've caught a lot of Herb and the Brass in concert, you may have detected that, like fine jazzmen always, they never play a number exactly the same way twice. Even on tunes they have made standards, like "Tijuana Taxi" and "Spanish Flea", there are subtle differences each time, and room left for individual expression."
(The program copy is credited to Charles Champlin, who provided the liner notes on the "!!GP!!" and "SRO" LPs).
I do remember that there was a bit more improvisation at the '69 concert than at the Bowl gig in '67. Like the program says, there were subtle changes in the arrangements which, no doubt, made them more interesting to play, night after night, for the performers, as well as the paying
customers.
Some of the differences between the recorded versions and the concert performances included starting and ending a piece in a different (and sometimes, surprising) way; changing the tempo slightly; adding new instrumental combinations; and adding a new section (8-16 bars) of a solo passage with a Pisano, Edmondson, Pagani, or Mr. A. himself. I distinctly remember the medleys being used to string together tunes, too.
I also recollect that Mr. Alpert was extremely generous in featuring his other band mates prominently, and giving the impression that everyone on stage had equal billing; (of course, everyone really knew who the star was!
)On the inside back cover of the '69 concert program, I also noticed this statement: "All proceeds from this book will be donated to charities for underprivileged children", so the TJB's contribution to the orphanage at their final gig was certainly in character with what they were already doing with the program proceeds. Way to go, guys!
kenny
Member
Just to clarify something, the October 20 1969 show in San Diego was the last US concert of the original TJB lineup. A European tour followed which ended with a concert at Royal Festival Hall in London on November 14. That show was aired on British television and the video exists. I know there are many of the posters here that have the audio from that show. Other shows on the European tour were broadcast as well but I'm sure if the tapes were thrown out like so many other old TV shows were. I have three different TJB tour programs where it mentions all proceeds being donated to charities so I don't think Herb was giving the money away as a "going away" gesture.
Numero Cinco
New Member
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