The fascinating success story of Herb Alpert

Lionel · Heavyweight Member Joined: 25 Jul 2016 Posts: 783

There are lots of posts here I really wish I could hit "like" on.

Do yourself a favor and listen to Herb play "Casino Royale". His Tijuana Brass recorded this (I think?) Burt Bacharach tune.

Anyway Herb is the absolute master at making his middle and low registers "talk". Just those "dirty" falls at the beginning of Casino Royale are so nasty. Its almost an X rated performance. My guess is that he's using both his lip and a slight half valve combination. I would explain more of why I think his performance is well "suggestive" but this being an educational forum? Will leave it alone.

Also somewhere just past the middle of Casino Royale someone with Brisbois like chops hits a dandy B natural just below double C. As part of an extreme register accompany.

My best estimate is that it probably was Bud. Another similar usage of trumpet high notes is in Tommy James' "Sweet Cherry Wine". Again, I think its Bud Brisbois one more time.

Both times the high note guy really knocks me out. Very inspirational.
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kehaulani · Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 12:52 pm Post subject:

RandyTX · Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 2:19 pm Post subject:

I'm fairly convinced people should be able to enjoy a wide variety of music and styles. At the very least there's little to be gained from disputing those who do.
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LittleRusty · Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 3:44 pm Post subject:

Crazy Finn · Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 4:29 pm Post subject:

kehaulani · Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 4:37 pm Post subject:

Harrys · Regular Member Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 24

I grew up in the 60's, and would much prefer to listen to Herb, than Miles, or even (gasp) Maynard.

Lionel · Heavyweight Member Joined: 25 Jul 2016 Posts: 783

Grits Burgh · Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 7:15 pm Post subject:

1. If it sounds good, it is good.

2. Would that we had a contemporary Herb Alpert who would increase the demand for trumpet music.

3. Yeah, I've listened to Wozzeck, Lulu, Threnady for the Victims of Hiroshima, etc. After listening to his music, I can't recall even the title of a composition by Karlheinz Stockhausen, but I can hum from memory many a tune by Herb Alpert. I'm not alone on that score.

Regards,
Grits
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kehaulani · Posted: Tue May 16, 2017 7:26 pm Post subject:

Well, like I said, liking "a wide variety" of music is to me key. There' a lot of good stuff out there of all styles. For the record, I have also worked in pop bands and loved it.
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Robert Rowe · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 2:09 pm Post subject:

RandyTX · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 3:42 pm Post subject:

Put it this way, I listened to a lot of TJB in the late 60s and perhaps the early 70s, because... everybody was. It was ... wait for it... popular at the time. Heck, I even listened to Herb again when Rise came out, and didn't realize how much I'd like Aranjuez later when I heard it done in a brass band setting.

At the same time, I was listening to Al Hirt, Doc, Mendez, Nichols, Miles, Maynard, and pretty much every other trumpet recording I could find at my local record store (usually in the back, in a dusty corner, right next to the 8 track bargain bin).

There is even some pop music today I like. I tend to avoid the stuff that has given up entirely on harmony, and occasionally only uses one note for 8 bars over an intricate rhythm. The lyrics might be interesting, but I rarely listen to them. If it's not interesting musically, I don't stick around long.
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"Music is like candy, you throw the (w)rappers away."

Grits Burgh · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 4:47 pm Post subject:

Thought provoking article somewhat related to the discussion:

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/09/what_happened_to_our_music.html

Warm regards,
Grits
_________________
Bach Stradivarius 37 (1971)
Schilke HC 1
Getzen 3810 C Cornet
King Master Bb Cornet (1945)
B&S 3145 Challenger I Series Flugelhorn
Life is short; buy every horn you want and die happy.

DaveH · Heavyweight Member Joined: 20 Nov 2001 Posts: 3861

Ever heard the Tijuana Brass play in concert? I did - several times back in the 1960s. Herb hired some of the best players available at the time and paid them accordingly. Whether or not you like or respect his music, the band was exceptionally tight and played extremely well. The players were all jazz and big band veterans who were among the very best in their day. They had a job, were paid very well, and were excellent players on their respective instruments. Compared to other pop and rock bands of the day, few could compare. They were better in concert than in the recording studio. They could reproduce the studio recordings note for note - and then some. I was amazed at the sound the first time I heard them play in 1968 in front of a audience of about 25, 000.

Know anything about the background of the musicians Herb hired as sidemen? Tonni Kalash was an excellent trumpet player. Bob Edmondson was a excellent trombone player. Their sound and technique were second to none. Nick Ceroli was a tremendous drummer. Pat Senatore, bass guitar, and John Pisano, 12 string guitar, were excellent session level guitar players with extensive jazz backgrounds. Lou Pagani played piano and Julius Wechter provided marimba the studio. All the sidemen were top musicians who knew what they were doing when they joined Herb, and were rewarded for their efforts. I never heard any of them complain.

I grow weary of the tendency to diss Herb Alpert. Herb is an excellent trumpet player - much better than most think - he is what I would call a trumpet "stylist". He is an "intelligent" player. He is a consummate showman and entertainer. When I first met Herb in 1968 when the Tijuana Brass were among the most popular musical performers in the world, he told me that you can't make it like he did by copying others...you have to find your own sound and style, so to speak, And he has done exactly that over a period of over 50 years. He "owns" it. There isn't anyone else who sounds like him. I defy nearly anyone alive or dead to compare themselves to him in the way in which he influenced and popularized instrumental and popular music in the 20th century.

There is only one Herb Alpert. I have hugely enjoyed his music and performances over the years. He has been a major inspiration to me and in my own playing over the past 55 years. He is 82 years old and is still recording and performing with his wife Lani Hall. He is a legend in his own time. He is a philanthropist, giving millions of dollars to music education through the Herb Alpert Foundation.

There probably were better guitar players than the Beatles. But that didn't stop them from becoming the most popular and influential rock band of all time.

For those who are inclined to "minimize" the accomplishments of Herb Alpert and also his stature as a trumpet player....instead it might just be better to get out there and do it like Herb has done...I, for one, will be watching and listening....just let me know when you have "arrived".

kehaulani · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 5:12 pm Post subject:

Dave, when you heard the Tijuana Brass live, what part did Herb play?
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DaveH · Heavyweight Member Joined: 20 Nov 2001 Posts: 3861

Well, let's see what I can remember....I seem to recall that Herb often played the melody of the song and Tonni played in harmony...however, again I seem to recall that there were times when Tonni did take a lead role if Herb wanted to showcase Tonni's skills for the entertainment of the audience.

I have always felt that Tonni may have been a "stronger" technical player than Herb, especially in range, and Herb knew how to use him to advantage in concert. For example. Tonni played the fanfare on Lonely Bull and used his range ability to put it up an octave at the end of the song.

Herb organized a band that as individuals were far better players than the demands of the music required. This was obvious when you heard them play in concert. What I really enjoyed about live performances was how they played the songs they had recorded in the studio. You could hear the jazz and swing influences they had in their background as they played what was, for the most part, technically simple music. It wasn't so much what they played -- it was how they made it sound and swing. The excitement the audience felt was in the sound - not the notes. They were top level players playing comparatively easy music.

Herb disbanded the original Tijuana Brass in 1969. In 1974, he reorganized a second band, and that time Bob Findley played with Herb. Herb used Bob in much the same way as he used Tonni Kalash in the original group...in both cases, I think Herb intended to hire a strong, powerful, highly skilled "companion" player on trumpet...much the same as were all the rest of the sidemen in the band.

deleted_user_02066fd · New Member Joined: 03 Apr 1996 Posts: 0

I got to hear Herb and Lani three years ago. Herb is a much better player than people give him credit for. It's true that he won't wow you with technique but he does very well with the technique he has. Miles Davis or Chet Baker never wowed anyone with their technique either.
Herb played almost nonstop for 2.5 hours and stood the whole time. I believe he was 79 years old at the time. Lani is a truly gifted singer and is worth the price of admission all by herself. Very pretty as well.
The show was one of the best I've gone to. Very short TJB Medley and Lani did on a couple Brasil 66 numbers. The rest was mostly The Great American Songbook done in a kind of Brazilian style.
Sadly they have not come back to my area since. I would go hear them any time.

kehaulani · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2017 8:44 pm Post subject:

Thanks, Dave. Adds to his playing stories.

BTW, ref Miles and Chet. I think some of those comments reflect only some playing periods, and also feeds a false narrative. Because at other times, these guys played their @sses off.
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

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Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2596

kehaulani · Posted: Tue Oct 03, 2017 7:46 am Post subject:

Robert, you can like what you want. No problem. IMO, comparing Herb Alpert to Miles Davis is apples and oranges.

But the comparison is regarding the level of music. And talking about musical (not show or production) contrubutions just aren't equal. That takes nothing away from Herb's other contributions.

I might add that trying to demean someone's opinion based on "snobbery" says something too.
_________________
"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn