Back at It!
A Tribute to the Terry Gibbs Dream Band
The West Coast Jazz Hour Big Band
featuring
Nick Mancini (vibraphone) and Tawanda (vocals)
Friday, January 12, 2024 at 8pm
Performance Sponsor
This performance will include a 15-minute intermission.
Saxes: Bob Sheppard, Rusty Higgins, Brian Clancy, Kirsten Edkins and Tim McKay
Trombones: Alan Kaplan, Alex Iles, Ido Meshulam
Trumpets: Matt Fronke, Dave Richards, Ron Stout, Kye Palmer
Piano: Josh Nelson
Double Bass: Darek Oales
Drums: Kevin van den Elzen
Vibraphone: Nick Mancini
Vocals: Tawanda
The West Coast Jazz Hour Big Band, founded by Josh Nelson and Kevin van den Elzen, originated as the West Coast Jazz Hour, presented as a live Facebook show/podcast in May 2020. The opportunity to assemble a big band arose in August 2021, coinciding with the reopening of events. The band boasts a multi-generational lineup, uniting both young and seasoned players. Comprising world-class musicians, the ensemble includes individuals who have collaborated with honorees featured in each concert, such as Johnny Mandel, Gerald Wilson, Bill Holman, Bob Florence, Quincy Jones, Shorty Rogers, and others.
Comprised of elite studio and jazz musicians from Los Angeles, The West Coast Jazz Hour Big Band reverently acknowledges and upholds the rich jazz tradition and history that Los Angeles has been integral to.
The Terry Gibbs Dream Band is revered as one of the most influential big bands in jazz history, standing alongside the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and the Thad Jones Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra. Comprising some of the finest musicians from the Los Angeles studio scene, Terry Gibbs himself remarked, "Most of them had their start in my band before anyone knew who they were." The ensemble boasted acclaimed jazz artists including Conte Candoli, Al Porcino, Frank Rosolino, Joe Maini, Bill Holman, and the stalwart drummer Mel "the Tailor" Lewis.
Throughout 1959, the band frequently performed at venues like the Seville and the Sundown, with many of these concerts recorded and subsequently released. Terry curated six volumes of the Dream Band, which are now considered pivotal recordings in the realm of jazz. These albums showcase the unparalleled excellence of large ensemble playing, a top priority for Terry. The Dream Band featured arrangements by six of the world's greatest arrangers: Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn, Manny Albam, Bill Holman, Marty Paich, and Med Flory.
Terry Gibbs, born Julius Gubenko on October 13, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, is a revered figure in jazz, particularly known for his groundbreaking Terry Gibbs Dream Band. Mastering the xylophone and later transitioning to the vibraphone, Gibbs' innovative approach, characterized by technical prowess and dynamic improvisation, established him as a jazz force. In the late 1940s, he collaborated with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey, but it was in the late 1950s that he made jazz history with the Dream Band, featuring elite Los Angeles studio musicians. Under Gibbs' leadership, the Dream Band soared to new heights, delivering groundbreaking performances at iconic venues in 1959. With six volumes of Dream Band recordings, Gibbs solidified his legacy as a jazz icon, influencing generations and leaving an indelible mark on the genre.