DAN GABEL is available as:
Dan Gabel is available as a featured soloist to guest with a band, front a group, or just as a soloist. He has special feature charts, and is also available to play specific features. He enjoys playing at churches (including his home church, Oxford United Methodist Church). Dan's arrangements, playing, and even singing have been featured nationally and abroad with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and locally at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and at Amherst College. Dan was also featured playing "Muskat Ramble" on Trumpet on The Today Show in 2007.
Contact Dan for more information!
Dan Gabel is available on:
-Trombone, Tuba, Cornet
Dan plays with many different bands in addition to those offered at Gabel Music. He is always looking for an opportunity to play, and is equally content in the 3rd trombone chair as he is playing lead or having a special feature. Dan is well-versed in all periods of music, including traditional jazz "tailgate" trombone style, 'hot dance' or 'hot jazz' styles, big band era, and modern big band and jazz styles.
Some of the groups Dan Gabel plays with include:
Dan recently completed a world-tour with The Glenn Miller Orchestra.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra Trombone Section!
Dan plays Lead Trombone in the Lou Borelli Big Band, Lead Bone in the Classic Swing Band (which backed Frank Sinatra in the 1980's), Cornet in the Bay State Stompers, tailgate trombone in the New Orleans Jazz Connection, tailgate for the Primate Fiasco (quasi-Dixieland Band), tailgate for the SwingDixie band, Tuba, Euphonium, and Trombone for the Boston City Band/Worcester Brass Band, trombone in the Firehouse Dixie Band, Trombone in Sugar Foot Stomp (Django-gypsy swing band), and many others!
Dan Gabel's true love is bandleading and arranging. He has been commissioned by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the Harry James Orchestra, plus others to write arrangements.
Dan began arranging for the first band he formed while still in the 8th grade! His first full big band arrangement came when he was only 13 years old: an arrangement of a tune he wrote at a Jazz Improv camp at his High School titled "Tight Sweater Blues." This tune immediately became a "hit" and is still requested at appearances of the Abletones!
Dan studies arranging techniques and styles of all the great early arrangers, and is able to effectively write in styles of all the great bands from the 1910's to 1950's! Dan recently received praise for his arrangement of "White Christmas" in the style of Tommy Dorsey, featured at UMass Amherst Jazz Ensemble Winter Concert.
Dan Gabel also has experience transcribing records. He has transcribed everything from Bix Beiderbecke records to Tommy Dorsey to Buddy Rich arrangements. He just finished 3 record copies of Stan Kenton recordings, and is currently working on transcribing some literature from the Coon-Sanders Nighthawks Orchestra library!
Dan's goal in the next 2 years is to write an album of charts with the theme "Homesick for New England," featuring tunes about and from his proud home of the New England states.
Sample list of Arrangements by Dan Gabel:
-Battle of the Blues (commissioned by the Glenn Miller Orchestra for two big bands for a series of Battle of the Bands against the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Harry James Orchestra!)
-I'm Beginning to See the Light (Commissioned by UMass Amherst)
-White Christmas (in the style of Tommy Dorsey)
-Cinderella Girl (Dedicated to Wes Trow)
-Bye Bye Blackbird (with the rare verse for 1929 Hot Jazz Ensemble)
-You Captured My Heart (Gabel composition, for the Glenn Miller Orchestra)
-High Society Stomp (aka Bauduc Bounce) (new composition for the High Society Orchestra, Casa Loma Orch style)
Transcriptions:
-Collaboration (Stan Kenton, 1946)
-At the Woodchopper's Ball (Woody Herman and Lawrence Welk versions)
-Night Train (Buddy Morrow, 1952)
-Singin' the Blues (Bill Challis Arrangement, 1927)
-Lullaby of Broadway (Stan Kenton, 1958)
-You're a Sweetheart (Tommy Dorsey Clambake 7, 1938)
and many others...
Contact Dan Gabel for a complete list of charts, or if you would like a special arrangement or transcription! Just ask!!
Dan is also available to give lectures about the history of Jazz, a particular figure in Jazz History, a Brass Clinic, Arranging, Composing, and about Bandleading. Dan began giving lectures in his 8th Grade music class about the life and music of Tommy Dorsey, labeled as a birthday celebration. This was in response to no students knowing anything about any of the great legends of jazz history. Soon thereafter similar lectures were given about Glenn Miller, Jack Teagarden, and Louis Armstrong. The annual Tommy Dorsey celebration has continued to College, and Dan recently gave a presentation on Tommy Dorsey to many students and even Professors! Contact Dan for more info!