Meet Dan Gabel

Hailed by the Boston Globe as “the real deal, [a bandleader] that looks and sounds like the 1940s” and by the Syncopated Times as “the champion of Big Bands and vintage jazz”, Dan Gabel is a trombonist, arranger, bandleader, historian, and educator. His popular Big Band, Dan Gabel and The Abletones, has played throughout the northeast and is featured on numerous recordings and video/television programs. 

As busy sideman, Dan Gabel tours internationally and has recorded with The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, on the road full-time, as well as first-call with many other groups including the Cab Calloway, Tommy Dorsey, and Hal McIntyre Orchestras. AS a great honor, Dan Gabel was chosen as the Musical Director of the new Vaughn Monroe Orchestra, as well as curator of the famous bandleader’s archive by Monroe’s family. He is currently working on a biography of Monroe, and has brought the Vaughn Monroe Show, a 24-piece group, successfully on the road.

Since 2014, Gabel has served as the President and CEO of the American Big Band Preservation Society, a non-profit organization based in Boston and dedicated to preserving, promoting, and performing while keeping music in schools. 

In 2023, Dan Gabel added the role of Professor at Westfield State University, where he teaches "The History of Jazz" as well as conducts the Big Band ensembles.

Dan Gabel holds two bachelors degrees from UMass Amherst, and a Masters Degree from New England Conservatory. Considered an expert in Jazz, Big Bands, and the Great American Songbook, Gabel has presented lectures at many colleges and universities, including Harvard, MIT, Indiana University, as well as clinician and director for high school and collegiate festivals. 

For seven years, Gabel served as Music Director at Holy Name Jr./Sr. High School. In 2015, Gabel founded and directs the Worcester Youth Jazz Orchestra, part of the Youth Orchestra program for young musicians in central New England. 

He can also be seen leading the High Society Orchestra (Hot Jazz of the Roaring 20s) from the drums, working as a busy arranger and member of ASCAP, or as a musician with a Brass Quintet, theatre pit, symphony orchestras, backing up pop singers like B. J. Thomas, or various other musical settings. He has written countless musical arrangements for vocalists and special music projects. 

When not on the bandstand, Dan loves traveling to National Parks, reading, and spending time with family and friends. You might find him on the golf course, bowling alley, in a book store, antique shop, museum, or anywhere where there are railroad tracks. An avid train fan like his father, Dan has travelled all over the country to watch trains. A highlight was taking his Dad out to Promontory Point, Utah to see the 150th Anniversary of the Golden Spike, and the Union Pacific RR 'Big Boy' steam locomotive in action.