Herb Alpert

Can you believe that Herb Alpert is still doing his thing, playing a mixture of Jazz, Latin, Funk, Pop and R&B to this day at the age of 79 years young? He’s still doing it now and is still just as skilled now as he was then. It goes without saying that this nine time Grammy Award winning musician is worth seeing live. He performs tonight, playing his trumpet and singing on some of the songs with his fantastically competent band. This evening is all about his Steppin’Out album that was released late last year and earned himself a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album, so you know this is going to be fantastic. Some of my personal highlights were when he performed “Skylark” to this receptive audience, who would get involved with everything that is performed, wailing all the way through the performance, singing and dancing. Tonight is completely in celebration of what Alpert can do to this day. Of course they play “Tijuana Brass Medley”, and then Alpert spills the beans on a new album called “In The Mood” which is due to be released next year!

At 84, Alpert can still blow the horn. Overall, I found the concert was just okay. All the musicians, including wife singer Lonnie Hall, were excellent. Just wasn't thrilled with song selection. I was hoping he would do most of the songs from "Rise," but he only did one. Liked his refreshed medley of TB music from the 60s. He got a little preachy about "Love" and some liberal causes, which I didn't really care for, but the 4 piece band (piano, bass, drums and trupet) were tight and accomplished musicians. His wife, Lonnie, sang some hits from when she was with the Brazil 66 group of Sergio Mendez back in the 60s. Herb told some interesting stories from his career. There was a video or pictures running in the background of his art and prior years when he was with the TB.

It was a great concert. I'd never seen him and Lani in concert before even though I'd been a fan almost 50 years. I'd definitely go to another one if he was in a area near me.