Herb Alpert and Lani Hall©Maryanne Bilham

If Alpert’s only contributions to music were as an entrepreneur (Alpert was the ‘A’ in the independent powerhouse A&M Records label) and a producer (Stan Getz, Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, Carole King, Janet Jackson, etc.), he would be a first ballot Hall of Famer.  When you add in forming and leading the Tijuana Brass, who would have to be considered part of the musical soundtrack of the 60s, you have a certifiable icon.  Hall was an original lead singer of the redoubtable Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 and has sustained a fabulous career as a solo artist since her departure from that group. 

Alpert and Hall’s opening set of November 10th was equal parts masterful (staging by Alpert) and luminous (vocals by Hall).  They have been married for over 30 years and were the most loving couple to appear on stage at the Dakota since Nicholas Ashford & Valerie Simpson. A&H were very capably supported by a rhythm section of Michael Shapiro on drums, Hussain Jiffrey on bass and Bill Cantos on piano.

Herb Alpert and Lani Hall

Alpert’s crisp, clear, concise playing on trumpet is truly his own sound and in the universe of immediately recognizable styles, similar to Carlos Santana on guitar, Thelonius Monk on piano, Wes Montgomery on guitar, etc.  He exudes cool on stage and the special trumpet he designed and utilized on several songs, which had two bells (one regular and one muted) on which he transferred between phrases with a trigger, was again, very cool.

There was audience acknowledgement and engagement by A&H which turbo-charged the performance, raising it to another level as evidenced by three standing ovations and two encores.  Alpert answered questions between tunes and, in one humorous exchange with an audience member, a debt of gratitude was acknowledged as she said that upon hearing his “A Taste Of Honey” in the late 60s, she decided to leave the convent and get married. The entire band was having big fun on stage as, on some selections, they all served as rousing backup singers to Hall.  The show served to enhance my appreciation of Alpert as an artist of immense proportions, as your mind processes all of his varied contributions to music, placing him in a pantheon with Quincy Jones and a few others. 

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