Good Herb Alpert/Tijuana Brass album?

[Chris D]

I was just watching a movie, and heard a song that I recognized. So, like I've been doing the last few years, I used my "Soundhound" app on my iPhone to search and identify the song. It's "Casino Royale" by Herb Alpert.

Staying with my typical prodecure, I then went to iTunes to find the song, preview it, and then decide if I wanted to download it, or buy it in a physical disc. Whenever possible, unless I'm just buying a single song, I like to still buy the physical disc so I have it available for a CD player, as well as the ability to rip lossless music from the master. I looked at some of Herb's other stuff, and I really like it. I haven't played for a while, but I'm a trumpet player myself and definitely appreciate great trumpet music. Several bits of work of Herb's that I immediately recognize.

So I'd like to buy a good Herb Alpert disc, ideally a "best of" collection, high quality recording, and even better if there's a SACD or DVD-A out there. But there's lots of choices, so I'm wondering if anyone has a good recommendation. Here's a few of the choices I found:

[bigburner]

Hi Chris,

My dear wife, who is usually right, recommends "Whipped Cream". We have it on vinyl. I'd give you my opinion but my turntable has been broken ever since the earthquake.

Nigel.

[George Bellefontaine]

I second Whipped Cream. Like you, Chris, I am ( or was ) a trumpet player and have many many albums featuring trumpet players, including Herb Alpert. All those albums you show are excellent and worth owning, but Whipped Cream is definitely one of his best. The last picture of the girl covered in whipped cream was from the cover of that particular vinyl album.

[John Holmes]

Congrats, Chris!

I too like Herb Alpert. Herb has been around awhile so, there is plenty of good stuff to own.

My favorite of his work is Rise.

[Chris D]

Thanks, fellas. If I were to get Whipped Cream or Rise, I'd still have to get other works of his as well, to get certain songs like Casino Royale.

Now the SONG "Whipped Cream", I really like, but I can't help listening to it and think of anything other than The Dating Game.

George, I'm curious--what are some other of your favorite albums with great trumpet? This could be good info to share, perhaps in a different thread. But here are some of my favorites, each of which has at least one trumpet passage that literally takes my breath away, leaves me in awe and wonderment, and sometimes brings me to tears:

[George Bellefontaine]

Chris, because of my age, most of my albums featuring trumpet players are oldies featuring the likes of Harry James, Ray Anthony, Louis Armstrong, etc. But I do own one Chris Botti cd. It's called: When I Fall In Love, featuring many old standards like Nearness Of You, One For My Baby, etc. One Louis Armstrong cd I really love is called Pure Louis and his rendetion of Stormy Weather gives me the goosebumps every time I play it. I also have a couple of Jackie Gleason vinyl albums and these feature the the haunting trumpet of Bobby Hackett. Hackett's and Botti"s style are very similar.

[John Holmes]

Chris, I got a call during my last post and had to tend to other business so, I didn't get the chance to tell you, I also own the Definitive Hits CD.

It has Whipped Cream (song) and Casino Royale as well as two songs I really like: Janet Jackson's "Diamonds" and "Making Love in the Rain" with Lisa Keith (IIRC).

Thought it might give you a little nudge. :T

[Chris D]

This is what I ended up getting. I'd call it two completely different halves of a compilation album. (intermixed) One half is the original Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass, doing some classic light jazz with the Latin flavors. The other half is Herb Alpert without the Tijuana brass, doing some fusion with other types of music and guest musicians. While I find the latter to be interesting and some decent music, I most enjoyed the former. Unfortunately, the older stuff is also not the greatest of recordings/masterings. I wonder if any other sources would have the same material in better quality.

I'm very glad I did get something specifically with "Casino Royale", which is what started this search for me. As a trumpet player, I have to say that that song ROCKS. Or, to put it more in trumpet playing terms, Herb WAILS at parts. Most enjoyable.

I might look at some more of Herb's classic works.

[David Meek]

Chris, check out his song The Lonely Bull (El Solo Toro) if you haven't already. My father listened to that testing out a reel-to-reel deck when I was very young and it has stayed with me all through the years.

[John Holmes]

Chris,

I forgot your not really an R&B guy. The second half of Definitive Hits does swing more to that sound.

As for the SQ of the older stuff, I'm not really sure it gets any better. I do own other material of his (vinyl and cd) however, I cannot say that the quality of audio is any different.

Again as with my first suggestion, "Rise" I think will be more your cup of tea. And instead of spending money to find out, I'm sure almost every if not all of the tracks are on you tube. Check it out.

[Chris D]

You bet--will take a look. David, I do absolutely enjoy El Solo Toro. What a great sound on that song!!!