Dan Gabel and The Abletones eye a patriotic set
Dan Gabel and The Abletones will get into the swing of America's birthday with an outdoors concert and celebration of the Independence Day weekend at 6:30 p.m. July 3 at SAC Park, 438 Lake St., Shrewsbury.
The 18-piece big band and vocalist Elise Roth plan to perform a lot of patriotic music, including a salute to the Armed Services with each of the five service hymns, said Gabel, a Webster native, band leader, trombonist, educator, and alumnus of The Glenn Miller Orchestra.
The concert will set the tone for a musical summer for the band, with a number of appearances scheduled at various events in Central Massachusetts as well as Cambridge, Needham and Norwood. "The band is very busy," Gabel said. However, there will not be a "Jazz at Sunset" series at SAC Park this summer. Last year, Gabel helped try to organize a new incarnation of what had been a popular music series in Worcester before it was discontinued by bringing in several performers and groups including The Four Freshmen. Instead, Gabel will concentrate on his own band, including putting on the July 3 performance at SAC Park. "We did want to continue in that vein (at SAC)," he said. The concert is a fundraiser for the American Big Band Preservation Society Inc.
Meanwhile, Gabel has just finished his first year as music department director at Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester. Gabel is a graduate of Holy Name where his music teacher was Joe Burke. Burke is now a member of Dan Gabel and The Abletones. "It's kind of full circle," Gabel said.
Gates for the July 3 concert open at 5:30 p.m. and the event will also have games, raffles and prizes, a food/ice cream truck, and the venue offers a full cash bar. The concert will be held rain or shine. In case of inclement weather, the event will move under the pavilion or inside the building. Tickets are $20; $10 students; children under 12 are free. For advance tickets and more information about the band including upcoming performances, visit www.theabletones.com
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Contact Richard Duckett at Richard.Duckett@telegram.com