Dan Gabel

Hailed by the Boston Globe as “the real deal, [a bandleader] that looks and sounds like the 1940s,” Dan Gabel is a trombonist, arranger, bandleader, historian, and educator. He formed his first band in the eighth grade and has dedicated his life and career to promoting quality live music. Gabel leads several of his own musical groups, including Dan Gabel and The Abletones (authentic 18-piece Big Band), The High Society Orchestra (11-piece Hot Dance of the Roaring 20s), plus various smaller groups and a Brass Quintet.

He has recorded and produced seven full-length albums, two video stage shows, and appears on countless other recordings. In 2017, Dan Gabel was chosen as the musical director of the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra, and created The Vaughn Monroe Show, 24-piece production transporting audiences to the 1940s.

A busy sideman, Gabel has toured internationally with the Glenn Miller Orchestra for over a year, as well as with the Tommy Dorsey, Cab Calloway, and Hal McIntyre Orchestras. He recently has been featured twice at the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Newport Mansions “Art Deco Festival,” and as Music Director for several regional musicals.

Considered an expert on jazz, big bands, and the Great American Songbook, Gabel has lectured at colleges, universities, radio programs, scholar programs, and special events across the country including at Harvard, MIT, Clark, and Indiana University. Since 2014 he has served as the President and CEO of the American Big Band Preservation Society.

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 his Brass Quintet, theatre pit orchestras, symphony orchestras, backing up pop singers like B.J. Thomas, or various other musical settings. When not on the bandstand or in the studio, Dan enjoys reading, traveling, hiking National Parks, and chasing trains. Dan joined the Joy of Music faculty in the fall of 2021.