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The Dave Robbins Big Band: Happy Faces

By Jack Bowers
March 12, 2025
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Even though its renowned leader and trombonist passed away in 2005, and the

Dave Robbins

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Robbins Big Band's Happy Faces was recorded some forty years before that, the music on this remarkable album remains as fresh and provocative as today's front-page news. The Indiana-born Robbins, a legend among big-band artists and enthusiasts in Vancouver, British Columbia, and well beyond, moved from the U.S. to Canada following service in World War II and formed the band in 1948. The dozen tracks on Happy Faces were recorded (and thank goodness for that!) during the band's association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)'s Jazz Workshop during the early to mid-1960s.

The arrangements, by

Quincy Jones

arranger
1933 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Quincy Jones, Al MacMillan,

Dick Grove

composer / conductor
1927 - 1998

" data-original-title="" title="">Dick Grove, trumpeter Bobby Hayes and bassist

Paul Ruhland

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Ruhland span the gamut from persuasive to eloquent, with no pauses between. In other words, there are no lemons or hand-me—downs here, simply impressive big-band jazz that swings and satisfies. When it comes to decoding the charts, the band is remarkably taut and sturdy, especially as its lineup includes several then-untested twenty-somethings who went on to enjoy lengthy and prestigious careers, most notably tenor saxophonist Fraser MacPherson, trumpeter

Arnie Chycoski

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Arnie Chycoski and bassist

Don Thompson

bass
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Thompson.

After a brief introduction, the band opens with

Sonny Stitt

saxophone
1924 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Stitt's brisk and buoyant "Happy Faces," featuring MacPherson's nimble tenor. That sets the tone for what is to come, with everyone slicing easily through a series of purposeful themes, starting with MacMillan's "Playa del Ray" and "Minority," Grove's "Have Vine Will Swing," then back to MacMillan's "Westcoasting." Trumpeter

Kenny Dorham

trumpet
1924 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Dorham wrote (and MacMillan arranged) "Asiatic Raes," which leads to Ruhland's "Reflections" and Grove's "Canto de Oriole." Another original, "March Winds Blow," precedes the album's lone standard, Rodgers and Hart's "Spring Is Here," Grove's "Sixes & Sevens" and trumpeter

Bobby Hales

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Hales' "Africa Lights" before the BBC ushers the band offstage with the closing Jazz Workshop theme.

Without going into great detail, suffice to say that every number on the album is well-written, wonderfully performed and more than worth hearing and appreciating. The band, as noted, is letter-perfect, the sound impressively well-balanced and clear, especially in light of its having been recorded more than sixty years ago. Whenever the band unwinds, MacPherson leads a crew of admirable soloists that includes Robbins; Thompson; Ruhland; trumpeters Hales,

Dick Forrest

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Dick Forrest,

Don Clark

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Clark and

Stew Barnett

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Stew Barnett; alto Dave Quarin, clarinetist

Wally Snider

saxophone, baritone

" data-original-title="" title="">Wally Snider and pianist

Chris Gage

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Gage.

While the Golden Age of big bands was a phenomenon that may never return, Happy Faces serves as an eloquent reminder of how magical a time it was and why it is so sorely missed by those who were fortunate enough to share that unique and memorable experience.

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Track Listing

Jazz Workshop Theme; Happy Faces; Playa del Ray; Minority; Have Vine Will Swing; Westcoasting; Asiatic Raes; Reflections; Canto de Oriole; March Winds Blow; Spring Is Here; Sixes & Sevens; Africa Lights; Jazz Workshop Theme.

Personnel

David Robbins

trombone

Additional Instrumentation

Dave Robbins: leader, trombone; trumpets: trumpets:Steve Barnett, Arnie Chycoski, Carse Sneddon, Don Clark, Bobby Hales, Dick Forrest; Dave Quarin: alto sax; Fraser MacPherson: tenor sax, flute; Wally Snider: baritone sax, clarinet; Doug Kent: French horn; Chris Gage: piano; Don Thompson, Paul Ruhland: bass; Al Johnson: drums.

Album information

Title: Happy Faces | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: Cellar Music Group

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