As a trombonist, vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Herb Gardner was one of our favorite guest artists from early in the Millpond years through all of our years at the Chowderpot. Herb had already worked with virtually all of the classic jazz musicians in the New York City area and was a mainstay of the Smith Street Society Jazz Band when we first met him, and was featured on our first commercially issued cassette recording in 1980.
GJB 01-03 HG is a compilation of performances by Herb with the GJB, all recorded at the Chowderpot Restaurant in Branford between 2001 and 2003 with Fred Vigorito on cornet, Russ Whitman (Herb's Harvard roomate) on clarinet and saxophones, Bill Sinclair on piano, Art Hovey on bass and tuba and Bob Bequillard on drums. Bob Price's banjo can be heard on four tracks, and Joel Schiavone's is on the rest. Two bonus tracks feature Herb's lovely and talented daughter Abbie singing her young heart out with the band.
Click HERE to read a combined review of this CD and of Herb's own jazz autobiography published in the March 2023 issue of The Syncopated Times.

To hear sample tracks in MP3 format click on "Ory's Creole Trombone" or "Ain't Misbehavin'" in the tune list below: