Dan Gabel and The Abletones

All of Dan Gabel's bands feature a vintage look and sound, creating a special atmosphere for guests. We can bring a full professional sound system, offer MC services, play recorded music during any band breaks, and more. The Gabel Music library features over 5,000 musical arrangements that suit many sized groups (literally from 2 to 25 pieces) with music for most occasions.
While the 18-piece big band Dan Gabel and The Abletones has the biggest impact, our smaller groups work very well for more intimate settings.
We are accustomed to headlining a theatre or convention, playing a Swing dance, Ballroom dance competition, or providing cocktail hour background music for functions.

Hailed by the Boston Globe as “the real deal, [a bandleader] that looks and sounds like the 1940s” and by the Syncopated Times as “the champion of Big Bands and vintage jazz”, Dan Gabel is a trombonist, arranger, bandleader, historian, and educator. His popular Big Band, Dan Gabel and The Abletones, has played throughout the northeast and is featured on numerous recordings and video/television programs. The band features a vintage look and sound, and “brings an authentic and exciting show for dancers and listeners.”

Some of the band’s recent engagements include: Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s Inaugural Ball, Gov. Deval Patrick, Scullers Jazz Club, Mechanics Hall, The Hanover Theatre, Museum of American Armor (Long Island), Veterans Inc, Tall Ships/Newburyport Maritime Museum, Star Island (NH), many non-profit organizations, civic groups, businesses, weddings, ballrooms, and swing dances everywhere.
Dan Gabel worked full-time with the Glenn Miller Orchestra on a a year-long world tour, and plays with many other groups. Gabel was chosen as the Musical Director of the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra, as well as curator of Monroe’s archive and biographer. Since 2014 he has served as the President and CEO of the American Big Band Preservation Society, a non-profit organization based in Boston and dedicated to preserving, promoting, and performing while keeping music in our schools.

Dan Gabel holds two bachelor’s 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, and Indiana University. Gabel also 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, a busy arranger and member of ASCAP, or as a musician with a Brass Quintet, theatre pit, 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.

We have the option to bring a full professional sound system for a large outdoor venue, or a single speaker for a small intimate venue. Our groups range in size from 2 to 25 performers, and so the stage/performance area varies widely.
Even the 18-piece big band can fit in a surprisingly compact area when required.
We have stage plots available for all groups.