Terry Gibbs Dream Band vol. I – VI Lead Trumpet Transcription Book

Need to keep your lead chops up?

Additional sight-reading practice?

Want to learn from one of the fathers of modern lead trumpet playing?

Look no further than BTB’s release of all the lead trumpet parts from the six live albums recorded by the Terry Gibbs Dream Band during the late 1950’s to early 1960’s in Hollywood, CA.

These albums are awesome, fun and swinging. You’ll love ’em.

All lead trumpet parts from the Terry Gibbs Dream Band vol. I – VI

Lead Trumpet Transcription Book: Terry Gibbs Dream Band Vol I – VI

  1. Practice lead trumpet sight-reading with 68 swinging big band charts by the likes of Bill Holman, Al Cohn, Manny Albam and Bob Brookmeyer.
  2. Learn playing style from one of the greatest jazz-lead trumpet players of all time – the legendary Al Porcino (the other guys sound great too, but Al really brought his ‘A’ game to these dates).
  3. Keep your chops up between gigs and have some fun playing along with this swinging big band!

Transcription book is spiral bound to lay flat on your music stand. It is printed in small batches on heavy-duty 70lb paper. It is very durable and nice quality. You’ll dig it. All physical copies come with free download links to digital back-ups.

Book does not include cd’s. If you decide to buy the albums separately, albums 4 and 5 are a great place to start – then 1 and 3. Follow that with 2 and 6 🙂 Most recordings can be found on YouTube and streaming services as well.

The Lead Trumpet Player

All who learn these skills do so in basically the same way – by studying the masters. As such, if you are interested in improving your lead playing, the Terry Gibbs Dream Band is required listening and play-along material. Improve your chops, reading, section playing and lead style by learning from the best of the best – legendary lead trumpeters Al Porcino, John Audino and Ray Triscari.

BTB’s 110% Satisfaction Guarantee!

You have 30 days to check out the book risk free. If it wasn’t what you’re looking for, you’ll be issued a full refund. Plus, you can keep the book. That’s 110% satisfaction!

The Dream Band Lead Trumpet Transcription Book is Available in Print and Digital Format: Check It Out In BTB’s Book Store

Thank You and Happy Lead Trumpeting!

If you’re already familiar with the Dream Band you know it’s the best of the best. And if the Dream Band is news to you – find a few tracks online and give ’em a listen – you’ll love it!

All the best,
James

PS – here are those links again 🙂

Here’s What Some Trumpeters Are Saying!

Love this book!

★★★★★
This book is an amazing resource for all trumpet players, especially lead trumpeters! It is quality from start to finish, I will be recommending this book to all my students! Or anyone who is interested in getting within the style of the band, working on their reading, section playing, or just keeping up their chops. Awesome work!
- Donny Albrecht

Great practice!

★★★★★
Great way to keep the chops in shape with the lack of playing opportunities. Thanks!!
- Rodney Shedenhelm

Loving it

★★★★★
Especially during these Covid times, a tool such as this is a great way to hone the array of skills necessary to playing lead trumpet in a big band, without actually playing in a big band. From sight-reading to the finer points of style, this book presents a wealth of opportunity for improvement.
- Thomas Lee

Super Fun and Well Done!

★★★★★
Not being able to play in big bands has been the worst thing about social distancing for me. Although nothing can compare to playing in person, it is so much fun so play these charts along with the recordings. I've been striving to improve my sight reading too, and this book has so much great material to do that with. This must've been such a lengthy project! Thank you! (Great readability too! And I love your sense of humor!)
- Madison Sneath

Where has this been all my life

★★★★★
I consider all 6 of the Dream Band albums the most swingingest band of all time, like if I was stuck on a desert island with only one big band album I'd have a hard time deciding which of them to have. Al Porcino and John Audino are absolute masters at the style and if you STUDY this book and absorb this music into your soul it will GREATLY improve your own style and facility in this genre. This is an amazing tool and I'm so glad it finally exists!
- Jason Levi

Superb collection

★★★★★
I can't express what a breath of fresh air this has brought to my practice routine - thank you James for compiling such a wonderful collection of lead charts. Well edited, clear type setting - superb effort! Thanks, James, this is most impressive and welcome round here. I wish you a great success with this book - it is excellent!
- Michael Barkley

Dream Band lead trumpet transcription

★★★★★
Exactly as described. Clear notation. Easy to read.
- Ron

GREAT BOOK

★★★★★
Superb teaching aid for players that want to enjoy playing the lead book. (no easy or quick way to learn) This book helps enormously! Mike Thomas www.burbanktrumpets.com
- Michael Thomas

Very Cool !

★★★★★
Lovin' it ! Can't stop to write too long...gotta go back and play some more. Yeah baby !
- David Reinhart

Dream Band

★★★★★
I remember driving around in the early 60s listing to the Terry Gibbs Explosion album. I couldn't get enough of it. Mel Lewis and Al Porcino. They played so together. That was in Las Vegas where i kind of grew up. Years later when I moved to L.A. in 84 I started playing the lead trumpet chair with Bill Holmans great band. Being a jazz trumpet player Bill liked my lead playing because I played with a jazz concept that regular lead players didn't and couldn't do. Holmans band was a "jazz band" which was right down my alley. We were doing a concert with Holmans band and Terry Gibbs came up to me on the break and and asked me if I would play the lead book on his band which he called the "dream band" I of course said yes and became Terry's lead player too. Terrys band was also a jazz band and I kind of grew up listening to Terrys band so I fit in well and had the concept he wanted. It was wild,, a be bop trumpet player like me playing lead with my two favorite bands . Of course Holman was one of the major writers for the dream band so I was right at home. The other band I played the lead book on was the Johnny Mandel band which of course was another of my all time favorite writers. Through the years the personnel in the trumpet section in all 3 bands was the section I had in Holmans band.. The way I set up the section was 2 jazz players on the outside 3rd and 4th chairs and the 2nd chair I had guys that were actually stronger than me and I would pass the bombastic lead parts to them and I would play all the tight and swinging charts. During the second decade of 2000 James Blackwell came on Holmans band and took over that bombastic 2nd chair. It was very important to have the right cat on that chair that didn't have a big uncontrollable ego which lead players were known to have and be there for the sake of the music and support my jazz concept as a team player and James filled that position very nicely. James had the range and power that I didn't have and he balanced the demands of that chair by playing the harder and pounding ensembles with the power necessary to do it but always supported me tastefully when I was playing the lead parts. So when I played with Terrys dream band I of course brought the same section with me that we had on Holmans band. During that era of time Holman, Gibbs and Mandel had the same trumpet section. It worked out well. I liked playing with James and I think he liked playing with me or at least I hope he did. I don't know if playing with the dream band influenced him to produce the dream band transcriptions book or not but the lead trumpet community i'm sure is gratified that he did. I am... Lead players can now play along with those great and classic charts.. It's a beautiful thing and thank you James Blackwell for taking the time and having the ability to do it. It was a real dedication .. Lead players... Get the book. Playing through those charts will make you a hipper player.. James left us west coasters for the east coast and we miss him.. Get his book you'll dig it. Carl Saunders
- Carl Saunders