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.  

As busy sideman, Dan Gabel tours internationally and has recorded with The World Famous Glenn  Miller Orchestra, as well as first-call with many other groups. Gabel was chosen as the Musical  Director of the Vaughn Monroe Orchestra, as well as curator of the famous bandleader’s archive  by Monroe’s family. Since 2014, Gabel 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 schools.  

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 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.