Herb Pomeroy

There is nice recent (2002)CD from Portsmouth, NH bassist Jim Howe called "Sterling!" that shares its leadership with Herb, who sounds great throughout. It also appears he had a hand in the tune selection and head arrangements. The rhythm section is nice, too. You can find it at www.invisiblemusicrecords.com

You can find some excellent examples of Herb's trumpet playing and writing on Serge Chaloff's "Fable of Mabel" and "Boston Blow-Up" CDs, and on John Lewis' "Wonderful World of Jazz" (all available online at Amazon and others).

Besides the big band recordings you mentioned, there are three others: "Pramlatta's Hips: Live At The El Morocco" (a Shiah LP never issued on CD, but sometimes available on eBay) and "Live At Sandy's," on Red Rose (SACD only). And of course the legendary "Band In Boston," LP only, and good luck finding one. (I have them all, he said smugly).

By the way, on "Life Is A Many Splendored Gig," you'll find that pianist Jaki Byard is actually tenor saxophonist Jaki Byard! I saw the band at the Stable in Boston in 1957 and Jaki was playing tenor then, as well as on the record. Ray Santisi was the pianist.

One of the best recorded examples of Herb's trumpet playing and arranging skills can be found on the Serge Challoff CD "Boston Blow Up" (Capitol)*. Herb's arrangement of "Yesterday's Gardenias" for the sextet is the work of a master.

*http://www.amazon.com/Boston-Blow-Up-Serge-Chaloff/dp/B000F9RM8Y

Having been in the news business a long time, one gets used to daily stories of death, destruction, disasters natural and man-made. But the past 48 hours has been especially sobering - the suicide truck bombings in Iraq, the earthquake in Peru. Then, yesterday afternoon came the news of Max Roach's passing. Now, soon after I wake up, I find your notice of Herby Pomeroy checking out, too. Jeez, sometimes it just gets to be a bit much.

I don't have any Max stories to share, but I can recall hosting the Quinnipic College (now University), Connecticut jazz festivals in the 70s. Herb always brought his band from MIT to Quinnipiac - and it was always something to look forward to... always interesting, different and new. The MIT students were wildly varying in their skill levels - as you might expect from math and engineering majors, but Herb could mold them into a band and bring out their best. I don't recall Herb's bands ever winning top honors from the festival judges, but they were never boring - and neither was Herb. May he RIP.

John Birchard
Voice of America
Washington, DC