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Founder/Trombone:
Warren Trow
Band Manager/Tuba:
Daniel Gabel
1st Trumpet:
Paul Tomashefsky
2nd Solo Trumpet:
Louis Borelli
2nd Trumpet:
John Davis
Lead Sax/Clarinet:
Wes Trow
2nd Tenor Sax:
Jon Loya
3rd Alto/Clarinet:
Carlos Davis
Piano:
Esther Trow
Banjo:
Tom Fee
Traps:
James Gancarz
Violin:
Josh KnowlesLinks Section
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What is a Dectet?
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You may have heard of a solo or a duo. You may be familiar with the great trios and quartets in Jazz and in Chamber music. A quintet is Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five, then comes The famous Benny Goodman Sextet. A septet is less well known, but we all remember Tommy Dorsey's Clambake 7 (consisting of 9 musicians). Octets, such as the Dave Pell Octet were popular on the West Coast Jazz Scene. A Nonet may be less well-known to most, but do not forget the Miles Davis Nonet employed during the "Birth of the Cool" sessions.
But...
What is a "dectet"?
It stands to reason that a dectet consists of 10 Musicians. The size of the group was very popular and standard for a dance or hot band in the early parts of the century. The word "dectet" itself is less common and used less. Dectets are traditionally formed with the following instrumentation: 2 Trumpets, 1 Trombone, 3 Reeds (usually two altos and one tenor sax, with all doubling on clarinet and bari sax), and a rhythm section of Banjo, Piano, Tuba, and Traps (Drum set). The Tuba and the Banjo are essential to the Rhythm section, because of their timbre and effective driving rhythm.
The music of the Dectets consist primarily of danceable hot Jazz arrangements, with a focus on ensemble playing. To get a dectet to sound just right, it takes very much practice. The saxes must blend as one, the trumpets and trombone into one brass sound, and the rhythm keeping steady and swingin' time. Whether ripping up the bandstand with some hot jazz, or playing a sentimental ballad, you can't keep your feet still while listening to the music of the dectets!!!
-Dan Gabel
