A Film that Distills the Essence of Herb Alpert (With and Without the Tijuana Brass)

If all you know about Herb Alpert is the Tijuana Brass … well, that’s probably OK, because the iconic 1960s band sure made some exuberant swingy jazz that still sounds fresh today and still gets your toes tapping and your hips swinging.

But the handsome leader of one of the top-selling musical combos of the era (outselling the Beatles at several points) is much more than just a charismatic entertainer and exceptionally skilled trumpet player. 

He was also the co-founder in 1962 (with Jerry Moss) of A&M Records, which has been called the most successful independent music company in history.

The partners sold their label to Polygram in 1989 but continued to run the company until 1993. They signed dozens of rock bands, musicians and composers in a wide range of musical styles, most of whom (like the Tijuana Brass) continue to be interesting today. The list is diverse and includes Burt Bachrach, Quincy Jones, Sting and the Police, Supertramp, Styx, Joan Baez, Cat Stevens/Yusuf, Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66 and, briefly, the Sex Pistols. 

Alpert continued to play and perform into the 1990s, but (thanks in part to a lawsuit against Polygram that earned him and Moss $200 million), he stopped working and devoted himself to painting, sculpture and philanthropy — and to being the interesting focal point of several podcasts, interviews and, now, a documentary film called, “Herb Alpert Is …”. Shortly before the film was released in early October, a new box set of Alpert’s music was also released. 

Tri-state region residents can view the documentary (and the fun trailer, to whet your appetite) through the Pittsfield, Mass., Jewish Film Festival’s winterFlicks series. 

One might wonder why the trumpet-playing leader of a salsa-style band is featured in a Jewish Film Festival. 

Joel Curran, an organizer of the festival, said that, “Films are selected by a subcommittee from American and international sources and include any subject or content pertinent to the Jewish community.”

Alpert, it turns out, was a son of Jewish immigrants, Tillie (Goldberg) and Louis Leib Alpert. He was raised in Los Angeles, Calif., and began playing the trumpet at age 8. After starting his own band in the 1960s he went on to earn nine Grammy Awards and (with Moss) a berth at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

All the interesting nooks and crannies of Alpert’s life can only be hinted at in a short newspaper article. For a deeper dive, check out “Herb Alpert Is …,” which has been available for download since Oct. 31 and can still be seen until Nov. 30. 

For more information on this and other films in the winterFlicks series of the Berkshire Jewish Film Festival, and to buy tickets at $10 each, go to www.berkshirejewishfilmfestival.org or call 413-445-4872, ext. 10.

The long and constantly surprising life of 85-year-old music legend Herb Alpert (remember the Tijuana Brass?) is the subject of a documentary filmcalled “Herb Alpert Is …” that is being screened online this month as part of the winterFlicks film series of the Berkshire Jewish Film Festival. Photos from ‘Herb Alpert Is…”​

Photos from ‘Herb Alpert Is…”​

The long and constantly surprising life of 85-year-old music legend Herb Alpert (remember the Tijuana Brass?) is the subject of a documentary filmcalled “Herb Alpert Is …” that is being screened online this month as part of the winterFlicks film series of the Berkshire Jewish Film Festival. Photos from ‘Herb Alpert Is…”​

Latest News

Millbrook Scout completes Eagle Scout leadership work to benefit Angels of Light

Celebrating the completion of his Eagle Scout leadership project to benefit Angels of Light on Friday, March 21, Jayden Loibl, 17, was joined by Angels of Light co-Executive Directors, Lori Cassia-Decker, left, and Danielle Mollica.

Photo by Leila Hawken

MILLBROOK — Capping a lifetime of scouting achievement, Jayden Loibl, 17, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, completing a community project to handcraft outdoor benches and tables for the local nonprofit Angels of Light building at 28 Front St.

In addition to overseeing the construction of sturdy benches and tables that invite passersby to try them out, Loibl’s major project also created a Love Lock Pillar, and finished off the project by making stencil templates of the nonprofit’s logo to be used to identify the space and invite visitors.

Keep ReadingShow less
Amenia approves sidewalk projectalong Route 44
Amenia Town Hall
Photo by John Coston

AMENIA — Pedestrians will soon be able to walk safely between Broadway and Beekman Park, now that a construction contract has been awarded.

The planning process continued for many months, culminating in an invitation to bid. The Town Board voted unanimously at its regular meeting on Thursday, March 20, to select the lowest bidder, clearing the way for work to begin.

Keep ReadingShow less
Science confirms: It was a cold winter

Spring has officially arrived with freezing night time temperatures forecast through the first week of April.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

Victoria Kelly, Cary Institute Environmental Monitoring Program Manager and Senior Ecologist, prepared this report.

MILLBROOK — Since 1988 the weather station at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in the Town of Washington has been keeping track of our local weather — precipitation, temperature, wind, air quality, etc.

Keep ReadingShow less
North East Fire District focuses on budget, spending

The North East Fire house on the south side of Century Boulevard.

Photo by Krista A. Briggs

MILLERTON — The commissioners of the North East Fire District recently held their monthly meeting at the firehouse to discuss their current needs and general business.

Discussion centered around the current work on the 2025 budget and proposed expenditures, which ranged from upgrading their heating/cooling system to the possibility of replacing car no. 3.

Keep ReadingShow less