Charting the History of the Al Cobine Big Band
Presented
by
THOMAS JOHNSON
WEBINAR OVERVIEW
A presentation from the
2021 JENX Online Conference
This presentation traces the Al Cobine Big Band from its 1955 beginning in Bloomington, Indiana to the current “ghost band” that still plays Al’s book. Numerous future jazz stars and jazz educators performed with the band or with units Al put together to accompany stars ranging from Elvis to Mancini. The work could be considered a study of a late “territory band” or a “microhistory” or “local history”, drawing from personal archives and focusing on the intersection between regional musicians and the wider world of jazz and professional music. It is hoped that the project will eventually lead to the creation of an archive and/or book about the band.
Material is drawn from interviews with Marian Cobine and around two dozen former members of the Cobine band, as well as photographs and promotional materials from the private collections of various former band members. In addition, newspaper articles from 1952 on provide pieces of local history.
The band began as essentially a college band, playing for dances and other opportunities. As Al (and the band) became better known, he and the musicians he hired toured with well-known performers, provided back up for local events and performances (such as Little 500 shows), and provided musicians to play with other band leaders, such as Les and Larry Elgart.
Al’s band benefitted from the continuous flow of musicians through IU’s School of Music. Students who Al hired, both jazz and “legit”, also benefitted from opportunities to play with the likes of Henry Mancini and Johnny Mathis. Al also contributed to Jazz education through the charts he published with Studio PR.
If you have stories, photos, or other contributions to the history of the Cobine band or would like to share your experiences with the band or Al himself, feel free to contact Tom Johnson. Scroll down for contact information.
ABOUT THOMAS JOHNSON
Tom Johnson is a Professor of Psychology at Indiana State University. In 2005 he was awarded the Theodore Dreiser Research and Creative Activities Award for his research on social, cultural, and subcultural contexts of substance use. In addition to having a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri, Tom also studied trumpet with Bill Adam of Indiana University and studied music theory and composition at IU, the University of Wisconsin, and Indiana State University. He has a professional certificate in Jazz Arranging and Composition from Berklee Online and currently studies Jazz Arranging and Composition privately with Brent Wallarab of Indiana University. As a composer, he is active in writing chamber music and works for jazz ensembles and musical theater. His compositions have been performed by professional and amateur ensembles in six states. His first work for woodwind quintet, entitled “Four Cartoons”, was a finalist in two international composition contests and was performed by the ISU Faculty Wind Quintet in recital on April 2, 2015. His second full-length musical, The Ballad of Robin Hood, premiered in Terre Haute in March 2016. He is currently working on recording a CD of his Big Band compositions that has been delayed due to COVID. Dr. Johnson has presented at Musicology Conferences on his research on Substance Use and Transcendent Experiences in the Electronic Dance Music Scene. He has also presented with Dr. Steve Stofferahn of ISU on Medieval Neumes Dr. Stofferahn discovered in the ISU Library Special Collection. His interest in the Al Cobine Band reflects growing up as the son of one of the members of the original band and getting to hear the band in a variety of contexts throughout his life.
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