Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass returned to the Hollywood Bowl Sunday night, marking their first performance at the iconic venue in 59 years. The 91-year-old band leader expressed his excitement, stating, "This is a dream come true for me. I never thought I’d be doing this at 91."
Alpert's Nostalgic Revival
The decision to revive the Tijuana Brass for a tour was influenced by family and business partners. Last fall, their theater tour sold out, leading to a climactic performance at the Dolby Theatre. This summer, they took the nostalgia to the Hollywood Bowl, thrilling fans with a set primarily composed of '60s hits.
Setlist and Musical Highlights
The performance opened with their classic "The Lonely Bull," followed by hits like "Spanish Flea," "Mexican Shuffle," and "Tijuana Taxi." Alpert, despite his age, was actively involved, performing most trumpet solos alongside Kris Bergh and Ryan Dragon. The ensemble was completed by musicians like Bill Cantos on piano, Ray Brinker on drums, Hussain Jiffry on bass, and Kerry Marx on guitar.
Special Moments and Tributes
Paul Williams, a pop legend and former Alpert protege, introduced the show with humor and nostalgia. Alpert's set included a touching In Memoriam segment during "Smile," accompanied by images of late friends like Karen Carpenter and Jerry Moss.
Encore and Closing Reflections
The concert wrapped up with "Up Cherry Street" as an encore. Alpert reminisced about his Boyle Heights roots and shared stories about past performances at the Bowl, including a memorable 1968 fundraiser with Barbra Streisand and Harry Belafonte.
Source: https://variety.com/2026/music/concert-reviews/herb-alpert-tijuana-brass-hollywood-bowl-concert-review-1236802736/
