Dave Wells (born David Howard Wells, 1931–2003), was a vastly underrated bass trumpeter, trombonist, and arranger, long active on the West Coast big band scene. From 1947 through the early 1980s, Wells built a respected career as a sideman, performing and recording with bandleaders such as Ike Carpenter, Charlie Barnet, Harry James, Jerry Gray, Tommy Alexander, Ken Hanna, Med Flory, Bob Rogers, Johnny Mandel, René Bloch, Rey DeMichel, Onzie Matthews, Don Ellis, Billy May, Henry Mancini, and Pat Longo. He also had a prolific run in Hollywood’s recording studios, appearing in countless jazz (Buddy Collette, Max Albright), rock (The Mothers of Invention), film soundtracks (I Want to Live, The Chief Who Came to Dinner, A Guide for the Married Man), and pop sessions (Frank Sinatra, June Christy, Sam Cooke, Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Anita O’Day, The Trombones Inc., Baja Marimba Band).

In 1981, Wells had the ambitious and thrilling idea to form an 11-piece ensemble made up of seven trombones and a rhythm section. This concept had a few notable precedents: in 1956, valve trombonist and former cornetist Jim Conkling —then president of Columbia Records spearheaded "Jai & Kai Plus Six," featuring six slide trombones and two bass trombones arranged and led by J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding.

Later, in 1959, now at the helm of Warner Bros., Conkling launched an even more outrageous concept: a bi-coastal battle featuring 20 trombonists (ten from each coast), captured on the album The Trombones, Inc. Among the West Coast players featured was Dave Wells himself, who soloed on “Heat Wave.” The album stood as a powerful testament to the artistry and authority that jazz trombonists had developed.

In 1966, Tutti Camarata assembled another landmark trombone project: Tutti’s Trombones, released on his own Coliseum label. Featuring ten trombones divided into sectional voicings (5 and 5), and sometimes playing all together, the album combined jazz and popular standards in richly orchestrated fashion.

These earlier projects clearly planted a seed. In early 1981, inspired and energized, Wells began crafting an entirely new book of arrangements and compositions for his Trombone City Band—a project marked by creative spirit and compelling energy. He called on some of the finest studio trombonists in L.A., and after several weeks of rehearsals, the band made its public debut at Carmelo’s (4449 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks) on Monday, October 12, 1981—leaving a powerful impression on local jazz fans.

In the following months—while continuing to perform with big bands led by Woody Herman, Charlie Barnet, and Stan Kenton—Wells kept rehearsing with Trombone City. “We rehearsed at Dave’s house in Reseda,” recalls Andy Martin. “He had a back house that was big enough for the band and had a restroom. His property was fairly large, as most A later edition of the Dave Wells Trombone City Band, likely from the late 1980s. Dave Conway, Robert Coomber, Ernie Carlson, Dave Wells, Jack Redmond, Luis Bonilla, and Roy Wiegand, lots are in Northridge. He had a pool that seemingly was rarely cleaned. He usually held a weekly rehearsal.”

Trombonists rotated depending on availability. For Trombone City’s second appearance at Carmelo’s on Monday, April 18, 1983, the lineup featured five slide trombones: Dave Wells, Roy Main, Jack Redmond, Bill Yeager, and Andy Martin; two bass trombonists: John Leys and Art Perelman; and a rhythm section with John Banister (piano), Bill Ryan (guitar), Richard Maloof (bass), and Ken Maldonado (drums).

To keep the music engaging with such a specialized line-up, Wells employed several clever solutions: he wrote parts as if for two or three different horn sections, used two bass trombones to expand the tonal palette, featured strong soloists, and varied the use of the rhythm section—sometimes bringing in piano, guitar, bass, or drums independently [...]

The Trombone City Band continued to rehearse regularly until the tragic Northridge earthquake of January 17, 1994, whose epicenter was located in Reseda, where Wells lived. The earthquake damaged his home and forced him to stop rehearsing and end the band.

Across its more than twelve years of existence, the Dave Wells Trombone City Band brought together some of the finest trombonists in Los Angeles—players known for both impeccable section work and formidable solo skills. Standouts included Dave Wells himself, Bill Yeager, Andy Martin, Charlie Loper, John Leys, Alex Iles, Charlie Morillas, Roy Main, Alan Kaplan, Jack Redmond, Roy Wiegand, Louis Bonilla, Michael Millar, Robert Coomber, Ernie Carlson, and Dave Conway. The rhythm section also demonstrated its versatility and featured an outstanding cast of musicians throughout the band’s lifetime, including pianists John Banister, and Paul Moer; guitarists Bill Ryan, Joe Jewel, and Paul Murphy; bassists Richard Maloof and Nils Johnson; and drummers Ken Maldonado and Jack LeCompte.

The band’s performances left a lasting impression on the Los Angeles jazz scene, attracting a loyal following of jazz fans and trombonists alike.

—Jordi Pujol (Excerpts taken from the inside liner notes of FSRCD 1163)