Pat Senatore, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass Bassist, Dies at 91
Pat Senatore has died at the age of 91. The jazz bassist was a member of Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass during the group’s enormously successful run in the 1960s. Bandleader Herb Alpert shared the news on social media.
“Very, Very Sad that Pat Senatore the bass player in the original Tijuana Brass has passed away,” he wrote. “Pat was an extraordinary musician and a really warm out-going person who traveled the world with Herb and the Brass back in the 1960s. Pat was also the original music director at the Vibrato Grill Jazz restaurant/concert venue in Los Angeles. We all Loved Pat.”
Senatore was born in Newark, New Jersey on August 19th, 1935. He began his musical journey on the violin, but eventually picked up the bass and switched to jazz after hearing Scott LaFaro play. Senatore studied at Juilliard, but left after two years because they didn’t teach jazz.
He joined the renowned Stan Kenton Orchestra, touring the country and recording the albums Adventures in Blues (1961) and Adventures in Jazz (1962). After relocating to Los Angeles, he joined the Les Brown Orchestra and went to Vietnam with Bob Hope. Senatore performed on two weekly TV shows: The Bob Hope Show and the Dean Martin Show.
Alpert then invited him to join the original Tijuana Brass. Although Whipped Cream and Other Delights was tracked by L.A. session players, Senatore recorded on nine albums over five years and toured the world.
Watch him walk on the hit “A Taste of Honey” on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1965.
After leaving the Tijuana Brass in 1969, Senatore performed with artists including Carmen McRae, Peggy Lee, Louis Bellson, Buddy Rich, Frank Sinatra, and more. He also recorded several albums as a leader, including 2024’s Groovin’ in Rome.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Pat Senatore.
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
