This Dave Robbins Big Band LP is a landmark recording in Vancouver jazz history and a gold standard in big band reached more than 60 years ago.

‘Happy Faces’ by the Dave Robbins Big Band is nothing less than a landmark, revelatory recording in Vancouver jazz history. Robbins was a seminal figure in the development of large ensemble jazz in Vancouver, nationally across Canada, and beyond. He made invaluable contributions as a trombonist, bandleader, arranger/composer, and teacher to the fine art of big band and jazz orchestra performance. As a whole, this recording affirms the abundant musicality, creativity, and historical importance of the Dave Robbins Big Band, particularly during the years of the Jazz Workshop broadcasts. The music also reflects a fundamental Robbins trait: the Vancouver big band icon was a modernist. With its intricate compositions and arrangements, high-level playing – Happy Faces represents a gold standard that the Dav