Honestly, nobody expected this. If you’d asked any music historian a few years ago if we’d ever see a real Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass tour again, they would’ve laughed you out of the room. The original group famously called it quits in the early '70s. Herb became a mogul. He co-founded A&M Records, signed The Carpenters, and eventually sold the whole thing for a cool $500 million. He didn't need to get back in a tour bus.
But here we are in 2026, and Herb Alpert is 90 years old. He's not just "still playing"—he’s currently zig-zagging across North America with a brand-new incarnation of the Tijuana Brass.
It's wild. The guy turns 90 on March 31, and he’s spending his birthday year celebrating the 60th anniversary of Whipped Cream & Other Delights. You know the one. The album with the lady covered in shaving cream? It sold over six million copies back when it was actually hard to sell six million of anything. Seeing him on stage now isn't just a nostalgia trip. It’s kinda like watching a living piece of American pop culture refuse to slow down.
The Sound That Outsold The Beatles
It's a weird stat to wrap your head around, but in 1966, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass actually outsold The Beatles. Two to one. While John, Paul, George, and Ringo were reinventing rock, Herb was making the world feel like a giant, sun-drenched cocktail party.
The current Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass tour leans heavily into that legacy. The show is roughly 90 minutes of pure, unadulterated "A-ha!" moments. You’ll hear a song and think, "Wait, I know this from somewhere." Then you realize it was the theme for The Dating Game or that catchy Teaberry gum commercial your parents used to talk about.
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What the 2026 Setlist Actually Looks Like
He’s not just playing the hits; he’s telling the stories behind them. He stays on stage for the whole 90 minutes. No intermission. Just Herb, his trumpet, and a six-piece band that sounds like they were plucked right out of 1965.
- The Lonely Bull: The song that started it all after Herb visited a bullfight in Tijuana and realized he could mix that mariachi energy with American pop.
- Spanish Flea: You’ll recognize it instantly. It’s the "flirty" one.
- A Taste of Honey: Herb famously fought his business partner Jerry Moss to make this the A-side. Jerry thought it was too "stop-and-go" for people to dance to. Herb won. The song won four Grammys.
- This Guy’s In Love With You: This is the emotional peak. Herb actually sings this one. He originally did it for a TV special in '68 because he "could carry a tune," and it became his first #1 vocal hit.
The production value is surprisingly high for an "intimate" show. There’s a massive video screen behind the band showing vintage footage—Herb riding horses in Malibu, hanging out with Louis Armstrong, or dodging pratfalls at the old Chaplin studios. It’s immersive. It’s also a little bittersweet.
The "Other Delights": Lani Hall and the New Band
You can’t talk about this tour without mentioning Lani Hall. She’s been married to Herb for over 50 years. They met when her old band, Brasil '66, opened for the Tijuana Brass back in the day.
Lani joins him on stage for a medley of Sergio Mendes hits like "One Note Samba" and "The Fool on the Hill." It serves as a tribute to Mendes, who passed away in late 2024. The chemistry between Herb and Lani is honestly the heart of the show. He stares at her like they’re still on their first date. It’s endearing as hell.
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The new Tijuana Brass lineup is a group of virtuosos. You’ve got Bill Cantos on keys and marimba, Hussain Jiffry on a six-string bass, and Kris Bergh helping out on trumpet. They manage to recreate that specific "Ameriachi" sound without it feeling like a cheap cover band.
Why go see a 90-year-old play trumpet?
Because he still can. That’s the short answer.
There’s a moment in the show where Herb opens it up to the audience. He takes questions. He takes requests. Sometimes he even pokes fun at his own age. He told a crowd in Pittsburgh recently that his 98-year-old sister asked him why on earth he’s still doing this. His answer? "It gives me energy."
You can feel that energy. When the band launches into "Rise"—his 1979 disco smash that later became the backbone for Notorious B.I.G.’s "Hypnotize"—the whole room starts moving. It’s a bridge between generations. You’ll see AARP members sitting next to 30-somethings who recognized the "Rise" bassline from TikTok.
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Remaining 2026 Tour Dates
If you’re looking to catch the Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass tour, you’ve got to move fast. Most of these dates are selling out months in advance. Here’s where the bus is heading for the rest of the year:
- March 2026: Brookville (NY), New Haven (CT), Baltimore (MD), Charlotte (NC), Atlanta (GA), and a big night at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on March 31.
- May 2026: Providence (RI), Portland (ME), Rochester (NY), and a quick run through Canada with shows in Montreal and Toronto.
- June 2026: The West Coast swing. Reno, San Francisco, San Diego, and ending the run in the Southwest (Albuquerque, El Paso, Tucson).
Practical Advice for Ticket Buyers
- Don't wait for the encore. Herb has this funny bit where he tells the audience, "This is the part where we’re supposed to walk off, wait for you to clap, and then come back. Let’s just skip that and keep playing." He’s a straight shooter. When he says it’s the last song, it’s the last song.
- Check the "Official" sites. Scammers are all over the "legend" tours. Stick to HerbAlpert.com or the venue’s direct box office.
- No Phones. Most venues on this tour are strictly "no cameras/phones." They want you to actually watch the show. Imagine that.
- Arrive Early. These shows are usually 90 minutes to two hours with no opener. If the ticket says 7:30, Herb is walking out at 7:31.
The reality is that we’re watching the final lap of a titan. Herb Alpert isn't just a guy with a trumpet; he's the guy who defined the sound of an entire decade and then went on to build one of the most successful independent record labels in history. Seeing him now, in his 90s, still hitting those high notes on "Zorba the Greek," is a reminder that some things—like a perfect brass hook—just don't have an expiration date.
Go see him while you can. It’s a rare chance to see a master of the craft who is clearly having the time of his life.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check HerbAlpert.com for the most updated ticket availability for the Summer 2026 leg.
- Listen to the 60th Anniversary remastered edition of Whipped Cream & Other Delights to familiarize yourself with the deep cuts like "Ladyfingers" before the show.