Band Director News May 2010

Hello!

April was a great month for new jazz big band arrangements and May is already shaping up to be even better! As we previously mentioned, we're focusing on releasing as much Gerry Mulligan and Gil Evans material as possible. Almost none of the arrangements that we're publishing have ever been previously available. So, we're thrilled to have the opportunity to not only work on these important manuscripts but also provide them to student bands to study and perform. From Gerry's pen last month we released Jeru and If You Were the Only Girl (in the World). This month we have added four historic Mulligan arrangements: Deception, Godchild, and Venus de Milo, all from the historic Birth of the Cool sessions, as well as Joost at the Roost (written for the Claude Thornhill band).

We would like to officially annouce that we have signed a publishing agreement with the Benny Carter estate. Our first focus will be issuing Benny's sax ensemble arrangements from his 1961 and '66 records 'Further Definitions' and 'Additions to Further Definitions.' The first two are available for pre-order: Doozy and Rock Bottom. Benny's legacy is indisputable. His library is nearly unmatched. We're looking forward to working with Benny's family and friends as we prepare publications from his hand-written scores and parts.

As we head towards summer and the eventual return of school in August/September, we'd like to mention that we do participate in bidding for school districts. While we focus on jazz we are able to provide music of all types and genres including orchestral, marching band, concert band, chamber, solo, vocal, or sacred works. Please contact us if your school operates on a bid system - we bid very competitively, carry music from all major and dozens of smaller publishers, and provide a level of service that is unparalleled.

Please feel free to email or phone us with comments or suggestions. We have a lot of great releases of historic arrangements planned for this year. Our mission will remain to restore and preserve America's musical heritage.

Best Regards,
Rob and Doug
www.ejazzlines.com

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF NEW ARRANGEMENTS ADDED IN APRIL 2010 AND MAY 2010:

IF YOU WERE THE ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD) [AS RECORDED BY GENE KRUPA / ARRANGED BY GERRY MULLIGAN]
This is one of the few arrangements from the Gene Krupa book that has survived in its original form (not including published stock arrangements). Mulligan wrote this for Krupa in the late 1940s and it was recorded on a 1958 date featuring Gerry's arrangements. The arrangement showcases harmon-muted trumpet on the melody. Substitute harmonies are tasteful, and Gerry was already showing his mastery of linear writing.

DECEPTION [AS RECORDED ON 'BIRTH OF THE COOL'/ ARRANGED BY GERRY MULLIGAN]
Deception was Miles' take on George Shearing's Conception and was recorded on the last Capitol nonet session. The piece is surrounded by mysteries that will never truly be sorted out. It appears that Miles began arranging and copying the piece; there is a two-stave piano sketch and most of the parts are available (there is no horn, piano and drum part extant), and while it has never been confirmed, both the piano sketch and parts appear to be in Miles' hand for the beginning of the piece. Mulligan's hand takes over at about bar 61 on the parts. This is another stellar arrangement from the historically important Birth of the Cool sessions.

GODCHILD [AS RECORDED ON 'BIRTH OF THE COOL'/ ARRANGED BY GERRY MULLIGAN]
This was a very popular jazz tune in 1949. Several big bands had an arrangement of it in their books. Mulligan not only wrote this version for the nonet, but created a setting for the Claude Thornhill Orchestra in 1948.

VENUS DE MILO [AS RECORDED ON 'BIRTH OF THE COOL'/ ARRANGED BY GERRY MULLIGAN]
Venus De Milo is the only Mulligan composition that he did not subsequently arrange for big band. All of the original parts exist, and they are in Mulligan's hand. Except for the trumpet and drums parts, they are dated April 20, 1949; this composition was obviously written for the recording session of April 22, 1949.

JOOST AT THE ROOST [ARRANGED BY GERRY MULLIGAN]
Joost at the Roost was written for both the Birth of the Cool nonet and the Claude Thornhill big band. The big band score is dated October 20, 1948 and was the basis for this publication. This big band version is an ambitious composition that combines Mulligan's continued exploration of contrapuntal ensemble writing and use of time-signature changes as in Jeru. What is striking is that as early as 1948, Mulligan shows in this score that he had already formulated a concept to turn the big band into an extended small group, with linear give-and-take as in his small group with Chet Baker, and a lighter ensemble approach to orchestration. In fact, this was the only score from this era to be included in the Concert Jazz Band book twelve years later. It was recorded for Verve Records in July, 1961, but was never issued and was apparently rejected; the master no longer exists. This was recently recorded by the Dutch Jazz Orchestra on their 2008 CD Moon Dreams: Rediscovered Music of Gil Evans and Gerry Mulligan (Challenge).

DOOZY [ARRANGED BY BENNY CARTER]
Here is Benny Carter's fabulous sax ensemble arrangement first recorded on the 1961 'Further Definitions' album and then re-recorded in 1966 on the 'Additions to Further Definitions' album.

ROCK BOTTOM [ARRANGED BY BENNY CARTER]
Here is Benny Carter's fabulous sax ensemble arrangement recorded on the 1961 'Further Definitions' album.

HIT THE BRICKS [ARRANGED BY GORDON GOODWIN]
Here is yet another great, challenging arrangement by Gordon Goodwin. This one is for advancing bands (medium level).

RAINCHECK [ARRANGED BY LES HOOPER]
Here is the Billy Strayhorn standard arranged for advancing bands by master arranger Les Hooper.