Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement with Vocal

Description: Swing - Medium

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

1962's 'Sinatra and Swingin' Brass' saw Neal Hefti collaborating with Frank Sinatra for the first time on a full album's worth of material. The album leads off with this exciting and high energy version of Johnny Mercer and Matt Melnick's 'Goody Goody.'

The arrangement begins with a riff not too dissimilar from something that Hefti would have written for the Count Basie band. This riff continues for the first part of the melody beginning at measure 5. The trumpets play a simple riff at measure 13 before the introductory riff re-enters at measure 21. The band should remain underneath the vocalist from a volume standpoint, but there should be an undeniable drive and intensity at all times.

A brief brass blast sets up the ensemble shout section at measure 41. Although the shout is brief, it is highly effective and undeniably reminiscent of the Basie band. The vocalist re-enters at measure 49 with some subdued background riffs from the saxophones before the introductory riff returns once again at measure 57. The climax of the arrangement slowly builds up beginning at measure 73, where a gradual swell in volume begins in the trombones and eventually expands to the full ensemble at measure 79. Always one to throw surprises into his arrangements, Hefti finishes things off with a surprise minor chord to contrast with the otherwise major key of the arrangement. The vocal key is A.

This publication was completely revised in 2017.

 

Full Score
Vocal
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums

Vocal Key: A
Trumpet 1: F#6
Trombone 1: A4