Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium

Publisher: Walrus Music Publishing

As a band leader who is tasked with putting together the program/set list/concert I’ve always felt the need for charts that fill a certain gap in programming. We all like to open and close our set with a 'barn burner.' We also try to insert a ballad toward the middle of the set to change it up. This leaves 'the gap' in our program that really needs to be filled with charts that are NOT barn burners or ballads but rather medium to up-tempo charts that engage the audience in such a way as to create interest as well as deliver big applause!

I've discovered that a well-crafted 'story' creates a context for the music that allows the listener to engage in the piece and clearly be able to visualize the 'story' as the music unfolds. I also believe that if the 'story' contains a little humor, it becomes even more effective and engaging. This then is my reasoning for providing you with a solid story to be told as an intro prior to playing 'Captain Freedom.'

Captain Freedom…At Large! – The Story: This piece isn’t so much a story as it is intended to describe a feeling a person has after finishing/completing an arduous task and then moving on to something more exciting. That task might be graduating from high school or college, moving on to another job or even retiring from work after a long career. It depicts elation followed by the thought, “Whew, that’s over! I’m so ready to move on to whatever’s next!!” In addition, the intro to Captain Freedom…At Large! is inspired by a scene from the movie, “Stir Crazy”, starring Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder. The scene is one where they have been sentenced to jail and while walking toward lockup for the first time, Richard Pryor tells Gene Wilder that they have to act tough and project an image of confidence and cool while “in the joint.” As they walk into a cell populated by about 20 hardened criminals, they adopt a “strut” kind of walk and Richard Pryor says (in a voice that everyone can hear), “That’s right. We bad!”

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