Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

In many ways, Billy Byers' take on 'Nice 'n' Easy' can be considered a textbook example of what a dance band arrangement should sound like. Written for Count Basie's 1963 album 'This Time By Basie! Hits of the '50s and '60s,' aside from some slight ranginess in the introduction, this is a fairly simple and easy-swinging arrangement that practically plays itself.

A simple one measure riff rapidly decays into the soft melody, handled by an ensemble of flute, 2 alto saxes and trumpet for the first two A sections. A gentle counter-line in the tenor sax and two trombones provides the majority of accompaniment before the brass section as a whole takes over melody duties at measure 17 with the saxes joining in 8 measures later.

The saxes handle the final melody tag at measure 33 with some gently insistent brass riffs behind them. This leads into a half chorus of trumpet solo (provided by the ever-tasteful Al Aarons on the original recording) with light backgrounds from the saxophone. The chart returns to the bridge as already played before at measure 51. The ending tag is slightly altered at measure 73, where the volume suddenly rises, only to abruptly drop back down for a typically minimalist Basie piano break before a gently elegant conclusion.

This arrangement is for jazz big band. One tenor saxophone doubles on flute. This is not a transcription - it has been prepared from Billy Byers' original score.

 

 

Full Score
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones (Tenor 2 Doubles Flute)
Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums

Trumpet 1: Eb6
Trombone 1: Bb4