Edition: Jazz Studio Orchestra Arrangement with Vocal

Description: Ballad - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Gloria Lynne's rich, soulful voice was a perfect fit for both Am I Blue? as a tune, and for this moodily intimate arrangement courtesy of Melba Liston. The primary difficulty stems from a few tricky triplet figures in the horns and strings, but is otherwise technically quite straightforward. This chart was written for and recorded by Lynne on her 1959 album Lonely and Sentimental.

A simple, but deep string chord sets the stage for the entire performance, which is taken at a slow clip with a loosely defined 12/8 feel. Lynne commands the spotlight throughout, although a bluesy break in the first ending at measures 7-8 throws a bone to the horns. The mood stays mostly subdued, picking up ever so slightly at measure 27 when the horn and string accompaniment sees an uptick in complexity and the drums lean a bit more heavily into the 12/8 groove. A pulsing string figure gives way to a loose horn break before the ensemble goes all-in on the blues for the grand finale.

This publication was prepared from Melba Liston's original score - this is not a transcription.

 

Full Score
Vocal
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
2 Trombones
4 Violins
Viola
Cello
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drum Set

Vocal Key: Bb
Trombone 1: Ab4