Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Easy Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Excelcia Music Publishing

Thanks so much for checking out/performing this piece! This was originally commissioned for Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, Arizona. This is a tribute to one of the great writers for big band, Sammy Nestico. As such, this is Basie swing all the way. The Piano solo should be sparse and light, just like Basie. Freddie Green guitar should be employed the entire time, make sure the amp is off or extremely low and let the guitar player dig in! The cup mutes should not hamper the volume of the trumpets – make sure they play forte through the mutes. It’s a timbral choice not a dynamic one. The trombones can also exaggerate the glissando and put some stank on it. Saxes - use lots of vibrato in the solis/divisi chords! The chorus after the piano solo really models after 88 Basie Street, so reference that recording for the interpretation of this section. Make sure the melody and counter melody are as equal as possible, there isn’t one dominant melody over the other. The drums can let loose on some Sonny Payne fills during the shout. For the last few bars, if the brass players don’t have bucket mutes, feel free to go deep into the stand for convenience. Otherwise, just keep listening to Basie and this will all turn out great. Thanks for playing!

 

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