Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Advanced

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Despite being known for his dense, modernist writing, Johnny Richards definitely knew how to swing, too. Band-Aide proves this and then some, striking a perfect balance between bebop-infused jazz and more adventurous harmonic territory. Originally written for his 1956 Bethlehem album Something Else, Richards's Orchestra also performed this piece live on three occasions.

Starting right in on the melody, the trumpets and trombones are eventually joined by a counterpoint in the saxes and French horn. A bombastic bridge is followed by more counterpoint before the arrangement opens up for several soloists to have their say. These solos are, in order: tenor sax, piano, back to back trombones, back to back trumpets, and alto sax. A short ensemble segue comes between the two groups of brass solos, as does a key change.

Once all the solos have wrapped up, a steadily churning percussion section drives the horns through a motivic round, with each section getting louder and higher before returning to the original key and exploding into a shout chorus at measure 293. Starting in unison, the ensemble gradually branches out into densely packed harmony. The band (and listener) get a breather with a piano solo for the bridge, followed by the tune's last A section which features some screaming trumpet acrobatics roaring over everything. To wrap things up, Richards pulls into his more discordant bag of tricks by employing a descending figure in the saxes and trombones, with a muted fanfare in the trumpets tacking on another layer of harmonic sourness.

This publication pulls from two separate sources: the first is a re-copied set of parts, the second is a score compiled by Richards's student, Joel Kaye. Both are based on Richards's original manuscript. Kaye added additional tenor saxophone, trumpet, and trombone parts to his version that are considered optional.

 

Full Score
Woodwind 1: Alto Saxophone
Woodwind 2: Tenor Saxophone
Woodwind 3: Tenor Saxophone or Alto Saxophone (Optional Added Part)
Woodwind 4: Baritone Saxophone (Or Tenor Saxophone)
Woodwind 5: Bass Saxophone (Or Baritone Saxophone)
5 Trumpets (Trumpet 5 Optional)
Horn in F (Or Flugelhorn)
4 Trombones (Trombone 4 Optional)
Tuba
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Percussion (Optional): Timpani
Drum Set

Trumpet 1: E6
Trumpet 3: G6
Trumpet 2, 3, 4: Eb6
Trombones 1, 2: Db5