Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

While serving as the musical director for the Glenn Miller Orchestra, clarinetist Buddy DeFranco was not afraid to bring some modernist touches to the band's classic sound. His arrangement of On the Trail (from the 1972 album Yesterdays) does just that, maintaining a tasty balance of new and old throughout.

Beginning with a familiar cowboy motif atop the clippety-clop of a woodblock, the trumpet section glides along with the first half of the melody before deferring to the clarinet-led woodwind section at measure 21. Some trumpet plunger work and an ascending cadence in the woodwinds marks the first of the arrangement's multiple key changes at measure 39. The melody is played again, initially by solo trombone before being joined by the rest of the section. The woodwinds take point again at measure 55, where another key change marks the instance of some rapid-fire trumpet bursts that will require a section adept at multiple tonguing.

Following a cascading, bebop-ish brass figure, a brief melody allusion leads into a piano solo for half a chorus. An ascending figure in the horns sets up yet another key change at measure 91, where the parade of soloists continues - two separate trumpet solos for 8 bars each, followed by a half chorus of tenor sax, and then a half chorus of guitar. The melody returns for a full ensemble shout chorus at measure 139, slowly building until the dramatic finish. With a powerful set of drones providing support, the trumpets go into full military bugler mode, aggressively rising higher and higher before the performance finishes with one last appearance of the original cowboy motif.

Note: There is an optional cut section in this arrangement that removes most of the solos. We have included a note where this occurs in the score and parts if you choose to include this cut in your performance. This publication was prepared from the original set of parts - this is not a transcription.

Full Score
Woodwind 1: Clarinet/Alto Saxophone
Woodwind 2: Flute/Alto Saxophone
Woodwind 3: Tenor Saxophone
Woodwind 4: Tenor Saxophone
Woodwind 5: Baritone Saxophone/Alto Saxophone
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drum Set

Trumpet 1: E6
Trombone 1: Bb4