Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

This arrangement is part of Frank Foster's Vintage Basie Series, compositions performed and/or recorded by Count Basie and his world famous New Testament orchestra between 1953 and 1960. It's another straight ahead blues, for which that band was especially noted. Recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra on Chairman Of The Board. The full ensemble blasts into the introductory chorus, followed by two choruses of the 'head' stated alternately by saxes and brass. Next comes a two-chorus saxophone section soli displaying no pyrotechnics, just simplicity and swing. A growling muted trumpet solo greases things up for a minute (on the recording the marvelous Snooky Young played the solo-no one did it better), backed up by trombones with a riff that must have been dated some 25 years prior to the recording! Next of course what else but a typical 'Basie-styled' piano solo, couched in that All-American rhythm section format; you know the drill. After the piano the soft full ensemble takes over with a 24-bar build-up to the shout chorus, which is of course punctuated by Young's screaming open trumpet, and the piece ends with the customary dominant 13th chord with raised 11th.

For many years facsimile copies of Frank Foster's score and parts were reproduced and published by Walrus Music Publishing. This edition has been carefully prepared and engraved from these parts. Several note errors that were found in the original set of parts have been corrected as well. Articulations and dynamics that reflect the Count Basie Band interpretation have been included so that this arrangement may be faithfully reproduced. This would make a great festival piece or concert opener/closer!

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