Edition: Jazz Studio Orchestra Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Walrus Music Publishing

Composed by Oliver Nelson, Jr. and arranged by Chris Rinaman, this catchy c minor blues tune (in 5/4) was written to honor Oliver's dad.

"My dad, Oliver Nelson, had a love for cartoons, especially Warner Brothers Looney Tunes. There was another cartoon series, however, that both dad and I related to especially well. It was Hanna-Barbera's 'Augie Doggie and Doggie Daddy.' Augie would call his dad "Dear Old Dad" and I would often address dad the same way.

I was inspired to write this tune by thinking of several of my dad's musical characteristics. Dad had a love for minor keys so 'Blues for Dear Old Dad' is in the key of C minor. He also had a fascination with different time signatures and this tune is written in 5/4. Finally, he was a master of developing unique musical patterns. He wrote an exercise book originally titled 'Patterns for Saxophone' but is now known as 'Patterns for Improvisation.' This book has been in continuous publication since the middle '60s. I utilized one of the patterns in the book as part of this tune."

Composition and arrangement created for The Jazz Loft Kennedy Dream Project and premiered at The Jazz Loft, Stony Brook, NY and the Staller Center, Stony Brook University, NY in March of 2022. Audio courtesy of Chris Rinaman and the Jazz Loft.

Full Score
Solo Flute
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets
2 Horns in F
3 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Tuba
2 Violins
Viola
Cello
Harp
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Vibraphone
Timpani
Drums

Trumpet 1: D6
Trombone 1: Bb4