Edition: Jazz Studio Orchestra Arrangement with Vocal

Description: Blues Ballad - Advanced

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

It is rumored that of all the classic performances of his illustrious career, Frank Sinatra held his 1958 album Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely in a special and uniquely high place in his heart. When one listens to his performance of Nelson Riddle's beyond-brilliant interpretation of Blues in the Night, it's not hard to see that this rumor could very well be true.

A dissonant and rapidly accelerating introduction sees the bottom fall out when Sinatra enters with the melody at measure 5. The only accompaniment for Sinatra's baritone at first is bass, but the rest of the rhythm section gradually sneaks in underneath, with occasional interjections from the iconic trumpet of Harry "Sweets" Edison providing additional color. The orchestra provides a brief set-up for the next portion of the melody at measure 19, continuing to snake around Sinatra's moody delivery in the most intimate fashion possible. The dirge-like tempo only allows the listener to luxuriate into the proceedings even more, so be sure to not allow things to rush.

The arrangement begins to ramp back up in complexity at the bridge at measure 31. Some highlights include the dramatically swelling woodwinds and brass at measure 31, the delightful double-time trombone figure at measures 37 and 45, and a pecky ascending woodwind figure at measure 42. A surprise whistling solo from Sinatra atop some dissonant ensemble crunches sets up the melody's final strain at measure 49. At first the ensemble provides some dynamic stop-time hits before the tempo resumes a few measures later. The arrangement concludes with a highly elastic rubato vocal statement, ultimately culminating in a chord that both fits the mysterious quality of the rest of the arrangement as well as leaving things off on an appropriately sour note.

This publication was based on the original Nelson Riddle pencil score - this is not a transcription.

 

Full Score
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets
2 Bass Clarinets
2 Bassoons
Trumpet Soloist
3 Horns in F
3 Trombones
3 Violins
Viola
Cello
Double Bass
Harp
Guitar
Piano
Acoustic Bass
Vibraphone
Drums

Vocal Key: G