Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Advanced

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Featured on the 1960 Count Basie album 'Easin' It,' 'Brotherly Shove' is a tour-de-force Frank Foster arrangement based on the chord progression to 'I Got Rhythm' that was written to feature the band's monstrous saxophone section, specifically Foster himself, Frank Wess and Billy Mitchell. Although mostly a showcase for these three tenor titans, the chart's brisk pace and intensity provides the whole band with a nice workout.

The chart blasts off immediately with a unison saxophone line that cascades into a blistering brass fanfare before the three tenors take over melody duties at measure 7. All backgrounds during this section are written to fill in the gaps in the melody, so be sure your ensemble counters the tenors with an appropriately biting attack.

The brass fanfare returns at measure 39 before an all out tenor saxophone battle royale that begins at measure 43. Each tenor player gets to speak their peace while trading half-choruses until Foster wrangles the spotlight to himself for a full chorus at measure 101. Once the saxes have had their way with one another, the band comes in for clean-up duties at measure 133 with a thrilling, high energy ensemble shout section.

This break in action ends up being fairly brief, though, as the tenors take the spotlight back for some trading at measure 157. This continues until the introductory brass fanfare returns once more at measure 201. The tenors get one final a capella word in edgewise before the full band enters for the final chord.

This arrangement is for jazz big band with tenor saxophone soloist. Most of the arrangement was prepared using Frank Foster's set of parts; however, some of the brass backgrounds behind the tenor solos were lost, and have been transcribed accordingly.

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

Trumpet 1: G6
Trombone 1: Bb4