Edition: Jazz Nonet Arrangement

Description: Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

When music is called "Hot Jazz" the reference is usually to up tempo New Orleans style music. But the term ought to embrace more recent styles as well, and 'Cookin' at the Continental' unequivocally merits the description. This arrangement is full of orchestrations of Horace Silver's piano playing - both his accompanying figures and his solo playing and it is super energized from start to finish. There is an ensemble chorus (at letter I) lifted from Blowin' the Blues Away, another blues by Horace in the same key and tempo. It is dropped into this arrangement because it is not only a memorable part of the other piece, but because it fits perfectly into this one at this spot. Two choruses later, at letter K, the saxophones play a unison figure taken from Horace's piano solo based on a pattern of descending fourths. That pattern ignores the harmony, obscuring the blues form for eight measures before returning to tonality for the cadence at the end of the form. It is an effective use of a non-tonal texture lasting just long enough to provide a moment of exciting tension and resolution. It's a fine example of the way Horace’s music balances contrasting elements.

It's hard to imagine music hotter than this.

Full Score
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums