Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement with Vocal

Description: Shuffle/Swing - Medium

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

One of the many songs composed by longtime television and radio personality Steve Allen, Cool Yule was first recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1953. Between Allen's catchy tune, Armstrong's joyfully exuberant performance, and Tutti Camarata's bouncy arrangement, it should come as no surprise that Cool Yule has gone on to become a modern holiday favorite.

The introduction is simple enough, with the rhythm section setting up a steady shuffle feel with some held tones in the trombones. Armstrong enters at measure 5 and largely maintains the spotlight for the rest of the performance. Beginning on vocals atop some slippery, sliding trombones and punchy, brassy trumpets, Armstrong eventually switches over to trumpet after a short ensemble shout chorus at measure 37. Said trumpet solo largely involves Armstrong playing around with the melody, building up to one of his trademark climactic high notes before another quick shout gives him a chance to return to the vocal mic.The second vocal chorus features the same set of backgrounds as before, with Armstrong's performance becoming far more elastic and improvisatory. Everything comes to a head with a classic descending harmonic cadence, followed by Armstrong tagging the ending before a couple final ensemble jabs.

For flexibility purposes, we have included melody and lyrics cues in the 4th trumpet part if you have a trumpeter who also doubles as a vocalist, or if you'd like to turn the performance into a trumpet feature in entirety. Additionally, Camarata's arrangement originally only had two saxophone parts (baritone/alto and bass). We have included an alternate set of expanded parts for a traditional full sax section (2 altos, 2 tenors, one baritone) to allow this arrangement to be performed by a standard big band instrumentation. However, if you wish, the arrangement can be performed exactly as recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1953.

This publication was prepared using the original 1953 parts as supplied by the Louis Armstrong House Museum. Thanks for the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation, Inc. for granting us permission to publish this arrangement.

 

Full Score
Vocal
Woodwind 1: Alto Saxophone (Optional Added Part)
Woodwind 2: Alto Saxophone (Optional Added Part)
Woodwind 3: Tenor Saxophone (Optional Added Part)
Woodwind 4: Baritone Saxophone/Alto Saxophone (Or Tenor Saxophone - Alternate Part Included)
Woodwind 5: Bass Saxophone (Or Baritone Saxophone - Alternate Part Included)
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drum Set

Trumpet 1: D6
Trumpet 4: E6 (Optional)
Trombone 1: C5