Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

First documented on the Count Basie Orchestra's 1959 live album Breakfast Dance and Barbecue, Thad Jones's Counter Block shows the trumpeter's arranging style really starting to come into its own, exhibiting early examples of several of what would become his signature arranging quirks.

As is typical, the arrangement begins with a Basie piano solo - sixteen measures of solo stride followed by a few blues choruses with the rest of the rhythm section. Basie's stride solo has been transcribed and written out in full. The entire band roars to life at measure 30, with the saxes carrying a triumphant unison line with bright brass hits urging them on. The delightfully disjointed melody commences at measure 38, with the brass and saxes trading off riffs around one another over a standard I Got Rhythm form. Everything comes together for the final two measures before launching into a tenor sax solo chorus at measure 63. The backgrounds should be punchy and aggressive.

A four-bar drum break at measure 95 sets up a sax soli chorus. While not as complex as some of Jones' later work, it should still give your section a nice workout. The few holes in the sax lines are filled in by some playful brass hits. Another drum break, this time eight measures in length, brings the full ensemble together at measure 143. This shout section is typical Jones - thrilling, high energy, and abounding in creativity. The melody returns for the bridge at measure 159 and is played as before. The arrangement starts to finish up beginning at measure 175 with a four bar drum break, a quick horn fanfare, and more drum solo. The finale features a false start from the horns before one last hit-and-fall, with the drums soloing around it all.

This publication is based on a set of parts created by Frank Foster for his 1994 recording with the SWR Big Band. This set was based on the original parts that were in the Basie Band library. The trombone 4 part was added by Foster and can be considered optional. A tuba part had also been added which is not included in this publication.

 

 

Full Score
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones (Trombone 4 Optional)
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums

Trumpet 1: E6
Trombone 1: C5