Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Walrus Music Publishing

 

New edition published in 2018.

Although originally written for the Count Basie Orchestra, this version of Frank Foster's "Didn' You?" was an updated version written sometime prior to 1996, when it was recorded by Foster with the SDR Big Band on their album "A Fresh Taste Of The Blues." Although the spirit is largely the same as the original, there are some notable harmonic and rhythmic differences that make this version all its own.

Right off the bat there is an 8-measure introduction not present in the Basie arrangement. Harmonically, there are some rather interesting modernist twists, especially in the knotty, chromatically inclined unison line in the tenor saxes and trumpets at measure 5. Things return to largely familiar territory with the melody's entrance at measure 9, played in soli by the saxophone section in a very similar manner to the original. The melody on the bridge is handled by a unison trumpet section, and is slightly harmonically altered from its previous state.

The saxophones handle the final A section with some newly added trombone accompaniment at measure 27 before the full band launches into a completely new half chorus shout section at measure 35. This eventually gives way to a piano solo for the second half of the form at measure 51; the piano continues on for one more chorus at measure 67 with no backgrounds. Another ensemble shout, only 6 measures this time, leads into two choruses of tenor saxophone solo beginning in measure 97, with a nicely varied group of backgrounds popping up throughout.

Foster's chart retreats to familiar territory at measure 155, with a shout section that is ripped directly from his original chart, complete with all the classic dynamic swells and articulations. The bridge of this shout, however, is quite different, with the tenor soloist playing an as-is written line that soars above some powerful band accompaniment. Measure 173 sees a return to Basie-style normalcy before another new, all-out shout chorus begins at measure 181. This time, the A sections are different versus the bridge being recycled from the Basie original. Although the arrangement's conclusion at measure 213 may have a different harmonic and rhythmic palate holding it together, the fire of the original is certainly there as well. A four-measure solo tenor break sweeps the band into a mellow finale.

This arrangement is for jazz big band. It is not a transcription - it has been prepared from Frank Foster's original set of parts.

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

Trumpet 1: to G6
Trombone 1: C5