Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Ballad/Rock - Advanced

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Recorded twice in 1975 by Thad Jones & The Swedish Radio Jazz Group (released on Greetings and Salutations) and also by the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (released on New Life in 1976 and nominated for a Grammy), Forever Lasting shows Jones's writing at its deepest and most complex - lush, dissonant, and most of all, thrilling from beginning to end. Be forewarned that in order to play this arrangement, you will need both a strong lead trumpet player and a section of highly adept woodwind doublers, as well as an additional section of horns in F to augment a typical big band.

A gentle woodwind melody cascades over a cushion of lush horns to gently guide the arrangement into a mellow rock groove beginning at measure 5. The melody begins four measures later, stated by Jones's flugelhorn and borrowing a few melodic and harmonic cues from another Jones composition, A Child Is Born. On the second time through, there are two unique counter-lines that play around the flugelhorn. The first is a light, playful figure in the woodwinds, the second a more complimentary and at times mildly ominous statement in the trumpets.

Following the second melody is a highly complicated ensemble chorus that substantially deviates from the form of the main melody. The woodwinds continue to flow through some decidedly tricky passages, while the brass mostly add harmonic depth and texture. The ensemble gradually fades down to almost nothing before Lewis's drums provide a wake-up crack at the pickup to measure 43. This section sees Jones improvising over top of an extended chime-like figure in the trumpets and woodwinds while the horns and trombones break things up rhythmically underneath. Jones hands the baton off to Pepper Adams for a brief baritone sax solo at measure 51, with the ensemble tapering down their volume as the solo concludes.

A simple rhythmic riff begins to stir up some tension before the full ensemble enters for the final shout chorus at measure 63. For the most part, things are at full blast at this point, thanks in no small part to Jon Faddis's sterling lead trumpet playing on the original recording. There is a brief tempo shift to an implied half time at measures 75 and 76 before the saxes fade out to leave the rhythm section by themselves for a moment once again. Returning at measure 81, the saxes play a knotty melody line that is repeated a few times as the brass are added in bit by bit until everyone comes together for the climactic final chord.

This publication was based on Thad Jones's original pencil score - this is not a transcription.

Full Score
Solo Flugelhorn
Woodwind 1: Flute, Soprano Saxophone
Woodwind 2: Flute, Alto Saxophone
Woodwind 3: Flute, Tenor Saxophone
Woodwind 4: Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone
Woodwind 5: Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets
4 Horns in F
4 Trombones
Tuba
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums

Trumpets 1 and 2: G6
Trombone 1: Bb4