Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Although taken at a relatively brisk pace, this Andy Gibson arrangement of the old jazz standard 'Indiana' is not overly difficult. Written for the Harry James Orchestra, it’s a simple, but fun take on an old favorite tune for many jazz artists.

A cascading unison brass figure at the beginning is broken up by some stop time hits in the woodwinds and rhythm section in order to set up James's trumpet melody at measure 9. The backgrounds are exclusively in the saxes, and are fairly subdued and out of the way. The ensemble performs a brief send-off at measure 39 before opening things up for solos.

First up is a tenor sax solo with some simple but effective brass backgrounds for a full chorus. The spotlight shifts to a piano solo at measure 75. Make sure that your woodwind players keep their background figures out of the way to not overwhelm the pianist. A drum break sets up the ensemble shout chorus at measure 107. There should be a gradual sense of building excitement across this re-working of the melody before James comes in at measure 131. A key change eight bars later marks the ensemble’s final push, with the horns and rhythm section riffing hard under James’ soaring trumpet all the way to the arrangement's conclusion.

This publication was based on the original Andy Gibson pencil score - this is not a transcription.

 

Full Score
Trumpet Soloist
2 Alto Saxophones (Alto Sax 2 Doubles Baritone Sax)
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
3 Trumpets
3 Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums

Trumpet Soloist: E6
Trumpet 1: B5
Trombone 1: Bb4