Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Pete Rugolo's Minor Riff can almost be thought of as a complementary piece to Stan Kenton's longtime theme song Intermission Riff. It's an extended 16 bar blues based around two simple but highly effective and memorable melodies that poke their heads up at various times over the course of the performance. Be aware that this is not the original Kenton arrangement, but a reworked version that Rugolo recorded on his own project, 1958's Rugolo Plays Kenton.

The band launches right into the first main theme, carried throughout by the brass. It appears to be a simple rhythmic figure, but be aware of the subtle harmonic fluctuations that are happening underneath the lead trumpet. Another thing to notice is the biting secondary riff carried out by the tuba (or bass trombone); no doubt it was intended as a direct allusion to Intermission Riff. The second main theme commences at measure 17, initially played by the unusual combination of alto flute and baritone sax, with the rest of the sax section joining in at measure 33. In contrast to the brass, this idea should be played extremely legato, with an even string-like mentality.

The two themes converge at measure 33 for a brief chorus before opening things up for soloists. On the original recording, these solos were given to guitarist Howard Roberts, trumpeter Don Fagerquist, and tenor saxophonist Bob Cooper. Each soloist gets a chorus, with varying combinations of simple backgrounds that largely resemble the original melodic themes. Forgoing big band tradition, Rugolo opts not to have a shout chorus (the closest he gets is a trombone figure leading into the tenor sax solo at measure 81), but merely having the band re-state the two melodies at measure 97. That being said, the band is finally playing at full-bore strength at this point in order to differentiate from earlier in the performance. Things suddenly begin to wind down at measure 113, where the rhythm section plays the rhythmic riff underneath the alto flute, who is ultimately left all to themself for the arrangement's conclusion.

This arrangement is not a transcription - it has been prepared from Pete Rugolo's original sketch score and the set of parts used during the recording session. An alto sax part has been provided as an alternate if your ensemble does not have an alto flute player.

 

Full Score
Alto Flute (Or Alto Saxophone)
Alto Saxophone
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones
Tuba
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums
Alto Saxophone (Optional Alternate Part for Alto Flute)

Trumpet 1: Db6
Trombone 1: Cb5