Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Originally written under the title 'Super Chief,' this Thad Jones arrangement is now known as the title track from the Count Basie Orchestra's 1960 album 'Not Now, I'll Tell You When.' Jones's writing is at its creative peak throughout, making use of his trademark dissonant blasts alongside some deftly clever rhythmic tricks that make for an overall riveting listening experience.

As is the case with so many Basie arrangements, things start off with a brief solo piano introduction followed by a couple choruses of blues to set the mood. The full band enters at measure 22, with a rapidly rising melody line that begins in the band's bottom half before rising up to the upper reaches of the trumpets' registers. The band plays two excited, but relatively brief shout choruses at measures 30 and 55, with a couple more piano solo choruses sandwiched in-between. The energy level of the performance should be at close to full bore right from the start, and not let up throughout the entire arrangement.

The band officially claims the spotlight for itself at measure 80. A somewhat bop-influenced melody line here gives way to a more traditional call-and-response between the brass and the saxes at measure 92. The arrangement's blues form gets briefly elongated at this point to allow for drummer Sonny Payne to show off a bit at measure 100. The drum solo is followed by yet another joyously raucous ensemble shout at measure 108 before a recap of the introduction occurs. Jones finishes things off by dipping into his back catalogue, as the end of the arrangement is recycled from his composition 'Let's,' originally recorded in small group form in 1956. This section will require your band's internal metronomes to be operating at peak efficiency to prevent missteps, but when executed correctly it will undoubtedly create quite the thrill for performers and audiences alike.

This publication was prepared from Thad Jones's score and the original set of parts used during the 1960 recording session - this is not a transcription.

 

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

Trumpet 1: F6
Trumpet 4: D6
Trombone 1: Db5