Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Funk - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Excelcia Music Publishing

Please click here for sound/score video.

In composer Peter Sciaino’s own words “I was going for a New Orleans vibe…like a Dirty Dozen Brass Band sort of thing but it went J.B. Horns (James Brown) style at some point.” That beautifully sums up this great new funk chart — searing horn lines and a cooking rhythm section.

 

 

From the composer/arranger:

New Orleans’s own Dirty Dozen Brass Band led a resurgence of New Orleans brass band music in the 1980’s that is still going strong today. Since that time many other brass dominant groups have used the traditional instrumentation of the New Orleans brass band to launch popular originals and covers via YouTube or other outlets to much acclaim. The Rebirth Brass Band, Youngblood Brass Band and Lucky Chops all come to mind as great examples of this, primarily acoustic, modern interpretation of New Orleans brass band music. I wanted to borrow the soulful spirit and funky vibe from these inspiring bands and apply them to a traditional jazz ensemble setting. Phat Tuesday is the realization of this idea with a few twists and turns built in!

Performance Notes

Unison licks should be rehearsed with an emphasis of unity and deference. An appropriate “section sound” begins with a cohesive style and playing within the sound of the line. Band members will want to play most of this tune loudly but encourage them to find multiple “gears,” reserving louder playing for licks that split into harmony rather than those in unison. Similarly, if a line begins and unison and develops into two-parts, three-parts or more, the players will need to dig in as the line splits to match the intensity of the unison lines which organically sound more powerful when played in tune.

Feel free to play with the instrumentation on this selection. Perhaps a sousaphone player can double/cover the bass part (down an octave) or a small group of select players can be featured on the opening statements of the melodic material…have fun with it!

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