Edition: Jazz Small Group Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

The blues has been and continues to be the most common song form in jazz, and musicians have been figuring out new ways to explore its intricacies for decades. Duke Pearson contributed his own unique twist on the age-old formula with this song from his 1965 album Sweet Honey Bee. The song was written as a tribute to legendary sound engineer Rudy Van Gelder, whose studio provided the setting for some of the greatest jazz recording sessions of all time.

 

Notes to the Conductor: The tune opens up with a simple solo piano chorus, followed by Pearson playing the four-bar riff that becomes the basis for the composition. The blues form is abandoned altogether for an eight-bar interlude, featuring a unison melody played by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, alto saxophonist James Spaulding, and tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson. The melody is underscored by a descending chord progression that is not theoretically related to the blues, but still maintains its musical earthiness. The horns repeat the original four-bar piano riff, then the entire melody repeats itself. For solos, the soloist blows over the eight-bar interlude before being left to their own devices over a traditional blues in F. When finished, the soloist cues the initial four bar riff, which serves as a send-off for the next solo.

 

Initial solo duties are handled by Hubbard on the original recording, but chord changes have been provided for all instruments if there is a desire to change up the solo order. The song ends with a simple restatement of the initial melody. In addition to providing a transcription of the original recording, included are alternate trombone and guitar parts to allow for ensemble flexibility. We sincerely hope you enjoy playing this tune as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you!

Full Score
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone (Optional)
Guitar (Optional)
Piano
Bass
Drums

Trumpet: G5