Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Red Bank Boogie was a staple of the early Count Basie Orchestra's music library in the late 1930s. This version, however, is taken from Basie's 1960 musical autobiography "The Count Basie Story." Arranged by Frank Foster, it largely mimics the original chart while adding in a few modernist touches along the way.

The bright and brassy introduction gives way to a piano solo at measure 9. The piano remains featured throughout the entire arrangement, with occasional ensemble figures to break things up. These figures should always be played with vigor in order to contrast with the more subdued volume of the piano solo sections. The ensemble's chance to shine comes at measure 74, where the saxes play the steadily rumbling boogie-woogie melody line with some punctuated brass hits egging them on.

This publication is not a transcription - it has been prepared from the original set of parts used during the 1960 recording session. Several of Basie's solo breaks have been transcribed and included for your pianist to study, but it is also recommended that they check out recordings by other boogie-woogie pianists such as Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis to get a grasp on how to approach this piece.

 

 

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

Trumpet 1: D6
Trombone 1: A4