Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Latin/Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Co-composed with saxophonist Shafi Hadi, Mary Lou Williams's big band arrangement of 'Shafi' was written near the end of her life. Its modal nature and unusual form serve as a wonderful reminder that Williams was both always ahead of her time and constantly evolving musically.

The highly intervallic melody is stated at a bright Latin tempo in unison by the saxophones at the beginning, with some powerful and somewhat exotic sounding backgrounds from the brass. Despite the brisk introduction, the tempo abruptly slows down by half at measure 22 and shifts to a swing feel. An alto saxophone solo takes over melody duties, with some low register accompaniment from the tenor and baritone saxophones.

The up-tempo Latin feel returns at measure 38, where the ensemble sets up a saxophone solo at measure 46. The groove shifts back to a swing feel at this point, as well. In Williams's original parts, the solo was written for baritone saxophone, but a note in the score indicates that the solo should be performed by an alto saxophone instead. Some simple, yet effective background figures in the brass underlie the solo, which continues through measure 91.

It is at this point that the full ensemble returns at full force. The original score and parts indicate that measure 95 was intended to be a brief trumpet solo; the Dutch Jazz Orchestra's recording replaces this with an open drum solo. Regardless of how your ensemble chooses to perform it, the full band returns at measure 103 for the final shout section, featuring some brilliant rhythmic figures. The original Latin groove returns at measure 120 before the saxophones play an extremely knotty line in unison that leads into the final ensemble hit to bring the arrangement to a conclusion.

This arrangement was written for standard jazz big band instrumentation (without guitar). This is not a transcription - it has been prepared from Williams' original score and parts. We hope you enjoy playing this arrangement as much as we enjoyed preparing it for you!

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

Trumpet 1: D6
Trombone 1: A4