Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Waltz - Advanced

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

The big band version of Frank Foster's classic modal blues waltz Simone has an interesting history to it. Originally recorded in 1977 and featuring legendary drummer Elvin Jones, the session went unreleased until 2007, when it finally came out in the form of the album Well Water. Jones' churning drums combined with Foster's dense arrangement made for a marvelous performance that certainly deserved to be brought to public attention much sooner than it was.

A vamping rhythm section sets up the melody's entrance at measure 9. Said melody is performed twice, first by two tenor saxes and two flugelhorns, and then by the whole sax section. The backgrounds on the second time are slightly denser than the backgrounds on the first. A brief ensemble chord serves as a launching point for a tenor saxophone solo beginning at measure 57. Each of the tenor solo's five choruses sees a new wrinkle added to it in the ensemble, starting with no horns at all and gradually building to a steadily pulsing (and loud) full-group attack.

Once the tenor solo wraps up, the arrangement allows for additional solos. On Foster's recording, these solos are handled by Kiane Zawadi on trombone and Mickey Tucker on piano, but the arrangement also contains chord changes in the second trumpet part. Once the soloists have said their piece, the melody returns in slightly altered form to mark the start of the ensemble shout chorus at measure 178. The band deviates from the melody altogether at measure 202, with the brass roaring atop a challenging, John Coltrane-inspired unison sax line. Being the guest star of the session, Jones gets a chance to do his thing on drums after the shout to set up the melody's return at measure 238. The ending is tagged a couple of times, slowing down suddenly for a final stacked ensemble figure to bring the performance to an appropriately intense close.

 

Full Score
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
5 Trumpets
3 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums

Trumpet 1: E6 (opt. F#6)
Trombone 1: A4