Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement with Vocal Group

Description: Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Perhaps the definitive example of a Swing Era "warhorse," Louis Prima's Sing, Sing, Sing was made most famous by the Benny Goodman Orchestra. Vic Schoen's arrangement for the Andrews Sisters takes the irrepressible enthusiasm of the original and transforms it into a high-energy extravaganza that offers up a good challenge for both vocalists and instrumentalists alike.

As expected, the rumbling tom-toms set the performance in motion, joined by some ominous pedaling in the trombones and trumpets. The sisters navigate Goodman's famously sinuous clarinet line via some scatting before the tune's main melody arrives at measure 19. Accompanied in fairly simplistic fashion by the horns, the vocals take turns between unison and harmonized passages to provide a bit of unpredictability. Once the first chorus is done, the arrangement goes up a half step, with the trumpets getting spurred into a brief soli; the trombones follow suit after another quick key change. The singers take the fore once again (including a solo spot on the bridge), before another key change launches the band into a hard-driving shout chorus that is broken up by a quick tenor sax solo at measure 91.

The sisters gradually re-enter with a harmonized version of Goodman's clarinet line, with each entrance raising the key by a half step before the melody returns once again. From here on out. the energy (and volume) level kicks up a notch across the board, with one final key change coming at measure 19. A tagged melody line only helps to ramp the frenzy up to even greater heights, with the band roaring at full strength all the way through to a vivacious conclusion.

This publication was prepared from Vic Schoen's original pencil score with the exception of the vocal group parts, which were transcribed from the recording.

Full Score
Female Vocal Group [SAA]
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
4 Trumpets
4 Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drum Set

Trumpet 1: D6
Trombone 1: C#5