Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement with Vocal

Description: Swing - Medium

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

The 1966 Sinatra/Basie concert at the Sands is perhaps one of Sinatra's best known and loved albums. But, what isn't commonly known is that Frank Sinatra went out on the road with the Count Basie Orchestra in the summer of 1965. Among the dates they played together were a Newport Jazz Festival appearance on July 4, 1965 and a fundraiser with Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin at the Kiel Opera House in St. Louis. It was during this tour that the band road-tested the many arrangements that were written. This collaboration culminated at a gig in Las Vegas, at the Sands Hotel in January of 1966. This appearance resulted in a double album of Sinatra and Basie, and an album of the Basie band alone that was released many years later.

There were many arrangements written for the 1965 summer tour that were not performed and recorded at the famous Sands show. Some of the titles include: It’s Easy to Remember; All the Way; Call Me Irresponsible; A Foggy Day; Lover, Come Back to Me (previously published by Jazz Lines Publications); I’ll Never Smile Again; In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning; and this arrangement of Too Marvelous for Words.

It has always been assumed that since Quincy Jones conducted the Basie band during these performances that he was also the arranger. Jones was running Mercury Records in addition to conducting for Sinatra, so he needed some help. This arrangement was written by Chico O'Farrill (he signed the score and included the date June 23, 1965). Although O'Farrill indicated a tempo of "slow-medium" Sinatra took it at a tempo of approximately 200 bpm. We feel that the arrangement plays better at 150 bpm.

 

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

Trumpet 1: to D6
Trombone 1: C5