Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Benny Carter's Vine Street Rumble is best known for being the first movement of his Kansas City Suite, recorded in 1960 by the Count Basie Orchestra. This Jazz Lines Publications version is based off of a revised edition that Carter penned in 1989 for a live appearance with the WDR Big Band. The feel and melody are the same, but there are a number of differences that give this later interpretation its own unique vibe.

The joyous atmosphere is established right off the bat, with the full band playing a roaring introduction to set up the shuffle groove that is maintained for the entire performance. The catchy melody is stated twice by the saxophones, with the brass jumping in toward the end of the first chorus with some jabbing background hits. Two solo choruses of piano at measure 41 give the horns a short break after their initial appearance before they roar back to life during a stop-time send-off at measure 58.

A tenor sax solo at measure 63 commences the portion of the arrangement that can be opened up for additional solos. Chord changes have been included at measure 94 for alto sax, trumpet, and trombone. The shout chorus (now based off of a different harmonic sequence than the original melody) is an 8-measure section that is played 4 total times, with different elements being added in along the way. Starting at a bare whisper, it eventually builds up to an all-out blast, capped off by a screaming trumpet rip before the bottom drops out for a final held tone from the saxes and trombones.

This publication was prepared using the set of parts from Benny Carter's library - this is not a transcription.

 

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

Trumpets 1 and 2: G6
Trombone 1: C5