Edition: Jazz Big Band Arrangement with Vocal

Description: Latin/Swing - Advanced

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Recorded in 1962 for the album 'Ella Sings Broadway,' this Frank DeVol arrangement of one of the more memorable numbers from Richard Adler and Jerry Ross's 'Damn Yankees' is a spicy treatment of an already highly suggestive tune. With its conga drums and quasi-bolero groove, this arrangement also serves as a departure from the more swing-oriented material singer Ella Fitzgerald was almost synonymous with during this time period.

Right off the bat, the need for a strong first trumpet player is made apparent with a high note brass blast that introduces the sultry Latin groove. Fitzgerald enters with the melody at the pickups to measure 6. The backgrounds that accompany the vocalist throughout the melody go back and forth between the screaming brass and the more subtle and mellow saxophones. The groove switches to a more standard swing feel for the bridge at measure 22 before returning to the quasi-bolero at measure 30.

The swing feel returns for the ensemble shout at measure 44. The saxophones handle the melody during this section and should try to mimic the overall sensual feeling of the vocals, while the brass backgrounds continue to provide an aggressive bite. There are a few written-out sections for the guitarist to play in unison with the saxophones during this part, and they should be played accordingly.

DeVol recycles some of his background figures on the vocalist's re-entry at measure 60, albeit with the brass backgrounds written down an octave to provide some much needed mercy for the trumpet players. The arrangement's grand finale begins at measure 76, with an almost militaristic figure in the brass at measure 79 setting up the final swell. The arrangement ends much the same as it begins, with screaming trumpets setting up the final ensemble blast in the final two measures.

This arrangement is for female vocalist with jazz big band, with additional parts for 5th trumpet, tuba and conga drums. This is not a transcription - it has been prepared from DeVol's original score and the set of parts used during the recording session. The vocal key is Bb minor.

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

Vocal Key: Bb minor
Trumpet 1: Ab6
Trumpet 2: G6
Trombone 1: Bb5