Edition: Jazz Octet Arrangement with Optional Vocal

Description: Swing - Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Dave Pell diverted from his well-known Octet on two occasions in the late 1970s to pay tribute to his musical idol, tenor saxophone great Lester Young. Employing arrangements from fellow Young acolyte Bill Holman and guest appearances from Count Basie stars Harry 'Sweets' Edison and Joe Williams, these Prez Conference records feature a Woody Herman-style sax section (three tenors, one baritone) playing several standards associated with Young, complete with harmonized solis based off of his classic solos.

When You're Smiling takes its inspiration from Billie Holiday's 1938 recording featuring a forward-looking solo from Young that strongly hints at the innovations the bebop movement would codify a few years later. Joe Williams handles melody duties both times in his typically soulful style, while the sax section keeps things light and breezy during accompanying and soli sections. The volume stays fairly consistent throughout, never getting overly loud but never thinning out too much, either. Although the arrangement is played straight down on the 1979 recording, there are handwritten notes indicating that things were opened up for live performances. If you wish to allow for solo choruses, they can be inserted prior to the vocalist's re-entrance at measure 73.

This publication includes two alternate parts. One is a trumpet part that serves as a substitute for the vocalist, and was included in Pell's original parts.The other is an alto sax part that is a transposition of the 1st tenor part. These alternate parts are included to allow for as wide a range of groups to be able to play them as possible.

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

 

Full Score
Vocal (Optional)
3 Tenor Saxophones
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet (Optional)
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drum Set
Alto Saxophone (Optional Alternate Part for Tenor Sax 1)

Vocal Key: Eb