Edition: Jazz Brass Band Arrangement with Vocal

Description: Swing - Medium Difficult

Publisher: Jazz Lines Publications

Louis Armstrong recorded Cole Porter's You're The Top in 1957, although it would not see release until 1960 on the album I've Got the World on a String. Russ Garcia's arrangement serves as a simple but effective framework for Armstrong's iconic vocal stylings. Although not featuring any particularly challenging rhythms or fingerings, the arrangement is a bit on the rangey side at times.

A quick introductory riff sets up Armstrong's entrance with the verse at measure 5. The melody proper comes in at measure 21, with Armstrong offering up a delightfully chipper version of the tune's cheeky lyrics with simple but effective backgrounds egging him on. The melody is repeated twice in total; the backgrounds are played muted the first time and open the second, but are otherwise identical. The introductory riff is used as both an interlude between choruses and as an ending, with Armstrong getting a two measure solo scat break before one final brass blast to wrap things up.

This arrangement is for male vocalist with brass section accompaniment. It is not a transcription - it has been prepared from Russ Garcia's original score and the set of parts used during the recording session.

 

 

Full Score
Vocal
3 Trumpets
4 Trombones
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums

Vocal Key: Eb
Trumpet 1: F6
Trombone 1: C5