Browse All Songs

Ilkimcim Için Bir Şarkı

as performed by the Danny Fratina Brass Quartet

$35

Ilkimcim Için Bir Şarkı is an original song I wrote for my wonderful girlfriend's birthday and is the first in a series of small chamber music compositions that make up a larger musical and visual project. This jazz ballad has a melody that is almost entirely diatonic and in a major key, but with underlying harmony that is juxtaposed with lots of reharmonizations and darker minor chords. It's a passionate piece with emotional complexity, but it never doubts itself and ultimately settles on a balanced major tonic chord in the end.

Instrumentation	Brass Quartet
Style	Modern Jazz
Level	1
TEMPO	= 90
Trumpet Range

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

as performed by the Danny Fratina Brass Quartet

$35

This 19th century classic sees a jazz update here, with swinging rhythms and tight 20th century jazz harmony driving it forward. The ending is a bit chaotic and helps put this on the difficult side of a level 3 arrangement, but overall this is a fun version of the tune that has more pop to it than usual.

Instrumentation	Brass Quartet
Style	Bebop, Modern Jazz
Level	3
TEMPO	= 180
Trumpet Range

Solos

Jet Lag

as performed by Rocco and the Stompers

$65

Jet Lag is an Ellington-inspired riff tune with a serious harmonic twist. The serpentine changes in Bb are functional and logical but require a bit more focus than usual and the slightly behind-the-chords melody all work together to bring the title to life. This is an experimental chart that is a great workout for your best improvisers.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 190
Trumpet Range

Jingle Bells

as performed by the Danny Fratina Brass Quartet

$35

Jingle Bells is one of the most recognizable holiday classics of all time, so I felt an obligation to do something different with this arrangement. The first two bars are traditional and "classical" before unexpectedly launching into a double time swing feel featuring the 2nd trumpet and 4-feel bass lines. It then abruptly settles into a normal time straight feel, almost in a rock style, with the melody exactly where you expect it but underlying functional harmony built on top of a 12-tone chord progression. In other words, this one sounds cool.

Instrumentation	Brass Quartet
Style	Classical, Modern Jazz
Level	4
TEMPO	= 90
Trumpet Range

Solos

Johnson Rag

as performed by Rocco and the Stompers

$65

Johnson Rag is an old, relatively obscure tune, seen here fleshed out into a fat swinging arrangement influenced by the writing style of Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson. The chart includes a bass/piano/bari riff, the trombone on the melody, a trumpet/alto pep section, and an original bridge, all with a middle section featuring a brass battle.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 160
Trumpet Range

Joy to the World

as performed by the Danny Fratina Brass Quartet

$35

This arrangement of Joy to the World has a range of dynamics and harmonies and is a killer upgrade to the more traditional versions out there. Now in a fast 3/4 time signature, this version has a lead trumpet melody part that is virtually unaltered, with colorful counterparts and reharmonizations flying around it.

Instrumentation	Brass Quartet
Style	Classical, Modern Jazz
Level	3
TEMPO	= 220
Trumpet Range

Solos

Junior Hop

as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

$60

Junior Hop is a nice walkin' alto feature with some simple but melodic three-part backgrounds. The trio takes over for a bit on a catchy new melody built on strong triads. The trombone part is a little on the high side for a Level 2 (up to high A).

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 140
Trumpet Range

Solos

Keep Punchin’

as performed by the Lee Norman Orchestra

$80

Also known as "The Big Apple Contest," this is a swing dancer staple and a must-have for any band that will ever play for swing dancers! After the famous simple intro a brass trio work plays off of a sax riff, and from there on it's simple burnin' riffs all the way home, with lots of great brass plunger work.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 200
Trumpet Range

Solos

Keep Punchin’ (reduction)

as performed by the Lee Norman Orchestra

$60

Also known as "The Big Apple Contest," Keep Punchin' is a swing dancer staple and a must-have for any band that will ever play for swing dancers! After the famous simple intro a brass trio work plays off of a sax riff, and from there on it's simple burnin' riffs all the way home, with lots of great brass plunger work.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 200
Trumpet Range

Solos

King Porter Stomp

as performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra

$80

When Benny Goodman hired Fletcher Henderson, he turned the band's sound upside down, ushering in a new era of popular music. King Porter Stomp is demonstrative of the Henderson arranging style and is truly a Swing Era anthem. Solo space for several instruments, lots of tight ensemble work, and a roaring finish at the perfect dancing tempo makes this a quintessential piece in any big band's library!

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 184
Trumpet Range

Solos

King Porter Stomp (reduction)

as performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra

$60

When Benny Goodman hired Fletcher Henderson, he turned the band's sound upside down, ushering in a new era of popular music. King Porter Stomp is demonstrative of the Henderson arranging style and is truly a Swing Era anthem. Solo space for several instruments, lots of tight ensemble work, and a roaring finish at the perfect dancing tempo makes this a quintessential piece in any big band's library!

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 184
Trumpet Range

Let’s Do It

as performed by Benny Goodman Orchestra with Peggy Lee

$80

The lead trumpet part here is tough for a 2 but overall this is an easy grooving arrangement that is one of the few swing era vocal charts to feature the singer fully throughout the form. Peggy Lee's cool performance on this recording brought the tune to a new height, with a swinging even-tempered arrangement to contrast and support her. The lead trumpet part here is almost a 3, but otherwise this is a solid 2. Vocal range is Bb3 to A4/C5.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
Vocals	Female
TEMPO	= 121
Trumpet Range

Solos

Lindyhopper’s Delight

as performed by the Chick Webb Orchestra

$80

As standard dance repertoire, Lindyhopper's Delight is a catchy riff tune with a startlingly modern middle chorus that features some relatively harsh sax harmonies flanked by thickly-voiced plunger-supported brass hits. The final chorus is a raucous one, even though the brass are in full octave unison on a concert Bb! This is a great tune for any library though, and a good, albeit sometimes tricky, introduction to plungers for younger brass players.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 195
Trumpet Range

Lindyhopper's Delight 4-horns score sample

Solos

Lindyhopper’s Delight (reduction)

as performed by the Chick Webb Orchestra

$60

As standard dance repertoire, Lindyhopper's Delight is a catchy riff tune with a startlingly modern middle chorus that features some relatively harsh sax harmonies flanked by thickly-voiced plunger-supported brass hits. The final chorus is a raucous one, even though the brass are in full octave unison on a concert Bb! This is a great tune for any library though, and a good, albeit sometimes tricky, introduction to plungers for younger brass players.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 195
Trumpet Range

Solos

Look for the Silver Lining

as performed by Rocco and the Stompers

$65

This alto feature is a perfect tempo for new dancers and has some very cool background lines from the trio of trumpet, trombone, and bari sax. Let your alto play out a la Johnny Hodges and have your trio dig in with some conviction and this chart will swing hard.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 125
Trumpet Range

Solos

Lumbersexual

as performed by Rocco and the Stompers

$65

Lumbersexual is a grooving blues at the perfect medium dance tempo that features a catchy melody, built-in call and responses with soloists, and a huge final chorus. This original Rocco and the Stompers tune works well as a set opener, closer, or mid-set energy booster and never fails to get dancers engaged!

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 160
Trumpet Range

Solos

Man From Mars

as performed by the Artie Shaw Orchestra

$80

Man From Mars is an uptempo puncher with some slick solo spots and cool riffs for each section. A little intricate for a level 3, but not quite as demanding as a level 4, this piece swings hard and ends with a bang.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 230
Trumpet Range

Solos

Man From Mars (reduction)

as performed by the Artie Shaw Orchestra

$60

Man From Mars is an uptempo puncher with some slick solo spots and cool riffs for each section. A little intricate for a level 3, but not quite as demanding as a level 4, this piece swings hard and ends with a bang.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 230
Trumpet Range

Solos

Margie

as performed by Rocco and the Stompers

$65

Margie is a classic early jazz standard that was popular during the hot jazz and swing eras and is due for a comeback! This alto feature is built up like a Sy Oliver/Jimmie Lunceford arrangement, with a simple melody part and a bouncy and angular 3-part horn counterpart.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 150
Trumpet Range

Solos

Melanchology

as performed by the Danny Fratina Jazz Orchestra

$95

Melanchology is a moody medium tempo piece that is designed to be sophisticated but accessible. The opening march-like texture is supported by colorful nonfunctional harmony, leading all the way to a diminishing spacey ending. It's an easy level 3 with solo space for your best trumpet soloist and a little space for guitar and piano.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Modern Jazz
Level	3
TEMPO	= 150
Trumpet Range

Solos

Minnie the Moocher’s Wedding

as performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra

$80

This wild piece starts out with Fletcher Henderson quoting of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," but after two bars it's off to the races with tons of intricate riffs, solos, and a rowdy shout chorus at the end. Watch out for the lightening quick mute changing, which was standard practice in the 1930s. This piece makes a great wedding reception opener and many working bands using it now will open up the first solo section as a vamp to introduce a wedding party.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 185
Trumpet Range

Minnie The Moocher's Wedding 4-horn score sample

Solos

Minnie the Moocher’s Wedding (reduction)

as performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra

$60

This wild piece starts out with Fletcher Henderson quoting of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March," but after two bars it's off to the races with tons of intricate riffs, solos, and a rowdy shout chorus at the end. Watch out for the lightening quick mute changing, which was standard practice in the 1930s. This piece makes a great wedding reception opener and many working bands using it now will open up the first solo section as a vamp to introduce a wedding party.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 185
Trumpet Range

Solos

O Holy Night

as performed by the Beantown Swing Orchestra

$95

From the Beantown Swing Orchestra 2011 holiday album A Beantown Christmas, what starts as a traditional-sounding orchestral jazz arrangement of the Christmas classic warps into a Duke Ellington style R&B swinger. Reflective and introspective moments balance against soulful bluesy cries in this powerhouse arrangement that has a little something for everyone.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
Vocals	Male
TEMPO	= 65
Trumpet Range

O Tannenbaum

as performed by the Danny Fratina Brass Quartet

$35

O Tannenbaum, also known as O Christmas Tree, is typically played in a slower 3/4 time. Here, it's in a swinging 4/4 groove with textures that jump in and out of solo, concerted and counterpoint with harmony ranging from traditional to a more aggressive Duke Ellington style.

Instrumentation	Brass Quartet
Style	Bebop
Level	3
TEMPO	= 130
Trumpet Range

Solos

Pickin’ the Cabbage

as performed by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

$80

Written for Cab Calloway's band, Pickin' the Cabbage is Dizzy Gillespie's first ever big band composition. The slick tune features a great melody for a trio and many hints of modern bebop and afro-cuban music that would later be Gillespie's trademark.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 184
Trumpet Range

Pickin' the Cabbage 4-horns score sample

Solos

Pickin’ the Cabbage (reduction)

as performed by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra

$60

Written for Cab Calloway's band, Pickin' the Cabbage is Dizzy Gillespie's first ever big band composition. The slick tune features a great melody for a trio and many hints of modern bebop and afro-cuban music that would later be Gillespie's trademark.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 184
Trumpet Range

Solos

Pletchtastic

as performed by Rocco and the Stompers

$65

Pletchtastic is a tongue-in-cheek titled song commissioned for Club Drosselmeyer. A simple Bb blues riff melody, solos for every instrument, no backgrounds, and a big intro and ending makes this a great opener, closer, or mid-set rest piece for your horns.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 175
Trumpet Range

Solos

Rendezvous with Rhythm

as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

$60

Rendezvous with Rhythm is a unique tune that bridges the gap between hot jazz and swing with plenty of space for solos. Simple riffs and a tidy shout chorus drive this deceptively swinging Ellington/Hodges chart to a quiet and abrupt ending.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 194
Trumpet Range

Solos

Ruined

as performed by the Danny Fratina Jazz Orchestra

$95

Ruined is a funky chamber jazz tune with feature space for guitar and trumpet. It starts with saxes only with no rhythm section, adding in trombones, then trumpets, before building into a guitar solo. The trumpet solo gets some space over trombone chorale before the rhythm section jumps back in, and it ends with a dismantling of each section until nothing is left but the five saxes. Each horn player keeping good time is critical for this composition, but the reward is a lush and exciting groove-based piece.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Modern Jazz
Level	4
TEMPO	= 90
Trumpet Range

Solos

Savoy Strut

as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

$60

Savoy Strut is a major hidden gem from the swing era! Duke Ellington starts the tune up with an unusually angular intro, which takes us to a winding but singable head. The soloists play over a beautiful and remarkable chord progression which also features some player-specific orchestration choices that take advantage of the unique sounds of his players. A must-have for any Ellington 7-piece ensemble!

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 160
Trumpet Range

Solos

Silent Night

as performed by the Danny Fratina Brass Quartet

$35

This 19th century Christmas standard belongs in every brass quartet book, and this new arrangement puts it right on the edge of traditional and modern. Featuring a solo tuba up front and bringing the other instruments in with heavy functional reharmonization, the piece beautifully makes its way to a melancholy but resolved conclusion.

Instrumentation	Brass Quartet
Style	Classical, Modern Jazz
Level	1
TEMPO	= 120
Trumpet Range

Solos

Skunk Hollow Blues

as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

$60

Skunk Hollow Blues is a very laid back colorful blues and a fantastic rare gem of the swing era. The intro and head features plunger trumpet on one line, bari and trombone on another, and the alto on a third melody, a rare true 3-part counterpoint! Riffs and triadic voicings back up a couple of solos, leading to an ending chorus that is half based on the head and half new material full of creeping chromatic motion full of dynamics.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 125
Trumpet Range

Solos

Solo Flight

as performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra with Charlie Christian

$80

Around the age 24, Charlie Christian, not content with playing rhythm on every tune, wrote himself a soloing feature that has since become the guitar standard of the swing era. Solo Flight has lots of great wild punches from the band but it's all secondary to the guitar improvisation that dances around them. The chord changes have some familiar structures, but mixed in are slightly more modern chords with flashes of early bebop.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 180
Trumpet Range

Solos

Solo Flight (reduction)

as performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra with Charlie Christian

$60

Around the age 24, Charlie Christian, not content with playing rhythm on every tune, wrote himself a soloing feature that has since become the guitar standard of the swing era. Solo Flight has lots of great wild punches from the band but it's all secondary to the guitar improvisation that dances around them. The chord changes have some familiar structures, but mixed in are slightly more modern chords with flashes of early bebop.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 180
Trumpet Range

Solos

Song of the Volga Boatman

as performed by the Glenn Miller Orchestra

$80

This swingin' Bill Finegan arrangement of a traditional Russian folk shanty has some great ensemble work, several peaks, and a rare jazz canon for the brass! Some simple plunger work helps ground it in the swing era, and a huge finale with harmony way ahead of it's time makes Song of the Volga Boatman a killer addition to any big band book.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 135
Trumpet Range

Solos

Swing Psychometry

as performed by Rocco and the Stompers

$65

Swing Psychometry is a trumpet feature that pushes the limits of swing era vocabulary. Full of 10 bar phrases and Ellington and Coltrane-inspired harmony, this interesting piece pops out in your book as something unusual yet familiar.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	4
TEMPO	= 175
Trumpet Range

Solos

Swingin’ on the Campus

as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

$60

Swingin' on the Campus is an aggressive hard swinging tune jam packed with killer riffs and solo space. This simply-constructed piece is built on a variation of rhythm changes and is a difficult level 2 because of the relatively high tempo and brass endurance.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 195
Trumpet Range

Solos

Swingin’ the Blues

as performed by Count Basie and His Orchestra

$80

This early Count Basie barn burner absolutely crushes on the blues, with catchy section work, a killer shout chorus, and solo space for both tenors and two trumpets. Starting small up front in the key of C, this arrangement builds up with great riffs, a Durham/Lunceford style chromatic modulation, and a massive shout chorus in two parts.

Instrumentation	Big Band
Style	Swing Era
Level	3
TEMPO	= 225
Trumpet Range

Solos

Swinging in the Dell

as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra

$60

This upbeat Hodges/Ellington piece is a variation on the old nursery rhyme The Farmer in the Dell. After a statement of the melody, it's all solos with background riffs until the melody comes back at the end. Swinging in the Dell is a very simple solo vehicle that's great for getting dancers on the floor!

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 190
Trumpet Range

Solos

That’s Rhythm

as performed by Rex Stewart & His 52nd St. Stompers

$60

The unassumingly-titled "That's Rhythm" is a colorful tune that straddles the line between the swing era and the bebop era. Written by Ellington sideman Rex Stewart for his own shorter-lived 4-horn band, "Rhythm" features a punchy and memorable head and lots of solo space.

Instrumentation	Ellington 7-Piece
Style	Swing Era
Level	2
TEMPO	= 148
Trumpet Range

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