Instrumentation: Ellington 7-Piece

STYLE
DIFFICULTY
VOCALS
PERFORMER
SOLOS
    • Solos
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Do Some War Work, Baby

    as performed by Cootie Williams and His Rug Cutters
    $60
    This Cootie Williams number is a great easy piece that still authentically swings hard. Do Some War Work, Baby has a vocal chorus in the middle, but an instrumental adaptation is available here, replacing the vocals with a solo chorus for bari sax and altering the ending.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 1
    Vocals Male
    TEMPO quarter note = 140
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • Solos
    • Tenor
    • Bari
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Calling Doctor Gillespie (reduction)

    as performed by Gene Krupa and his Orchestra
    $60
    This Edwin Finckel rarity swings hard and doesn't shy away from its bebop influences. Straddling the line between the two eras of jazz, Calling Doctor Gillespie features some infectious melodies and singable shout choruses. A couple of solos in the middle round this out.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 136
    Trumpet
    Range
    Bb5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari

    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 quarter note = 125
    Trumpet
    Range
    F5
    • Solos
    • Bari
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Dysthymia, Maybe

    as performed by Rocco and the Stompers
    $65
    Dysthymia, Maybe is an easy walkin' tune featuring a simplified bluesy unison riff for the melody and easy solo changes in F. This is an easy head tune that gives your horns a nice break while keeping dancers on the floor.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 125
    Trumpet
    Range
    Bb5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trumpet

    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 quarter note = 125
    Trumpet
    Range
    Eb5
    • Solos
    • Bari
    • Trombone

    Avalon

    as performed by Rocco and the Stompers
    $65
    Coming out the same year as Prohibition, Avalon is one of the earliest jazz standards of the 20th century. Here, it's slowed down to a super slick beginner's dancing tempo featuring trombone on a staccato melody with a sassy background trio of cup mute trumpet, alto and bari sax almost taking over as a new melody over the bone.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 120
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone

    The Intimacy of the Blues

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    The Intimacy of the Blues is notable not just for it's striking melody--this was one of the very last compositions ever written by longtime Ellington collaborator Billy Strayhorn. This medium tempo Eb blues is good for a band of any skill level, and a great historical addition to your book.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 1
    TEMPO quarter note = 110
    Trumpet
    Range
    Eb5

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