Difficulty Level: 3

INSTRUMENTATION
STYLE
VOCALS
PERFORMER
SOLOS
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Tenor
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    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 quarter note = 230
    Trumpet
    Range
    D6
    • Solos
    • Clarinet
    • Tenor
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    Bugle Call Rag (reduction)

    as performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra
    $60
    Bugle Call Rag is an all out flag waver that was a major hit for Benny Goodman. With simple chords and riffs and lots of solo space, this burning boogie-woogie/swing hybrid swings hard and is a quintessential swing era anthem.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 235
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Tenor
    • Bari
    • Trombone

    Diga Diga Doo (reduction)

    as performed by the Artie Shaw Orchestra
    $60
    Diga Diga Doo was a heavily covered tune in the 1920s and '30s, but Artie Shaw's version was one of the tightest. A hard swinging and nimble riff vehicle that has some room for solos as well, Diga is a great upbeat piece that isn't too tricky and has lots of fun moments!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 205
    Trumpet
    Range
    Eb6
    • 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
    • Trumpet

    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 quarter note = 184
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • Solos
    • Tenor
    • Trumpet
    • Piano
    • Drums

    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 quarter note = 225
    Trumpet
    Range
    Eb6
    • Solos
    • Trumpet

    American Patrol

    as performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
    $80
    American Patrol hit #15 on the Billboard charts in 1942 and was one of Glenn Miller's last hits before joining the military and powered by a creative Jerry Gray arrangement it still holds up today. Mostly full of tight ensemble playing and only a single 16-bar solo, American Patrol is a staple of every big band book.
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 184
    Trumpet
    Range
    D6
    • 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
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    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 quarter note = 160
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    A Stompers Recrudescence

    as performed by Rocco and the Stompers
    $65
    A Stompers Recrudescence is a killer finale piece. It starts with a windup intro, like a train leaving the station, before hitting a pre-head fanfare, then goes on to features all four horn players, an infectious blues head, and a huge final two choruses.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 175
    Trumpet
    Range
    Bb5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Bass
    • Piano
    • Drums

    The Wilhelm Scream

    as performed by Rocco and the Stompers
    $65
    The Wilhelm Scream is a flag waving jam session tune in the spirit of a Basie-style Lester Leaps In or a Shaw-style Diga Diga Doo that is open for solos for any/all instruments in the band. Built modularly, there are unique horn backgrounds that can be played depending on which instrument is soloing, with a final cued shout chorus that brings the house down!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 230
    Trumpet
    Range
    Bb5
  • 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 quarter note = 130
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
  • 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 quarter note = 220
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
  • 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 quarter note = 180
    Trumpet
    Range
    A5
  • Deck the Halls

    as performed by the Danny Fratina Brass Quartet
    $35
    One of the older Christmas standards, Deck the Halls is a classic that belongs in every holiday brass quartet book. This is a very easy level 3, save for an abrupt fanfare in the final few bars that brings the arrangement to a triumphal end. The harmony ranges from traditional to modern nonfunctional, but it is always well-balanced.
    Instrumentation Brass Quartet
    Style Classical
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 160
    Trumpet
    Range
    A5
  • Chorale #2

    as performed by the Danny Fratina Brass Quartet
    $35
    Chorale #2 is a short original piece written for brass quartet in the spirit of the holiday season. At once a gentle fanfare, a lament on the darkness of society, and a celebration of the best humankind has to offer, Chorale #2 churns and crawls its way to a triumphant final chord.
    Instrumentation Brass Quartet
    Style Classical
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 80
    Trumpet
    Range
    Eb5
    • Solos
    • Trumpet
    • Guitar
    • Piano

    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 quarter note = 150
    Trumpet
    Range
    B5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Tenor
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Piano

    The Right Idea (reduction)

    as performed by Charlie Barnet and his Orchestra
    $60
    Charlie Barnet wrote a trio of "Idea" pieces: one that paid tribute to Duke Ellington, one that parodied the unhip bands of the day, and this one, The Right Idea, a piece that Barnet felt represented a quintessential swing chart. With solo space for several instruments and some great riffs and lines, you can tell right away that Barnet was spot on!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 185
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • Solos
    • Tenor
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Calling Doctor Gillespie

    as performed by Gene Krupa and his Orchestra
    $80
    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. High Gs for lead trumpet are all optional - without them the highest note is a Bb above the staff. A couple of solos in the middle round this out.
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 136
    Trumpet
    Range
    Bb5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Hot Springs

    as performed by Gene Ammons
    $60
    Hot Springs is a catchy mid-tempo Gene Ammons tune that shows jazz in 1949 in flux, transitioning from swing to bebop. The solo order and instrumentation has been slightly altered to fit with the Hodges horn lineup.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Bebop
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 144
    Trumpet
    Range
    B5

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