Difficulty Level: 3

INSTRUMENTATION
STYLE
VOCALS
PERFORMER
SOLOS
    • 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
    • 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
    • Clarinet
    • Tenor
    • Trombone

    Diga Diga Doo

    as performed by the Artie Shaw Orchestra
    $80
    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! Saxes configured as CAATT.
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 205
    Trumpet
    Range
    Eb6
  • Dancing in the Snow

    as performed by the Beantown Swing Orchestra
    $95
    From the 2011 Beantown Swing Orchestra album A Beantown Christmas, "Dancing in the Snow" is a cool-swinging original tune that features any combination of male or female singers. Ensemble work ranges from a tight horn quartet to a full-band roaring shout chorus and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Pop Jazz
    Level 3
    Vocals Male & Female
    TEMPO quarter note = 150
    Trumpet
    Range
    D6
    • 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
    • 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
    • Clarinet
    • Tenor
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    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 quarter note = 230
    Trumpet
    Range
    D6
    • Solos
    • Tenor
    • Trumpet

    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 quarter note = 135
    Trumpet
    Range
    Db6
    • Solos
    • Tenor
    • Piano

    Eager Beaver

    as performed by Stan Kenton Orchestra
    $80
    Stan Kenton's early band came out of the swing era with dance charts like Eager Beaver, his first hit, but even here you can see the band trying to push the limits of swing and jazz. This piece has a lot of components that all work together, including lots of meaty low trombone notes, fanfare-ish trumpet lines, smooth swinging saxes, and even moments that feature the rhythm section. This is a little tricky for a 3 but not quite as intense as a 4.
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 155
    Trumpet
    Range
    Db6
    • Solos
    • Trumpet

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

    The Right Idea

    as performed by Charlie Barnet and his Orchestra
    $80
    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 truly 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 Big Band
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 185
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • 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
    • 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
    • Clarinet
    • Tenor
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    Bugle Call Rag

    as performed by the Benny Goodman Orchestra
    $80
    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 Big Band
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 235
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • 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
    • 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
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    The Back Room Romp (A Contrapuntal Stomp)

    as performed by Rex Stewart and His 52nd Street Stompers
    $60
    Back Room Romp is basically a simple blues in Ab, but there is a twist: the head is a series of building independent lines, thus a "Contrapuntal Stomp." Every horn player gets a solo chorus. The lead trumpet part is a bit of a blow, but this was written for longtime Ellington sideman, trumpeter Rex Stewart, who had the chops to play all day.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 154
    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

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