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This Cootie Williams number is a great easy piece that still authentically swings hard. The original recording of Do Some War Work, Baby has a vocal chorus in the middle, but this transcription replaces it with a solo chorus for bari sax and alters the ending to make it fully instrumental. The vocal version can be found here.
Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece Style Swing Era Level 1 TEMPO = 140 Trumpet
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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 = 140 Trumpet
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An original song off the 2011 Beantown Swing Orchestra album A Beantown Christmas, "Christmas Land" is a light-hearted, swinging tune about the magical world of fun and happiness where all things Christmas are created. There are several solo spaces for trumpet and some great swinging ensemble parts reminiscent of Nelson Riddle's work for Frank Sinatra.
Instrumentation Big Band Style Pop Jazz Level 4 Vocals Female TEMPO = 124 Trumpet
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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 = 235 Trumpet
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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 = 235 Trumpet
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This is a killer arrangement of an old Scottish song that is full of meat and potato ensemble work. Beware the aggressive brass solos though: Solo trumpet plays up to a high F at the end, and they'll need to pull off the Paul Webster fireworks before then (the exact solo is written out but optional). You'll also need a lead trombonist to blast his way up to a HIGH F.
Instrumentation Big Band Style Swing Era Level 4 TEMPO = 160 Trumpet
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Anchors Aweigh is a classic Glenn Miller flag waver and it is a beast of chart. Lightning fast mute changes, rapid fire horn lines, swinging fanfare sections, and a rager of a back half make this is a difficult but exciting chart despite the unassuming source material it's based off of.
Instrumentation Big Band Style Swing Era Level 4 TEMPO = 270 Trumpet
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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 = 184 Trumpet
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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 = 175 Trumpet
Range