Style: Swing Era

INSTRUMENTATION
DIFFICULTY
VOCALS
PERFORMER
SOLOS
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trumpet

    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 quarter note = 185
    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
    • 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
    • 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
    • Tenor
    • Piano

    Flip Lid

    as performed by Les Brown and His Band of Renown
    $80
    Flip Lid comes at the peak of Les Brown's band, coming out of the swing era with Lunceford and Basie sensibilities, but tapping into the bebop vocabulary of Dizzy Gillespie's and Woody Herman's bands. Featuring the trumpet section throughout the head and a well balanced shout chorus, this swingin' chart sits right in between two eras of jazz. This is a very soft level 4, just a tad too difficult for level 3.
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Bebop, Swing Era
    Level 4
    TEMPO quarter note = 188
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • 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
    • Tenor
    • Bari
    • Piano

    Flip Lid (reduction)

    as performed by Les Brown and His Band of Renown
    $60
    Flip Lid comes from the peak of Les Brown's band, coming out of the swing era with Lunceford and Basie sensibilities, but tapping into the bebop era of Dizzy's and Woody Herman's bands. Featuring the horn section throughout the head and a well balanced shout chorus, this swingin' chart sits right in between two eras of jazz.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Bebop, Swing Era
    Level 4
    TEMPO quarter note = 188
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • Solos
    • Bari
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    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 quarter note = 190
    Trumpet
    Range
    C6
    • Solos
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    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 quarter note = 175
    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
    • Clarinet
    • Trumpet
    • Drums

    Anchors Aweigh

    as performed by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
    $80
    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 quarter note = 270
    Trumpet
    Range
    B5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Bass
    • Piano
    • Drums

    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 quarter note = 175
    Trumpet
    Range
    Bb5
    • 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
  • Christmas Memories

    as performed by the Beantown Swing Orchestra
    $95
    An original song off the 2011 Beantown Swing Orchestra album A Beantown Christmas, Christmas Memories is designed to sound as if Glenn Miller had performed this in 1938, complete with the classic clarinet-led reed section. To add to this effect, the song lyrics are about holiday nostalgia, connecting the past with the present.
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    Vocals Female
    TEMPO quarter note = 70
    Trumpet
    Range
    Bb5
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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

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