Style: Swing Era

INSTRUMENTATION
DIFFICULTY
VOCALS
PERFORMER
SOLOS
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone

    Junior Hop

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Junior Hop is a nice walkin' alto feature with some simple but melodic three-part backgrounds. The trio takes over for a bit on a catchy new melody built on strong triads. The trombone part is a little on the high side for a Level 2 (up to high A).
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 140
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • Solos
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Johnson Rag

    as performed by Rocco and the Stompers
    $65
    Johnson Rag is an old, relatively obscure tune, seen here fleshed out into a fat swinging arrangement influenced by the writing style of Duke Ellington and Fletcher Henderson. The chart includes a bass/piano/bari riff, the trombone on the melody, a trumpet/alto pep section, and an original bridge, all with a middle section featuring a brass battle.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 160
    Trumpet
    Range
    F5
    • 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
    • Alto
    • Trumpet

    I Know What You Do

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    This obscure tune swings along with great riffs and colorful ensemble moments. I Know What You Do is a bit more chromatic than other level 2 Ellington pieces, but it all fits nicely together.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 180
    Trumpet
    Range
    F5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone

    Hobbledehoy

    as performed by Rocco and the Stompers
    $65
    Hobbledehoy is a long outdated word meaning a clumsy or awkward youth. This tune captures that spirit while still swinging and providing a perfect foundation for dancers. The melody is mostly in unison with some riffs and 3-part background lines behind the solos. This one is a hit that your band will love!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 140
    Trumpet
    Range
    F5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    Good Queen Bess

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Good Queen Bess is a standout riff tune from the Hodges/Ellington book, complete with a lighthearted, catchy melody, and player-unique background voicings. The solo changes are fairly standard but colorful and make for a great jam vehicle for your band.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 150
    Trumpet
    Range
    D5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Piano

    Goin’ Out the Back Way

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    A well-rounded starter chart (especially for younger bands), Goin' Out the Back Way features a nice melody with every instrument in the comfortable zones of their ranges, simple backgrounds, cool chord changes, and a medium tempo. A couple of instruments that don't get too many solos have their space here as well. Slightly tricky for a level 1, but nothing crazy!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 1
    TEMPO quarter note = 155
    Trumpet
    Range
    F5
    • 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
    • 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
    • Soprano
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    Empty Ballroom Blues

    as performed by Johnny Hodges
    $60
    Empty Ballroom Blues (which is not a blues!) is an Hodges/Ellington piece with great big riffs and big solo sections, and it makes for a great finale number!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 190
    Trumpet
    Range
    A5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Trombone

    Emerald

    as performed by Rocco and the Stompers
    $65
    Emerald is a Rocco and the Stompers original that primarily features the alto sax with triad counterpoint a la Johnny Hodges and Duke Ellington. This is a fun an interesting chart considering how relatively easy it is, and it's always a hit with dancers!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 150
    Trumpet
    Range
    Gb5
    • 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
    • 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
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Do Some War Work, Baby (instrumental)

    as performed by Cootie Williams and His Rug Cutters
    $60
    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 quarter note = 140
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Dancing on the Stars

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Dancing on the Stars is a catchy head arrangement that features some nice counterpoint, solo backgrounds, sophisticated harmony compared to many other pieces from the Hodges/Ellington book.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 185
    Trumpet
    Range
    E5
  • 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
    • 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

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