Style: Swing Era

INSTRUMENTATION
DIFFICULTY
VOCALS
PERFORMER
SOLOS
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone

    The Intimacy of the Blues

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    The Intimacy of the Blues is notable not just for it's striking melody--this was one of the very last compositions ever written by longtime Ellington collaborator Billy Strayhorn. This medium tempo Eb blues is good for a band of any skill level, and a great historical addition to your book.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 1
    TEMPO quarter note = 110
    Trumpet
    Range
    Eb5
    • 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
    • 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
    • Tenor
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Drums

    Up An Atom

    as performed by Gene Krupa and His Orchestra
    $80
    Another killin' Edwin Finckel original, Up an Atom pushes Gene Krupa's young orchestra to the limit, blurring the line between swing and bebop. Long stretches of solo space and plenty of great ensemble passages makes this a great flagwaver.
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Bebop, Swing Era
    Level 4
    TEMPO quarter note = 212
    Trumpet
    Range
    D6
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone
    • Drums

    Vestigiophony

    as performed by Rocco and the Stompers
    $65
    Vestigiophony is a winding dance tempo swing tune that is loosely based on Wayne Shorter's composition Footprints, if that tune was written and arranged by Duke Ellington for Johnny Hodges' seven piece band. Horns are often concerted in 4-part voicings, all building to solos, then to a shout chorus with drum solo fills.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 4
    TEMPO quarter note = 160
    Trumpet
    Range
    F6
    • Solos
    • Clarinet
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Bass

    When the Quail Come Back to San Quentin

    as performed by Artie Shaw and the Gramercy Five
    $60
    This hip Artie Shaw original features a little of everyone at the perfect dance tempo. Anecdotally, When the Quail Come Back to San Quentin was written in response to a music business insider's request for Shaw to play a sappy hit of the day. Shaw instead went live to air with this antithetical parody that seriously swings.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 170
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Bass
    • Piano

    Who Struck John?

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Also known as "Non-Violent Integration", Who Struck John? is a very simple but very cool head tune. This arrangement is unusual in its use of rock/metal style parallel fifths in the rhythm section, otherwise known in modern times as barre chords. This is a chart for jamming on a straight-ahead D Major blues, with solo space for nearly everyone.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 1
    TEMPO quarter note = 160
    Trumpet
    Range
    Gb5
    • Solos
    • Clarinet
    • Tenor
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Bass

    Woodchopper’s Ball

    as performed by the Woody Herman Orchestra
    $80
    Woodchopper's Ball was Woody Herman's first big hit and would continue to be rewritten and rearranged for decades as a major anthem for him and his various Herds. Plenty of solo space and easy riffing can be found here over a medium tempo Db blues. This is a great, authentic introduction to the swing era and the blues form makes it playable for a band of any level!
    Instrumentation Big Band
    Style Swing Era
    Level 1
    TEMPO quarter note = 175
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • Solos
    • Bari
    • Trumpet

    You Talk a Little Trash

    as performed by Cootie Williams and His Rug Cutters
    $60
    Aside from a little chromaticism on the bridge, You Talk a Little Trash is a solid level 1 swinger. Most of the melody is unison, the changes are simple, the tempo is an easy-going 160bpm, and the lines are timeless. Cootie Williams shows that you can do a lot with a little on this catchy chart.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 1
    TEMPO quarter note = 160
    Trumpet
    Range
    F5

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