A Child Is Born

Composed and arranged by Thad Jones

A Child Is Born, Thad Jones (1970)

Our arrangement of A Child Is Born by the great Thad Jones is straight off the 1970 Consummation album (Blue Note BST 84346) performed by the Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.

Personnel: Thad Jones (flugelhorn, arranger), Snooky Young, Danny Moore, Al Porcino, Marvin Stamm (trumpet), Eddie Bert, Benny Powell, Jimmy Knepper (trombone), Cliff Heather (bass trombone), Jerome Richardson (soprano sax, alto sax, flute, alto flute), Jerry Dodgion (alto sax, clarinet, flute, alto flute), Billy Harper (tenor sax, flute), Eddie Daniels (tenor sax, clarinet, flute), Richie Kamuca (clarinet), Pepper Adams (baritone sax), Roland Hanna (piano), Richard Davis (bass), Mel Lewis (drums)

We often perform this as a guitar feature (instead of the solo piano in the intro), where the guitar takes a couple of solo choruses over the form before the band enters. This is kind of like Kenny Burrell's take on the piece, from his (great) 1971 album God Bless The Child (CTI 6011).

A Child Is Born, Kenny Burrell (1971)

Kenny Burrell (electric guitar); Freddie Hubbard (trumpet); Hubert Laws (flute); Richard Wyands (piano, electric piano); Hugh Lawson (electric piano); Ron Carter (bass); Billy Cobham (drums); Ray Barretto, Airto Moreira (percussion); Seymour Barab, Charles McCracken, George Ricci, Lucien Schmit, Alan Shulman (cello); Don Sebesky (arranger, conductor)

And lastly check out Ted Gioia's writeup on the piece in his excellent book, The Jazz Standards.