In A Mellow Tone

Composed by Duke Ellington, arranged by Oliver Nelson

In A Mellow Tone Buddy Rich (1966)

Oliver Nelson's arrangement of Duke's classic In A Mellow Tone is from the Buddy Rich 1966 Swingin' New Big Band album.

Walter Battegello, Yoshito Murakami, Bobby Shew, John Sottile (t), John Boice, James Trimble (tb), Dennis Good, Mike Waverley (b tb), Gene Quill (as, cl), Pete Yellin (as, fl),  Jay Corre, Marty Flax (ts, cl, fl), Stephen Perlow (bari, b cl), Carson Smith (b), Barry Zweig (g), John Bunch (p), Buddy Rich (d).

Recorded live at the Chez Club in Hollywood on October 2, 1966.

A Hymn For Her

Composed and arranged by Fred Sturm

A Hymn For Her (publisher's sample), composed and arranged by Fred Sturm

A Hymn For Her is an original ballad by composer/arranger Fred Sturm.

Fred Sturm

Red Tape Blues

Composed and arranged by Geoff Keezer

Red Tape Blues (publisher's sample), composed and arranged by Geoff Keezer

Geoffrey Keezer

Night in Tunisia

Composed by Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli, arranged by Sammy Nestico

A Night in Tunisia, Sammy Nestico arrangement performed by the Air National Guard Band of the Southwest/562nd Air Force Band

There are many versions of Dizzy Gillespie's 1942 classic A Night in Tunisia. Ours is an arrangement by the great Basie composer/arranger Sammy Nestico.

Night in Tunisia was one of the signature pieces of Gillespie's bebop big band, and he also played it with his small groups. In 2004, Dizzy Gillespie & his Sextet’s 1946 Victor recording was added to the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Night in Tunisia Dizzy Gillespie & his Sextet, 1946 Victor recording

Dizzy Gillespie (tpt), Don Byas (ts), Milt Jackson (vib), Al Haig (p), Bill DeArango (g), Ray Brown (b), J.C. Heard (d). Recorded February 22, 1946.

And then there's Charlie Parker's 1946 "famous alto break." On the first take, Parker took a solo break which absolutely floored the musicians and engineers. The rest of the take proved unusable, but Ross Russell eventually decided to issue the fragment.

A Night in Tunisia Charlie Parker Septet, 1946 "Famous Alto Break" (Dial LP 905)

Miles Davis (trumpet), Charlie Parker (alto saxophone), Lucky Thompson (tenor saxophone), Dodo Marmarosa (piano), Vic McMillan (bass), Roy Porter (drums). Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA, March 28, 1946.

Given its popularity, there's a lot of history to this song.

Groovin' Hard

Composed and arranged by Don Menza

Groovin' Hard, Buddy Rich (1970)

Don Menza's Groovin' Hard appeared on Keep the Customer Satisfied (Liberty/Pacific Jazz LST 11006),  recorded by the Buddy Rich Big Band in 1970 live at the Tropicana Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

Personnel: Joe Giorgiani, John Madrid, Mike Price, George Zonce, trumpet; Rick Stepton, Tony Lada, trombone; Larry Fisher, bass trombone; Jimmy Mosher, Richie Cole, flute, alto sax; Pat LaBarbara, tenor sax, soprano sax, flute; Don Englert, tenor sax, soprano sax, flute; Bob Suchoski, baritone sax; Mickey McClain, piano, organ; Rick Laird, electric bass; Buddy Rich, drums.

Katy Do

Composed and arranged by Benny Carter

Katy Do, Count Basie and his Orchestra (1960)

Katy Do is another wonderful Benny Carter composition/arrangement from Kansas City Suite: The Music of Benny Carter (Roulette YW-7548-RO), recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra in 1960.

Thad Jones, Snookie Young, Sonny Cohn, Joe Newman(tp); Henry Coker, Al Grey, Benny Powell(tb); Marshall Royal(as,cl); Frank Wess(as,ts,fl); Billy Mitchell, Frank Foster(ts); Charlie Fowlkes(bs); Count Basie(p); Freddie Green(g); Eddie Jones(b); Sonny Payne(d); Benny Carter(arr). Recorded November 17, 1960. NYC.

The Groove Merchant

Composed by Jerome Richardson, arranged by Thad Jones

The Groove Merchant, Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (1969 Central Park North)

Thad Jones (flugelhorn); Snooky Young, Richard Williams, Danny Moore, Jimmy Nottingham (trumpet); Jimmy Knepper, Bennie Powell, Eddie Bert, Cliff Heather, (trombone); Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion (alto saxophone); Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels (tenor saxophone); Joe Temperly (baritone saxophone); Mel Lewis (drums); Roland Hanna (piano); Richard Davis (bass); Barry Galbraith, Sam Brown (guitar)

Jerome Richardson's Groove Merchant first appeared in 1967 on his album of the same name (Groove Merchant, Verve V6-8729). But it's the recording of Thad Jones' arrangement on the 1969 Central Park North (Solid State SS-18058) that is the one most jazzers think of first.

Here's a live version, with a great intro by Sir Roland Hanna (this version is much closer to the transcription in the IHBB book):

The Groove Merchant, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (1968)

Footprints

Composed by Wayne Shorter, arranged by Matt Harris

Footprints (publisher's sample), arranged by Matt Harris

Our arrangement of Wayne Shorter's classic Footprints is a new take by Los Angeles composer Matt Harris. The chart includes dense, satisfying voicings. Plenty of solo space for tenor sax and either piano, guitar, or bass.

Footprints first appeared on Wayne Shorter's 1966 Adam's Apple (Blue Note BST 84282).

Footprints, Wayne Shorter (1966, Adam's Apple)

The better-known version is from Miles Davis' landmark 1967 Miles Smiles, featuring Miles' "second great quintet."

Footprints, Miles Davis (1967, Miles Smiles)

Boplicity

Composed by "Cleo Henry" (Miles Davis and Gil Evans), arranged by Les Hooper

Boplicity (publisher's sample), arranged by Les Hooper

Our cover of the cool jazz anthem Boplicity is an arrangement by composer/arranger Les Hooper.

Of course, this Miles Davis/Gil Evans collaboration originally appeared on Miles' 1957 Birth of the Cool album (recorded in 1949/50) on Capitol Records (Capitol T 792).

Boplicity, Miles Davis (1949)

Miles Davis (trumpet), J.J. Johnson (trombone), Sandy Siegelstein (French horn), Bill Barber (tuba), Lee Konitz (alto saxophone), Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone), John Lewis (piano), Nelson Boyd (bass), Kenny Clarke (drums), Gil Evans (arranger). Recorded at WOR Studios, NYC, April 22, 1949.

Hobo Flats

Written and arranged by Oliver Nelson

Hobo Flats, Count Basie Orchestra (1970)

Our version of Oliver Nelson's Hobo Flats is a transcription of the chart as it was recorded on the brilliant 1970 Afrique by the Count Basie Orchestra. This chart was originally written for a Jimmy Smith album. It's a 12/8 blues feel, with room for piano, trumpet and alto saxophone solos.

Paul Cohen, George Cohn, Waymon Reed, Pete Minger (trumpet, flugelhorn); Steven Galloway, Bill Hughes, Mel Wanzo, John Watson, (trombone); Bill Adkins (alto sax), Bobby Plater (alto sax, flute), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax), Eric Dixon (flute, tenor sax), Bob Ashton (alto, baritone & tenor sax, flute), Oliver Nelson (arranger, conductor, tenor sax), Cecil Payne (baritone sax, flute), Hubert Laws (flute); Freddie Green (guitar), John Williams, Norman Keenan (bass), Harold Jones (drums), Warren Smith, Jr. (drums, percussion, vibes), Richard Landrum (percussion), Sonny Morgan (bongos), Buddy Lucas (harmonica), Count Basie (organ, piano). Recorded : December 22nd and 23rd, 1970.

Here's the original Jimmy Smith 1963 version, from the album of the same name.

Hobo Flats, Jimmy Smith (1963)

Check out that lineup! Joe Newman, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry (trumpet); Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Quentin Jackson (trombone); George Dorsey, Phil Woods (alto saxophone); Al Cohn, Zoot Sims (tenor saxophone); Jimmy Smith (organ); George Duvivier (bass); Bill Rodriguez (drums); Oliver Nelson (arranger, conductor). Recorded NYC, March 20, 1963.

Oliver Nelson recorded Hobo Flats again shortly after on his own 1964 Argo album Fantabulous. This one has a much different feel.

Hobo Flats (from Oliver Nelson's 1964 Fantabulous)

Oliver Nelson - tenor saxophone, arranger and conductor
Phil Woods - alto saxophone, clarinet
Kenny Soderblom - alto sax, flute
Bob Ashton - tenor sax, clarinet
Jerome Richardson - baritone saxophone, flute, alto flute
Art Hoyle, Snooky Young - trumpet
Ray Weigand - trombone
Tony Studd - bass trombone
Patti Bown - piano
Ben Tucker - bass
Grady Tate - drums

Strayhorn

Composed by Clare Fischer, arranged by Bill Dobbins

Strayhorn (publisher's sample), arranged by Bill Dobbins

Strayhorn, from Clare Fischer's Surging Ahead (1963)

Clare Fischer originally recorded Strayhorn in 1963 with his trio on Surging Ahead (Pacific Jazz PJ 67). Clare Fischer (p), Ralph Pena (b), Larry Bunker (d). The album is now out of print, but it's available in whole as part of the excellent Mosaic Select 19: The Pacific Jazz Piano Trios, a collection of recordings featuring trios led by Russ Freeman, Richard Twardzik, Jimmy Rowles, and Clare Fischer.

Bill Dobbins arranged it as a piano feature for big band, and he completely wrote out the solo piano part so that it can also be played by good classically-trained musicians with little jazz experience. Jazz pianists are, of course, invited to improvise the solo. The arrangement is published by Advance Music.

Goin' On

Composed and arranged by Benny Carter

Goin' On, Count Basie & His Orchestra (1961)

Goin' On is another Benny Carter original from Count Basie's 1961 album The Legend (Roulette SR 52086).

Al Aarons, Sonny Cohn, Thad Jones, Snooky Young (tp), Henry Coker, Quentin Jackson, Benny Powell (tb), Benny Carter (as), Frank Wess (as, ts, fl), Budd Johnson, Frank Foster (ts), Charles Fowlkes (bs), Count Basie (p), Sam Herman (g), Eddie Jones (b), Sonny Payne (d).

Recorded at Capitol Studios, New York City, October 30, 1961.

The tenor solo is Frank Foster.

Cold Duck Time

Composed by Eddie Harris, arranged by Manuel Kaufmann

Cold Duck Time, Les McCann & Eddie Harris (1969)

Our arrangement of the Eddie Harris soul-jazz classic, Cold Duck Time, is another great chart by former IHBB director Manuel Kaufmann. The tune originally appeared on the Les McCann and Eddie Harris album Swiss Movement, recorded on June 21, 1969 at The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Musicians: Les McCann (piano), Eddie Harris (tenor saxophone), Benny Bailey (trumpet), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Donald Dean (drums).

500 Miles High

Composed by Chick Corea and Neville Potter, arranged by Mark Taylor

500 Miles High, arranged by Mark Taylor (publisher's sample)

From the publisher:

Mark Taylor's chart on this early composition by Chick Corea starts with the saxes playing the rubato opening, followed by a moderate tempo Latin/rock groove. The main theme is stated first by a front line of alto, tenor and trumpet before the entire ensemble gets into the act.

500 Miles High debuted on Stan Getz's 1972 album Captain Marvel album, on which Chick also plays.

500 Miles High, Stan Getz (1972)

Stan Getz (ts), Chick Corea (e pno), Stanley Clarke (b), Airto Moreira (perc), Tony Williams (d). Recorded March 3, 1972 in A&R Studios, New York.

Chick Corea recorded it too, later that year, on his own Return To Forever album Light As A Feather, featuring Flora Purim on vocals.

500 Miles High, Return To Forever (1972)

Musicians: Chick Corea (electric piano), Flora Purim (vocals, percussion), Joe Farrell (sax, flute), Stanley Clarke (bass), Airto Moreira (drums, percussion). Recorded 8 October and 15 October 1972 at I.B.C. Sound Recording Studios, London, England.

Early Morning (African Sunrise)

Composed and arranged by Oliver Nelson

African Sunrise, Count Basie (1970)

Early Morning (African Sunrise) is from Count Basie's 1970 album Afrique.

Paul Cohen, George Cohn, Waymon Reed, Pete Minger (trumpet, flugelhorn); Steven Galloway, Bill Hughes, Mel Wanzo, John Watson, (trombone); Bill Adkins (alto sax), Bobby Plater (alto sax, flute), Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax), Eric Dixon (flute, tenor sax), Bob Ashton (alto, baritone & tenor sax, flute), Oliver Nelson (arranger, conductor, tenor sax), Cecil Payne (baritone sax, flute), Hubert Laws (flute); Freddie Green (guitar), John Williams, Norman Keenan (bass), Harold Jones (drums), Warren Smith, Jr. (drums, percussion, vibes), Richard Landrum (percussion), Sonny Morgan (bongos), Buddy Lucas (harmonica), Count Basie (organ, piano). Recorded : December 22nd and 23rd, 1970.

Saturnian Sleigh Ride

Composed and arranged by Shorty Rogers

Saturnian Sleigh Ride, Shorty Rogers (1957)

From the 1957 album Portrait of Shorty. Here's the lineup, a veritable "who's who" of West Coast Cool: Shorty Rogers (tp,flhrn) Al Porcino, Conrad Gozzo, Don Fagerquist, Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli (tp) Frank Rosolino, George Roberts, Harry Betts, Bob Enevoldsen (tb) Herb Geller (as,ts) Richie Kamuca, Jack Montrose, Bill Holman (ts) Pepper Adams (bar) Lou Levy (p) Monty Budwig (b) Stan Levey (d).

Oop Bop Sh'Bam

Composed by Dizzy Gillespie, arranged by Gil Fuller

Oop Bop Sh'Bam, Billy Eckstine (1946)

Our chart is a David Berger transcription, based on a Gil Fuller arrangement recorded in 1946 by the Billy Eckstine Orchestra. Notice a young Miles Davis in the trumpet section. And Sonny Stitt, who was on the original recording with Dizzy earlier that year.

Miles Davis, Hobart Dotson, Leonard Hawkins, King Kolax (trumpet) Water Knox, Chippy Outcalt, Gerald Velentine (trombone) John Cobbs, Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone) Gene Ammons, Arthur Sammons (tenor saxophone) Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone) Linton Garner (piano) Connie Wainwright (guitar) Tommy Potter (bass) Art Blakey (drums) Billy Eckstine (vocals, valve trombone); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA, October 5, 1946

Here's the original sextet version, from 1946:

Oop Bop Sh'Bam, Dizzy Gillespie Sextet (1946)

Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet, vocals) Sonny Stitt (alto saxophone) Milt Jackson (vibraphone) Al Haig (piano) Ray Brown (bass) Kenny Clarke (drums); NYC, May 15, 1946

And here's an interesting tidbit on Kenny Clarke's influence on the lyric.

Clarke wrote a series of exercises for himself to develop the independence of the bass drum and snare drum, while maintaining the time on the ride cymbal. One of these passages, a combination of a rim shot on the snare followed directly by a bass drum accent, earned Clarke his nickname, "Klook", which was short for "Klook-mop", in imitation of the sound this combination produced. This nickname was enshrined in "Oop Bop Sh'Bam," recorded by Dizzy Gillespie in 1946 with Clarke on drums, where the scat lyric to the bebop tune goes "oop bop sh'bam a klook a mop."

Of course, Dizzy did his own take on it with his big band in 1947, albeit at a brisker tempo:

Oop Bop Sh'Bam, Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra (1947, from the short Jivin' in Be-Bop)

Dragon Blues

Composed and arranged by Geoff Keezer

Dragon Blues (publisher's excerpt)

Geoff Keezer

Darn That Dream

Composed by Jimmy Van Heusen, lyric by Eddie DeLange, arranged by Matt Harris

Here are three bands performing the Mat Harris arrangement of Jimmy Van Heusen's Darn That Dream. When we don't have a vocalist, this chart becomes a tenor feature.

Darn That Dream, Lust auf Musik 19

Darn That Dream, "The Swingin' Stage Big Band" de Jacky Simon avec Laurence Allison au chant

Darn That Dream, BIGBAND KON CONSERVATORIUM

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.

Chicago Song

Composed and arranged by Tom Davis

Chicago Song, Tom Davis (2006)

Chicago Song is an original composition by educator and composer Tom Davis. It appears on his 2006 album Lake Songs. Tom describes the style as a "3/4 ECM groove" and the piece as:

A musical “documentary” of a recent flight to Chicago. A hypnotic groove and a powerful shout simulate the sensations of riding on air.

Here's the lineup on this recording:

Bill Tiberio - Alto 1
Bryan Bricco - Alto 2
Mike Bomwell - Tenor 1
Chuck VanBuren - Tenor 2
Tom Indiano - Bari Sax

Daniel Wright - Trumpet 1
Mike Kaupa - Trumpet 2
Rick Holland - Trumpet 3
Nick Moses - Trumpet 4

Brian Zimmer - Trombone 1
Dave DeWitt - Trombone 2
Russell Scarbrough - Trombone 3
Paul Able - Bass Bone

Dave McGuire - Piano
Geoff Smith - Bass
Reagan Fletcher - Drums

Jon Belec - Recording Engineer
Dave Rivello - Producer
Tom Davis - Composer – Conductor

Boogie Stop Shuffle

Composed by Charles Mingus, arranged by Sy Johnson

Boogie Stop Shuffle, Mingus Big Band (1996)

Sy Johnson's arrangement of the Mingus classic Boogie Stop Shuffle is from the 1996 Mingus Big Band album Live In Time.

Randy Brecker, Earl Gardner, Philip Harper, Ryan Kisor, Alex Sipiagin (tpt); Robin Eubanks, Conrad Herwig, Frank Lacy, Britt Woodman (tb); Gary Bartz (as), Steve Slagle (as, ss); Seamus Blake, Mark Isham, Mark Shim, John Stubblefield (ts); Ronnie Cuber, Gary Smulyan (bari); John Hicks, Kenny Drew, Jr. (p); Andy McKee (b); Adam Cruz (d)

Of course, Sy Johnson is covering the classic original 1959 Mingus recording on Mingus Ah Um.

Boogie Stop Shuffle, Charles Mingus (1959)

Willie Dennis (trombone); Booker Ervin, Shafi Hadi (tenor saxophone); Horace Parlan (piano); Charles Mingus (bass); Dannie Richmond (drums); NYC, May 12, 1959.

Blues For Alfy

Composed and arranged by Bill Holman

Blues For Alfy, Count Basie Orchestra (1976)

Another great Bill Holman arrangement from the 1976 Basie album I Told You So.

Count Basie (p); Sonny Cohn, Pete Minger, Bobby Mitchell, John Thomas, Jack Feierman (tpt); Al Grey, Curtis Fuller, Bill Hughes, Mel Wanzo (tbn); Jimmy Forrest, Eric Dixson, Danny Turner, Bobby Plator, Charlie Fowlkes (sax); John Duke (b); Freddie Green (gtr); Butch Miles (d); Bill Holman (comp/arr)
Recorded at RCA Studios, New York City; January 12, 13, and 14, 1976.

Told You So, from the same I Told You So album, is also in the IHBB book.

Blue Rondo à la Turk

Composed by Dave Brubeck, arranged by Calvin Custer

Blue Rondo à la Turk, arranged by Calvin Custer

Blue Rondo à la Turk made its debut on Dave Brubeck's 1959 album Time Out.

Blue Rondo à la Turk, Dave Brubeck (1959)

Dave Brubeck (piano), Paul Desmond (alto saxophone), Eugene Wright (bass), Joe Morello (drums)

The Blues

Composed and arranged by Don Ellis

The Blues - from Don Ellis At Fillmore (1970)

The Blues is from Don Ellis' Don Ellis At Fillmore recorded in 1970.

Personnel: Don Ellis: trumpet, drums, leader; Glenn Stuart, Stu Blumberg, John Rosenberg, Jack Coan: trumpet; Ernie Carlson, Glenn Ferris: trombone; Don Switzer: bass trombone; Doug Bixby: contrabass trombone, tuba; Fred Selden, Lonnie Shetter, Sam Falzone, John Klemmer; Jon Clarke: woodwinds; Jay Graydon: guitar; Tom Garvin: keyboards; Dennis Parker: bass; Ralph Humphrey: drums; Ron Dunn: drums, percussion; Lee Pastora: congas.

Black and Tan Fantasy

Composed by Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley, arranged by Duke Ellington

Black and Tan Fantasy,
original recording May 11, 1945

Duke recorded Black and Tan Fantasy many times over the years. The version we play was transcribed by David Berger and Mark Lopeman for the Jazz at Lincoln Center series, taken from Duke's 1945 recording for RCA-Victor.

Shelton Hemphill,  Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Cat Anderson(t); Ray Nance(t,vn,v); Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Claude Jones(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Otto Hardwicke(cl,as); Johnny Hodges(as); Al Sears(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Fred Guy(g); Junior Raglin(sb); Sonny Greer(d,ch). New York City, May 11, 1945.

And here's one of the best of the three original 1927 recordings, the year Black and Tan Fantasy debuted.

Black and Tan Fantasy, Duke Ellington (1927)

Duke Ellington (piano), Bubber Miley (trumpet), Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton (trombone), Otto Hardwick (alto sax), Harry Carney (clarinet, baritone sax), Sonny Greer (drums), Louis Metcalf (trumpet), Rudy Jackson (clarinet, tenor sax), Fred Guy (banjo), Wellman Braud (bass). Recorded: Camden, NJ, October 26, 1927 

Soloists: Duke Ellington (piano), Bubber Miley (trumpet), Joe "Tricky Sam" Nanton (trombone), and Otto Hardwick (alto sax)

Birks' Works

Composed by Dizzy Gillespie, arranged by Ernie Wilkins

Birks' Works, Dizzy Gillespie and his Orchestra (1957)

Our Birks' Works arrangement is a Mats Engström transcription of the great Ernie Wilkins arrangement. Check out that lineup!!

Talib Daawud, Lee Morgan, Ermit V. Perry, Carl Warwick, Dizzy Gillespie (trumpet), Al Grey, Rod Levitt, Melba Liston (trombone), Ernie Henry, Jimmy Powell (alto saxophone) Billy Mitchell, Benny Golson (tenor saxophone), Billy Root (baritone saxophone), Wynton Kelly (piano), Paul West (bass), Charlie Persip (drums), Ernie Wilkins (arranger)

Soloists: Benny Golson, Dizzy Gillespie

You'll find it on the Verve album of the same name: Birks' Works.

Ask Me Now

Composed by Thelonious Monk, arranged by Greg Yasinitsky

Ask Me Now, Idaho State University Jazz Band

Our arrangement of the great Monk tune Ask Me Now is by Greg Yasinitsky.

Monk himself recorded this tune several times. Here's its 1951 debut:

Ask Me Now, Thelonious Monk (1951)

This is from Thelonious Monk - Genius Of Modern Music, Vol. 2 (Blue Note BLP 1511), originally released as a single Blue Note 1591 Thelonious Monk - Ask Me Now b/w Willow Weep For Me. 

Thelonious Monk (piano), Al McKibbon (bass), Art Blakey (drums) WOR Studios, NYC, July 23, 1951

Big Swing Face

Composed and arranged by Bill Potts

Big Swing Face, Buddy Rich (1967)

Big Swing Face is from the Buddy Rich 1967 album of the same name (Pacific Jazz 20117), recorded live at The Chez club in Hollywood. This album is a big band classic!

Quinn Davis - alto saxophone
Ernie Watts - alto saxophone and flute
Jay Corre - tenor saxophone and flute
Robert Keller - tenor saxophone and flute
Marty Flax - baritone saxophone
Bobby Shew - trumpet
Yoshito Murakami - trumpet
Chuck Findley - trumpet
John Sottile - trumpet
Jim Trimble - trombone
Ron Meyers - trombone
Bill Wimberly - bass trombone
Richie Resnicoff - guitar
Ray Starling - piano
James Gannon - double bass
Buddy Rich - drums

Agua de Beber

Composed by Antonio Carlos Jobim, arranged by Michael Philip Mossman

Agua de Beber publisher's sample

This is Michael Philip Mossman's arrangement of a Jobim jazz bossa nova classic, although he takes it as a samba here.

Antonio Carlos Jobim

Astrud Gilberto's 1965 version of the piece (with composer Jobim) is about as definitive as it gets:

Agua de Beber, Astrud Gilberto (with Jobim) (1965)

Angel Eyes

Composed by Matt Dennis, lyrics by Earl Brent, arranged by Matt Harris

Angel Eyes, Biggles Big Band

Here is the Biggles Big Band performing Matt Harris' arrangement of Angel Eyes.

We sometimes perform this as a vocal chart, too.

Angel Eyes, JH Big Band (2012)

Basically Blues

Composed and arranged by Phil Wilson

Basically Blues, Buddy Rich (1966)

Phil Wilson's Basically Blues originated on Buddy Rich's 1966 Swingin' New Big Band album.

Walter Battegello, Yoshito Murakami, Bobby Shew, John Sottile (t), John Boice, James Trimble (tb), Dennis Good, Mike Waverley (b tb), Gene Quill (as, cl), Pete Yellin (as, fl),  Jay Corre, Marty Flax (ts, cl, fl), Stephen Perlow (bari, b cl), Carson Smith (b), Barry Zweig (g), John Bunch (p), Buddy Rich (d)

Nostalgia In Times Square

Composed by Charles Mingus, arranged by Sy Johnson

Nostalgia In Times Square - Sy Johnson arrangement

Originally written for the 1959 John Cassavetes film Shadows, Nostalgia in Times Square is a medium tempo blues but with a unique harmonic structure.

Nostalgia In Times Square - Charles Mingus

The tune debuted on Mingus' 1959 Jazz Portraits: Mingus in Wonderland album, recorded live at the Nonagon Art Gallery, one of the Tenth Street galleries on the East side of Manhattan.

Personnel: John Handy (alto sax), Booker Ervin (tenor sax), Richard Wyands (piano), Charles Mingus (bass), Dannie Richmond (drums)

While I'm Away

Composed and arranged by David Springfield

While I'm Away sample from Kendor site

David Springfield's While I'm Away is a beautiful bossa nova guitar feature penned for the Delaware Water Gap (PA) Celebration of the Arts Jazz Festival. It features a flugelhorn, alto sax and guitar trio.

David Springfield

In the Mood

Composed by Joe Garland, arranged by Eddie Durham, Chummy McGregor, and Glenn Miller

In the Mood (1939) RCA Bluebird, B-10416-A. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra

In the Mood had been kicked around by other bands (and with other names) prior to this famous 1939 Glenn Miller recording, but this is the one (RCA Bluebird, B-10416-A) that made him a hit. It's also the one that was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1983. Our IHBB chart is a knock-off of this arrangement.

Glenn Miller and his Orchestra : Clyde Hurley, Legh Knowles, Dale McMickle, tp; Glenn Miller, Al Mastren, Paul Tanner, tb; Wilbur Schwartz, cl, as; Hal McIntyre, as; Harold Tennyson, as, bs, cl; Tex Beneke, Al Klink, ts; Chummy MacGregor, p; Richard Fisher, g; Rolly Bundock, b; Maurice Purtill, d.

New York, August 1, 1939.

The "tenor fight" is between Tex Beneke and Al Klink. The trumpet solo is Clyde Hurley.

NPR has an interesting back story on the tune.

Easy Street

Composed by Alan Rankin Jones, arranged by Don Costa

Easy Street on YouTube

The Indian Hill Big Band plays Don Costa's arrangement of the Alan Rankin Jones 1941 classic Easy Street at Townsend Memorial Hall, March 28, 2009.

This jazz standard has been covered by many, many bands, and has been a popular vehicle for singers. Its big year was 1941, covered by Duke Ellington (in a transcription recording), Dorothy Dandridge (in a short film),  Martha Tilton (frontlining the Gordon Jenkins Orchestra), and Jimmy Dorsey with Marie O'Connor.

Easy Street - Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra with Marie O' Connor (1941)

Jimmie Lunceford covered it too, in 1942.

June Christy had a hit with this tune in 1945, backed by the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

Easy Street - Stan Kenton Orchestra with June Christy (1945)

Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, John Anderson, Russ Burgher, Bob Lymperis (tp), Freddie Zito, Jimmy Simms, Milt Kabak (tb), Bart Varsalona (b tb), Al Anthony, Boots Mussulli (as), Vido Musso, Bob Cooper (ts), Bob Gioga (bari), Kenton (p), Bob Ahern (g), Eddie Safranski (b), Ralph Collier (d), June Christy (vcl).
November 27, 1945 - Radio Recorders, Hollywood (transcription session) Vocal: Christy. Solos: Childers (tp), Cooper (ts)

Sarah Vaughan also does a nice cover of this tune. Even Thelonious Monk covered the tune (on the album Underground)!

Monk plays Easy Street (YouTube)

Don't Be That Way

Composed by Edgar Samson and Benny Goodman, lyrics by Mitchell Parish, arranged by Edgar Samson

Don't Be That Way (studio version, Feb. 16, 1938) on YouTube

Our cover of composer/arranger Edgar Samson's Don't Be That Way most closely resembles his arrangement of it for Goodman and his Orchestra, recorded on February 16, 1938, New York.

Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Gordon Griffin (tp); Red Ballard, Vernon Brown (tb); Benny Goodman (cl, cond); Hymie Schertzer, George Koenig (as); Arthur Rollini, Babe Russin (ts); Jess Stacy (p); Allan Reuss (g); Harry Goodman (b); Gene Krupa (d); Edgar Samson (arr). First issued on Victor 25792.

This studio recording followed on the heels of the famous 1938 Carnegie Hall performance a month earlier that brought the house down (the first time a jazz contingent played the hallowed home of classical music) on On January 16, 1938.

Don't Be That Way (live at Carnegie Hall, Jan. 16, 1938) on YouTube

From Irving Kolodin's liner notes:

Samson, a one-time tenor man who became a composer and arranger--Stompin' At The Savoy and When Dreams Come True are also his--wrote this piece for the Chick Webb band when he was playing with it. However, it was all but new to the jazz world when it made its appearance in this reorchestration. After an ensemble chorus, there are solos by Goodman (clarinet) and Russin (tenor sax), with the evening's first big burst of applause as Harry James rises to take his solo. Krupa's explosive break arouses a response to make what preceded a mere ripple. The trombone bit that follows is Vernon Brown.

See also Mike Thibault's song spotlight for more versions of this tune.

Autumn Leaves

Composed by Joseph Kosma, lyrics by Johnny Mercer and Jacques Prévert, arranged by Ted Heath

Autumn Leaves performed
by the Ted Heath Orchestra
on archive.org

Our arrangement of the standard Autumn Leaves is by British big band leader Ted Heath and his orchestra, transcribed by Myles Collins. This recording was made sometime between 1948 and 1952, personnel unknown.

At just over two minutes in length, Manuel Kaufmann likes to refer to this as a "postcard arrangement."

Take the "A" Train

Composed and arranged by Billy Strayhorn

Take the "A" Train on YouTube

David Berger's transcription of the Ellington signature theme song Take the "A" Train, composed by the great Billy Strayhorn, is from the famous February 15th 1941 take recorded in the Hollywood RCA-Victor recording studios.

This is another classic from the Blanton-Webster band. The personnel included Rex Stewart (cornet), Wallace Jones, Ray Nance (trumpet), Lawrence Brown and Joe Nanton (trombone), Juan Tizol (valve trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet), Johnny Hodges (soprano sax, alto sax, clarinet), Otto Hardwick (alto sax, bass sax), Ben Webster (tenor sax), Harry Carney (clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax), Duke Ellington (piano), Fred Guy (guitar), Jimmy Blanton (bass), Sonny Greer (drums), and Billy Strayhorn (piano, replacing Ellington on “After All.”)

Ray Nance’s trumpet solo would become the best known of his career.

If your browser handles Flash, here's a nice dynamic analysis of the arrangement by Ralph Russell of Grinnell College.

Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me

Composed by Duke Ellington, lyric by Bob Russell, arranged by Dave Wolpe

Here's an example of the Dave Wolpe chart we play from a ejazzlines.com.

Of course, Wolpe's version is an updated take on the classic Duke Ellington 1943 Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me, itself a vocal update of the 1940 Concerto For Cootie, celebrating the great trumpeter Cootie Williams.

Concerto For Cootie on YouTube

Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart(t); Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol(tb); Barney Bigard(cl,ts); Johnny Hodges(ss,as); Otto Hardwicke(cl,as); Ben Webster(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Fred Guy(g); Jimmy Blanton(sb); Sonny Greer(d,ch)

Here's the 1943 Do Nothin'... featuring vocalist Al Hibbler.

Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me on YouTube

Wallace Jones, Rex Stewart, Dizzy Gillespie,Taft Jordan(t); Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton,Juan Tizol(tb); Jimmy Hamilton(cl,ts); Johnny Hodges(as); Otto Hardwicke(cl,as); Skippy Williams(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Fred Guy(g); Wilson Myers(sb); Sonny Greer(d,ch); Al Hibbler(v)

Never No Lament

Composed and arranged by Duke Ellington

Never No Lament on YouTube

Never No Lament (later, Don't Get Around Much Anymore) is another great Duke Ellington transcription by David Berger from the quintessential version by the 1940 Blanton-Webster band.

Wallace Jones, Cootie Williams, Rex Stewart(t); Lawrence Brown, Joe Nanton, Juan Tizol(tb); Barney Bigard(cl,ts); Johnny Hodges(ss,as); Otto Hardwicke(cl,as); Ben Webster(ts); Harry Carney(cl,as,bar); Duke Ellington(p); Fred Guy(g); Jimmy Blanton(sb); Sonny Greer(d,ch)

Highly recommended: Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band, a three-disc compilation combining the master takes of all the recordings by Duke Ellington's Orchestra during the years of 1940 to 1942.

Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band on amazon.com

Moonglow

Composed by Will Hudson and Irving Mills, words by Eddie DeLange, arranged by Dave Wolpe

http://youtu.be/sINBevaLodE

Dave Wolpe's arrangement of Moonglow is a fresh take on one of the great jazz standards.

Moonglow got its start with the father of jazz violin, Joe Venuti, back in 1933.

http://youtu.be/CsWq0BrUiYQ

Since Venuti's version, the song has been covered many times over the years to become a big band staple, including four in 1934 alone:

• Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1934, #1)
• Duke Ellington and His Orchestra (1934, #2)
• Cab Calloway and His Orchestra (1934, #7)
• Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra (1934, Kenny Seargent, vocal, #8)

One of my personal favorites is Morris Stoloff's medley that combines Moonglow with George Duning's theme for the 1955 movie Picnic (William Holden and Kim Novak).

http://youtu.be/bNxtxfuZD6M

(Here's the audio-only version with no dialog.)

Incidentally, from 1926 to 1939, Irving Mills managed the Duke Ellington Orchestra, sang on some of their recordings, and wrote lyrics to several songs. Legend has it that he wasn't above putting his name on songs that he didn't write.

Corner Pocket

Composed by Freddie Green, arranged by Ernie Wilkins

http://youtu.be/AnD8Uc3YqrY

Corner Pocket (also released with lyrics as Until I Met You) was penned by long-time Count Basie guitarist Freddie Green in 1955 for the April In Paris album. It became a Basie staple thereafter. According to Frank Foster, it was arranged by Ernie Wilkins.

Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones, Thad Jones, Joe Newman (trumpet) Henry Coker, Bill Hughes, Benny Powell (trombone) Bill Graham (alto saxophone) Marshall Royal (alto saxophone, clarinet) Frank Wess (tenor saxophone, flute) Frank Foster (tenor saxophone) Charlie Fowlkes (baritone saxophone) Count Basie (piano) Freddie Green (guitar) Eddie Jones (bass) Sonny Payne (drums) Ernie Wilkins (arranger)
NYC, July 26, 1955

Here's a live 1962 performance:

http://youtu.be/8IVX8BayOCA

Freddie Green was part of one of the most famous rhythm sections in jazz history, with Count Basie on piano, Jo Jones on drums, and Walter Page on bass. With Basie for over 50 years, Freddie Green appeared on nearly every Basie recording made between 1937 and 1987.

Shiny Stockings

Composed and arranged by Frank Foster

http://youtu.be/nnBHfX49BJc

Frank Foster's Shiny Stockings dates back to 1955, first appearing on Count Basie's famous April In Paris album (a must-have!) The trumpet solo is Thad Jones.

Wendell Culley, Reunald Jones, Thad Jones, Joe Newman (trumpet), Henry Coker, Bill Hughes, Benny Powell (trombone), Bill Graham (alto saxophone), Marshall Royal (alto saxophone, clarinet), Frank Wess (tenor saxophone, flute), Frank Foster (tenor saxophone, arranger), Charlie Fowlkes (baritone saxophone), Count Basie (piano, organ), Freddie Green (guitar), Eddie Jones (bass), Sonny Payne (drums)
NYC, January 4, 1956

Read the background on the tune, including an interview with Frank Foster, on JazzStandards.com (I love this site!)

And Dexter Gordon also did a well-known cover of Shiny Stockings on his 1965 album Gettin' Around.

http://youtu.be/fEQrqhQdN-c

Dexter Gordon (tenor saxophone); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Barry Harris (piano); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Billy Higgins (drums).

Watermelon Man

Composed by Herbie Hancock, arranged by Manuel Kaufmann

http://youtu.be/ZbHJHPTikQA

Our arrangement of the Herbie Hancock's classic Watermelon Man is by former IHBB director Manuel Kaufmann, and carries all the signature hallmarks of the original (plus elements of Hancock's 1973 remake).

The tune first appeard on Hancock's 1962 debut album Takin' Off (Blue Note BST 84109).

The lineup on this track is: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, flugelhorn), Dexter Gordon (tenor saxophone), Herbie Hancock (piano), Butch Warren (bass), Billy Higgins (drums)

But it was Mongo Santamaria who made the tune famous in 1963.

http://youtu.be/WpicRePazIw

And Hancock radically reworked the tune on his 1973 Headhunters album.

http://youtu.be/4bjPlBC4h_8

Okavongo

Composed and arranged by Greg Hopkins

http://youtu.be/tYPNtpZhuzA

Okavongo is a beautiful piece written and arranged by the great Greg Hopkins, from his Greg Hopkins 16 Piece Jazz Orchestra 2001 album of the same title.

Greg Hopkins, Jeff Stout, George Zance, Don Gorder, Paul Fontaine, Scott Deogburn, John Daly (t, fh); Rick Stepton, Tony Lada, Tim Kelly, Jeff Galindo, Jerry Ash (tb); Mark Pinto, Bruce Nifong, Larry Monroe (as, f); Bill Pierce (ts, ss); John Griener (ts, ss, f); Mark Phaneuf, Tommy Ferrante (bar, bcl); James Williams, Tim Ray, Chris Neville (p); Bruce Gertz, Paul del Nero (b); Mick Goodrick (g); Joe Hunt (d)

Speaking of titles, it is mistitled in the IHBB book as "Okalvongo"—there's no "l" in the title, which, given the feel of the piece, is likely a reference to the river or region in Africa.