Partitions difficile de Swing

The opening cut from the Mingus Big Band CD Gunslinging Birds is this raucous and blistering jazz waltz. Mingus wrote this piece as a tribute to Charlie Bird Parker with the subtitle If Charlie Parker...

This swingin' Basie-style shuffle starts out with a piano chorus followed by the saxes and finally a roaring brass section. Also featured are solos for tenor and trumpet and a fabulous shout chorus th...

Monk tunes are always creative and a bit out of the ordinary. Also out of the GRP All-Star Big Band book, this marvelous orchestration explores a variety of dissonances, textures, and styles. The temp...

From the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra CD Shout Me Out!, the title cut features a medium slow shout chorus surrounded by solo choruses. Hard-hitting swing at its best! Recording courtesy of Fable Re...

John's arrangement of this jazz classic was written specifically to feature Milt Jackson with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra; however, just about any instrument can play the head at the beginning...

This up-tempo swinger begins with the full ensemble on a quasi improvisation line based on the changes to this well-known Cole Porter standard. Solos for trumpet and flute (opt. tenor) follow along wi...

As performed by the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, this Michael Abene chart opens in a relaxed swing style in a moderate tempo. Michael brings as much of himself to this chart as the original song itself, a...

This John Clayton original from the CD Groove Shop explodes into a medium swing groove, then features a small group (soprano, tenor, trumpet and trombone) on the first go-around of the tune. The saxes...

Written for the Ellington orchestra by saxophonist Johnny Hodges, this catchy riff-based tune swings hard from beginning to end. After the hard-hitting opening, solos are exchanged by tenor, trombone,...

Written specially for Steve Houghton, this up-tempo swinger provides an impressive way to feature your drummer. Also including a solo for tenor sax, this flag-waver swings hard from beginning to end a...

Recorded on the Grammy-nominated CD I Am Three by the Mingus Big Band, this composition was originally written by Mingus for a 1959 television drama. Arranged here for the Mingus Big Band by the late...

This recent adaptation by bassist Boris Kozlov presents the marvelous Mingus composition in a rich setting containing a variety of musical styles. Opening in a quasi-classical style, the piece quickly...

Here's a terrific medium swing chart (recorded by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra on Heart and Soul) featuring a great groove, a catchy melody and the craftsmanship of jazz master John Clayton. Al...

After an opening ensemble blast and short piano statement, a trio of flute, muted trumpet and guitar take the reins on this medium swing gem by John Clayton (Recorded by the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orch...

Here's a fresh new take on a traditional jazz standard. The style is still uptempo swing, and the saxes maintain a fair share of the spotlight along with ensemble hits and solo spots for drums. Howeve...

Recorded by John Pizzarelli and the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra on the CD Dear Mr. Sinatra, here is John Clayton's adaptation of the chart he penned on the standard Nice 'n' Easy. Featuring a rela...

Originally arranged for Ernie Andrews, this hard-swinging chart provides a real workout for band and vocalist alike. The blues-infused style features interplay between the singer and the band as well...

This sparkling uptempo swinger from the pen of Mark Taylor is impressive right from the opening full ensemble statement, and it doesn't let up from there. Small ensemble playing is beautifully contras...

Originally heard on the landmark Miles Davis album Birth of the Cool, this arrangement for little big band contains elements of the 'cool school' along with some modern touches.

Composed by jazz legend Joe Henderson, this uptempo burner from Mark Taylor features a mesmerizing groove and masterful scoring. Opening with a trio of tenor, guitar and vibes, layers of sound are gra...

John La Barbera's treatment of Voyage marks the first professional big band recording of this classic Kenny Barron tune. This chart really pops right from the start, and is a terrific showcase for tru...

Similar to the style of the original recording by John Coltrane, Mike Tomaro's chart for six horns is a smooth-sounding uptempo swing chart. Great scoring in the little big band format.

Featuring a quartet of alto, trumpet, guitar and vibes at the top, Mark's stellar treatment of this George Shearing classic swings hard from beginning to end. The intricate bebop lines are skillfully...

The critically acclaimed movie 'Bird' stirred new enthusiasm for jazz master Charlie Parker. Roger's spectacular arrangement of the 'national anthem of bop' is a great show piece for your sax section.