Five Star Features for Jazz Ensemble Wednesday, August 12, 2020
recommended by Ben H., Jazz Specialist
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum by Wayne Shorter/arr. Mike Tomaro, Grade 4
Mike Tomaro’s arrangement transforms this Wayne Shorter classic from its combo origins into a swinging vehicle for big band. The relaxed swing feel and harmonies of the original are retained in this terrific setting that includes solos for alto sax and trumpet.
Moanin’ by Charles Mingus/arr. Sy Johnson, Grade 5
This up-tempo swinger has become the signature tune for the Mingus Big Band. It opens with a free-wheeling baritone sax solo and features raucous ensemble passages and group improvisations. You won’t find this chart on any easy-listening radio stations!
Nostalgia in Times Square by Charles Mingus/arr. Ronnie Cuber, Grade 5.5
This medium tempo swing chart is the lead-off cut from the CD Mingus Big Band 93. Featured is a distinctive melody, a stop-time solo section, and a great swing groove throughout.
Oclupaca (from the Latin American Suite) by Duke Ellington, Grade 3.5
Jazz at Lincoln Center Library is an exciting project under the artistic direction of Wynton Marsalis that is dedicated to the preservation of the jazz style and designed to honor the greats of jazz history. The Duke Ellington charts are all exact transcriptions as recorded by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, and they are all medium to medium-advanced in difficulty.
Vine Street Rumble by Benny Carter, Grade 5
As originally recorded by Count Basie on the Roulette LP (Vogue CD) “Kansas City Suite – the Music of Benny Carter.” this is a medium-up Shuffle feel, with solos for tenor saxophone and piano. The sax section plays the tune in unison while the brass interject those terrific rhythmic figures that Carter wrote so well. Soft, tight ensemble passage swing like crazy and raise the roof when played yet again up an octave and very powerfully. What a joy this one is! Classic Basie!
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About the Author:
Ben Huntoon is the Jazz Education Consultant at Stanton’s Sheet Music. He received bachelors and masters degrees in music from Capital University and The Ohio State University respectively. As a professional trumpeter, Ben is accomplished in a wide variety of genres and has performed throughout the Midwest on many stages over the past 30 years. He also teaches trumpet, coaches brass ensembles and has served on the jazz faculty at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio.