Tommy Dorsey

Contrasts

Contrasts was Jimmy Dorsey's theme tune and, as you might expect, it is a big Alto sax feature. The title reflects the two moods of the song: the opening slow swing ballad featuring Alto, the almost double-time shift to rhythmic swing in the middle, and the revesion to the ballad theme for the close. The band backings behind the soloist are subdued, yet rich with harmonic texture, providing a perfect counterfoil to the soaring solo line. We have written the Dorsey solo out in full, though your soloist can be allowed some rhythmic freedom of expression with the chromatic and apreggio runs. There are no sax doubles.