Ella Fitzgerald

Too Marvelous For Words

We are proud to offer you our transcription of one of Ella Fitzgerald's most memorable charts. Originally scored by Nelson Riddle for Ella's Johnny Mercer Songbook album, this chart exemplifies his trademark writing style. The band backings are simple yet elegant, and Ella's interpretation of the vocal (which we have written out 'as sung') is simply sublime. In order to make the chart playable by a regular 5444 big band line-up we have removed the orchestral woodwinds and string lines and have re-scored the strings back into the reeds. The instrumental half-chorus is backed by an ad-lib piano solo (played from the chords provided) and the 4th Trombone is a Bass. The 4th Trombone solo in the penultimate measure has been cross-cued onto the Baritone part. The vocal key is C throughout and there are no sax doubles.