Jazz Ensemble Original Arrangements

Here is our transcription and adaptation of Nelson Riddle's chart done for Sinatra's 'Strangers in the Night' album. Sinatra often referred to this song as his first hit - a reference to his time with...

This chart has been lovingly transcribed and adapted by Jon Harpin from Frank Sinatra's 1964 Reprise album 'Days of Wine and Roses'. The original arrangement was penned by Nelson Riddle. It included s...

This chart has been transcribed from Frank Sinatra's 1961 album 'Swing Along With Me', released on the Reprise label. Billy May wrote the original arrangements for the album. As you might expect from...

This beauty of a chart has been artfully transcribed by Jon Harpin from the historic 1962 Sinatra-Basie album. The original arrangement was by Neal Hefti, and Jon has kept faith with it, whilst adapti...

This chart is one of fifty seven arrangements written by Nelson Riddle for the 1959 album 'Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song Book'. The project marked the first time that Fitzgera...

From the pen of Jerry Gray for the Glenn Miller USAAF Orchestra, this up-tempo swing chart features the piano, (originally Mel Powell) as well as the drums in the shout chorus. This chart is essential...

Made popular by the Gene Krupa Orchestra, Leave Us Leap is a full-blooded up-tempo swing chart in which dynamics are everything. The first chorus is taken by the saxes, with punchy brass backing. Solo...

This song was written by Mel Powell when he was pianist with the Goodman orchestra, and it was a hit in 1942. Glenn Miller, whilst in charge of the US Army Air Force Training Command Band, used it as...

Flight of the Foo Birds is one of the great tracks from the Basie band of the 1950's, and one of a series done for the band by Neal Hefti, to be found on The Atomic Mr Basie album. This is a transcrip...

This Dorsey classic is another great solo spot for Trombone. Based on a tune by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakoff, the original arrangement was by Tommy Dorsey himself. A well known piece, Song of India was or...

This version of Swingin' Shepherd Blues is transcribed from that played by the late, great Ted Heath. Unusually for a swing chart the tempo is pretty slow, but very effective nonetheless. This chart i...

First recorded in September 1939, in the same session as Dickie's Dream, Lester Leaps In is a milestone chart which showcased the phenominal talent of Lester Young. The arrangement evolved over time,...

Here is Avenue C in all its glory. A rousing flat-out swing chart, written by Buck Clayton for the Basie band. This chart powers from start to finish and is great for both concert work and swing danci...

Many big bands have recorded versions of The Saints, yet this one really stands out from the crowd. Whilst not strictly a BG chart, as it was recorded by members of the Goodman Orchestra, it contains...

Easy Does It is another classic but underplayed chart from the Tommy Dorsey book, written by Sy Oliver. This chart is a medium tempo bouncy swing chart with a 2-beat feel that dancers might describe a...

First recorded by Benny Goodman in 1937, Sugar Foot Stomp is a hard-driving, up-tempo swing chart that features solos from Clarinet (Alto 2) and Trumpet. We have augmented the chart up to full 5,4,4,4...

This is Artie Shaw's 1939 version of At Sundown, from the time when his first band was arguably its the height. Apart from the Clarinet solo, the chart is not too hard, and swings freely with good sol...

Glen Island Special is a very quick swing chart written by Eddie Durham for the Glenn Miller band, and on first hearing it you could be forgiven for thinking it to be a Basie chart. At 240 beats per m...

Written by Jimmy Mundy for the Benny Goodman Orchestra shortly after he joined BG as a staff arranger, Jam Session is an up-tempo swing chart with solo space for Tenor, Clarinet and Trumpet. The arran...

Back Bay Shuffle is a jump tempo swing chart from the great Artie Shaw orchestra, perfect for dancing. We have transcribed this chart as per the original, though expanding it to 8 brass in the process...

Frenesi was a tune popularised and played by many of the well known bands of the late 30's and early 40's. Our version is an adaptation of the Artie Shaw version, but re-scored for a regular big band...

Here is Benny Goodman's timeless classic in all its glory. Many bands performed versions of this song, but the Goodman Orchestra's rendition remains the standard by which all others are judged. The sa...

Tommy Dorsey recorded the Alex Stordahl arrangement of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes in 1937 on RCA Victor 25657-B. This arrangement is somewhat unusual, as this particular song is generally performed in sl...

Co-written by Benny Goodman & Harry James, Life Goes to a Party is a pulsating, energetic and quick minor swing chart. The Goodman band recorded this tune on several occasions, the first in 1937, then...

This arrangement of Bugle Call Rag, originally scored for the band by Jimmy Mundy, was one of the charts that helped launch the Benny Goodman Orchestra into the swing era that fateful August day at th...