Composer: Duke Ellington

INSTRUMENTATION
STYLE
DIFFICULTY
VOCALS
PERFORMER
SOLOS
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone

    Junior Hop

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Junior Hop is a nice walkin' alto feature with some simple but melodic three-part backgrounds. The trio takes over for a bit on a catchy new melody built on strong triads. The trombone part is a little on the high side for a Level 2 (up to high A).
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 140
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Rendezvous with Rhythm

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Rendezvous with Rhythm is a unique tune that bridges the gap between hot jazz and swing with plenty of space for solos. Simple riffs and a tidy shout chorus drive this deceptively swinging Ellington/Hodges chart to a quiet and abrupt ending.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 194
    Trumpet
    Range
    A5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trumpet

    Swingin’ on the Campus

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Swingin' on the Campus is an aggressive hard swinging tune jam packed with killer riffs and solo space. This simply-constructed piece is built on a variation of rhythm changes and is a difficult level 2 because of the relatively high tempo and brass endurance.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 195
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • Solos
    • Soprano
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    Empty Ballroom Blues

    as performed by Johnny Hodges
    $60
    Empty Ballroom Blues (which is not a blues!) is an Hodges/Ellington piece with great big riffs and big solo sections, and it makes for a great finale number!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 190
    Trumpet
    Range
    A5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Swinging in the Dell

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    This upbeat Hodges/Ellington piece is a variation on the old nursery rhyme The Farmer in the Dell. After a statement of the melody, it's all solos with background riffs until the melody comes back at the end. Swinging in the Dell is a very simple solo vehicle that's great for getting dancers on the floor!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 190
    Trumpet
    Range
    G5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trombone
    • Piano

    Dancing on the Stars

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Dancing on the Stars is a catchy head arrangement that features some nice counterpoint, solo backgrounds, sophisticated harmony compared to many other pieces from the Hodges/Ellington book.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 2
    TEMPO quarter note = 185
    Trumpet
    Range
    E5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    Savoy Strut

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Savoy Strut is a major hidden gem from the swing era! Duke Ellington starts the tune up with an unusually angular intro, which takes us to a winding but singable head. The soloists play over a beautiful and remarkable chord progression which also features some player-specific orchestration choices that take advantage of the unique sounds of his players. A must-have for any Ellington 7-piece ensemble!
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 160
    Trumpet
    Range
    E5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone
    • Bass
    • Piano

    Who Struck John?

    as performed by Johnny Hodges and His Orchestra
    $60
    Also known as "Non-Violent Integration", Who Struck John? is a very simple but very cool head tune. This arrangement is unusual in its use of rock/metal style parallel fifths in the rhythm section, otherwise known in modern times as barre chords. This is a chart for jamming on a straight-ahead D Major blues, with solo space for nearly everyone.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 1
    TEMPO quarter note = 160
    Trumpet
    Range
    Gb5
    • Solos
    • Alto
    • Bari
    • Trumpet
    • Trombone

    The Back Room Romp (A Contrapuntal Stomp)

    as performed by Rex Stewart and His 52nd Street Stompers
    $60
    Back Room Romp is basically a simple blues in Ab, but there is a twist: the head is a series of building independent lines, thus a "Contrapuntal Stomp." Every horn player gets a solo chorus. The lead trumpet part is a bit of a blow, but this was written for longtime Ellington sideman, trumpeter Rex Stewart, who had the chops to play all day.
    Instrumentation Ellington 7-Piece
    Style Swing Era
    Level 3
    TEMPO quarter note = 154
    Trumpet
    Range
    Bb5

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