Arranging for Jazz Big Band

[stevel]

Looking at the "standard" compliment of

5 saxes
4 trumpets
4 bones
rhythm section

What would you say the primary roles of each section (rhythm section excluded) are?

Do Saxes "typically" take the melody?

What instruments "typically" double the melody, provide harmony?

So the basses (Bari Sax, Bass bone for example) "typically" play bass notes (i.e. double the String Bass) or do they typically participate in the harmony or lead lines, etc.?

I say "typically" because I realize there are of course all sorts of variations possible, but I'm wondering if any of you with a lot of experience in Jazz bands, or arranging for Jazz bands, have any thoughts on what each instrument, or family of instruments' typical roles are????

TIA,
Steve

[Boneman]

Steve

Typically neither section has a pre determined role. All sections do all things at any time in a chart.

[Thorolf]

There are two rules of thumb: You have to consider the climax from the very beginning of the arranging process. What sounds like climax is a trumpet playing c''' notated, where the rest of the trumpets play chord notes in the upper register (below the lead) or doubles one octave lower. Mirror this arrangement in the trombone section doubling the trumpets one octave lower, excluding the bass trombone who will drop down to Bb to give root to the sound. The saxes, including the baritone should be filling in notes where all of them play in the upper register, around c''' notated for all of them.

Otherwize, use the brass as one section more often than you would think, as unsupported trumpets tend to sound weak in the setting.

I have studied arranging for big bands at the University of Oslo, at a fairly high level, and here, as in all scoring situations, the golden path to knowledge is to study scores.

Good luck!

Regards

[Boneman]

Check out some Sammy Nestico scores on his sibelius web site.

[stevel]

Originally Posted by Boneman

Check out some Sammy Nestico scores on his sibelius web site.

Link Please!!!

[Thorolf]

Link: http://www.sibeliusmusic.com/cgi-bin...estico%22&or=1



Regards