Who, Me?
by Frank Foster
Big Band - Sheet Music

Big band - Medium to difficult

SKU: WA.51221

Arranged by Frank Foster. Score and parts. Published by Walrus Music Publishing (WA.51221).

This arrangement is part of Frank Foster's Vintage Basie Series, compositions performed and/or recorded by Count Basie and his world famous New Testament orchestra between 1953 and 1960. It's another "straight ahead" blues, for which that band was especially noted. The full ensemble blasts into the introductory chorus, followed by two choruses of the 'head' stated alternately by saxes and brass. Next comes a two-chorus saxophone section soli displaying no pyrotechnics, just simplicity and swing. A growling muted trumpet solo greases things up for a minute (on the recording the marvelous Snooky Young played the solo--no one did it better), backed up by tormbones with a riff that must have been dated some 25 years prior to the recording! Next of course what else but a typical 'Basie-styled' piano solo, couched in that All-American rhythm section format; you know the drill. After the piano the soft full ensemble takes over with a 24-bar build-up to the shout chorus, which is of course punctuated by Young's screaming open trumpet, and the piece ends with the customary dominant 13th chord with raised 11th , etc.. 5, 4, 4, G, P, B, D.