We're finally getting a chance to add some new arrangements to our repertiore and the guys seems to be getting to grips with them pretty quickly.
Sword is an original composition by Bob Curnow (ex-trombone player for the Stan Kenton Orchestra) and takes us on 'an exciting excursion into the world of Celtic Swing'. With undertones of bagpipes and Scottish reels this very unique piece is unlike anything out there in the present big band idiom. A fantastic swing shout section, featuring Iain Jenkins on tenor sax, fills the middle of this great chart before moving dramaticly back into the drones and Scottish reels of the closing. We had a lot of fun putting this together.
Fireshaker is a typical Maynard Ferguson high energy, high octane funk chart, and we're delighted to add another of the legends pieces to our repertiore. Featuring Ewan Mains on trumpet, and Tom McKay on valve trombone this piece gives our rhythm section a chance to 'strut their stuff' and get into a real groove. It's probably one of the most chalenging projects we've taken on for a while, but its sure to be a showstopper when we pull it together. Many of Maynards charts now feature in our repertiore.
Watermelon Man is a chart that we had in our repertiore a few years ago, and as we started to increase our library it kind of found its way to the bottle of the pile, but ... its back again, and sounding as good as ever. Featuring variuos members on solos - trumpet, trombone, sax, bass, and piano - this cracking Herbie Hancock tune lets us have fun whilst playing a very simple, but effective standad.
So listen out at future gigs for these great new arrangements.
More excting new charts to come over the next few weeks!
