Jazz Scores and Analysis, Vol. 1

In this immense labor of love, Rick Lawn features full scores and in-depth analyses of contemporary big band works by six Grammy-nominated composers including Vince Mendoza, Jim McNeely, Darcy James Argue, Bob Mintzer, John Hollenbeck, and John Fedchock. Following in the footsteps of Rayburn Wright's seminal work, Inside the Score, this book gives a guided tour into the techniques and musical concepts in these six scores by masters of large ensemble jazz writing. Included for each chart are: analyses of the lead sheet reductions, annotated full scores with special features extracted in concert pitch for easier realization, biographies of and interviews with the artists that explore each one's creative process, and a link to the free software, the Orchestrators ToolKit, an invaluable aid for composers and arrangers. Analyses include: Fedchock's Ten Thirty 30; Mintzer's Ellis Island; Mendoza's Homecoming; McNeely's Absolution; Hollenbeck's A Blessing and Argue's Transit. With over 400 pages, this is an invaluable resource for composers, arrangers and big band leaders!