Easy Money

Benny Carter's 'Easy Money' was written for one of two sessions the first Renaissance man of jazz made with the Count Basie Orchestra in the early 1960s. While retaining Carter's distinct musical identity, it manages to be an excellent fit for the classic Basie band style at the same time. Taken at a quintessential medium swing tempo, the catchy melody is stated in unison by the horns from measures 8 to 24. The saxophones play a harmonized melody on the bridge at measure 25 with gently prodding brass accompaniment before the whole band comes together for the final A section at measure 32. Beginning with a two bar break at measure 39, the spotlight is handed over to a trumpet solo for the next chorus, taken by lead trumpet master Snooky Young on the original recording. The backgrounds are mostly simple unison figures in the saxes for the A sections, breaking into basic but effective harmony for the bridge. Following this trumpet solo is a half chorus sax soli at measure 71, followed by a half-chorus of Benny Powell's trombone at measure 89. A key change at measure 105 sets up a Harmon-muted trumpet section soli that is revisited by the entire band at full blast at measure 129 following a piano solo. Another 8 bar piano solo at measure 145 sets up the melody recap at measure 153, with some slight variations in the final four bars of the chart. Some quick ensemble hits, a sax soli break, and one last warm brass chord bring everything to a gently effective conclusion. This publication is not a transcription - it has been prepared from Benny Carter's original score.