Whisper Not

One of the most well-known jazz standards of the 1950s, Benny Golson's "Whisper Not" began life innocently enough as an arrangement for trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's 1956 State Department big band. This Marty Paich arrangement was recorded by Ella Fitzgerald for her 1966 album by the same name. This stellar album featured an all-star cast of Los Angeles studio musicians including Harry "Sweets" Edison, Stu Williamson, Bill Perkins, Jimmy Rowles, and super-star Louie Bellson on drums. Paich supplied the 'little big band' arrangements, much in the same style he had previously recorded with Mel Torme (1956), Art Pepper (1959), and Sammy Davis, Jr. (1961). In fact, this was second occasion that Paich had worked with Ella having previously produced a 1958 collaboration as 'Ella Swings Lightly.' This arrangement is a vocal feature throughout. There are no instrumental solos and the backgrounds are mostly supportive of the vocalist. However, this is a really neat tune to perform with a vocalist as it rarely gets performed that way. Included are optional trumpet 3 and trombone 2 parts that may be used in place of the horn in F part. And, bass trombone may be used in place of the tuba part.