Big Band Magazine - Magazine - Page 13
It all starts with an electric Fender Rhodes piano that literally grooves on its own for
a few bars until the rest of the rhythm section joins in, followed by alto sax with
trumpet with trombone section interjections. Then the well-known melody enters
with flute and muted trumpet to the fore. This is always multi-layered until, after
2 minutes and 37 seconds, when the soprano saxophone of Eric Marienthal enters
the fray for a beautifully fluent solo, first with the rhythm section, then, gradually the
whole band joins him rising to a climax before a quieter section and a pause. We
restart with the Fender Rhodes (by now, in a different key) and gradually all the band
join in to bring us to a rousing finish.
The Holiday Season (The Count Basie Band with Johnny Mathis)
In 2017 I heard this track and decided that I'd like to sing it with a big band. As it was
recorded in 2015 by the latter-day Basie band with a 79 year old Johnny Mathis on
vocals, I contacted Scotty Barnhart, the band's leader, by email and he told me that
I needed to contact Gordon Goodwin as he was the original arranger. So I got to
correspond with one of my musical heroes and bought the arrangement directly
from him.
This is totally different to Carol Of The Bells. A sound of sleigh bells leads to a lovely
16 bar intro in a swinging 4 to the bar before the unmistakable voice of Johnny
Mathis starts to sing a complete run of the song before the band modulates into the
ensemble section. We then seamlessly return to the original key for the bridge, then
up a semitone for Johnny to take the song through to its conclusion. One of the
things that makes this a great track is that Mathis really seems to be enjoying
himself, even chuckling at one stage. Johnny Mathis has recently retired from
performing and has just celebrated his 90th birthday. Just about the last of the great
romantic singers from the classic 1950's era.
Zat You Santa Claus (Louis Armstrong and The Commanders)
Louis Armstrong, the original jazz singer and originator of the modern style of
trumpet, was by the 1950's developing into an all-round entertainer and film star.
This is a Christmas hit from 1953. It starts with 'rat a tatting' drums and Louis
shouting, ' Zat You Santa Claus', followed by a loping two beat intro. The
unmistakable Armstrong delivery takes us through the song before the trombones
play the melody with Louis returning to finish the song and ends with drums and
the immortal, 'That's him alright'.
It's also worth finding Louis's reading of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, which
was the last thing he ever recorded.
It's a delight.
