Comboizing a Chart

jhatpro · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:18 am Post subject: Comboizing a Chart

Have you ever taken the lst parts from a big band chart and played them as combo with 1/1/1/4 instrumentation? Did it sound okay? Thiin? Full of holes?
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

Kimberly · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:17 am Post subject:

"Comboizing" ... mmm, nice!

Mike Sailors · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 10:39 am Post subject:

Don't.
_________________
www.mikesailors.com

homecookin · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Posts: 868

Sure,
GO AHEAD AND DO IT !!!
A lot of guys do that sort of thing.
It kind of depends on the chart itself,
Some charts will work with just trumpet tenor and trombone,
other charts not so much.
If the tenor sax player doubles on clarinet
did that opens the door for tons of Dixieland.

cheiden · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:54 am Post subject:

When I've played charts with just the 1st parts being covered it really didn't work. Too much winds up in unison.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart

BPL · Veteran Member Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 347

I've done a fair bit of this, and it's always frustrating.. there are 2 ways I've found to deal with it;

1. If your horns are solid improvisers, you can tell them to ad lib their parts, based on the chart.

2. Re-arrange them. This is what I do, and it's not that hard. Transcribe the 3 horn parts from the score (Finale Sibelius?).. a lot of it is just copy and paste. Then check the harmonies, modify things.. just common sense to make the chart work. Once it's done, you can edit and change it over time, if needed.

homecookin · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Posts: 868

Another idea would be to use fake books such as
Real Books, Hal Leonard, etc. and just come up with your own
"head charts" on the job.
It's a lot less hassle than trying to find a bunch of charts,
and you will develop musically a lot more that way.
Just a suggestion.

Mike Sailors · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 2:32 pm Post subject:

PhxHorn · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 3:14 pm Post subject:

And then there was the blues artist in town who had someone arrange some 3-horn charts for his album. Trumpet/Tenor/bone.

Sometime later, he decided to sit in with a big band. He gave the band 4 identical copies of the trumpet part, 4 identical copies of the bone part, and 5 copies of the tenor part.

homecookin · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Nov 2013 Posts: 868

Brass_Of_All_Trades · Veteran Member Joined: 11 Aug 2014 Posts: 141

HornofPlenty · Veteran Member Joined: 03 Nov 2004 Posts: 262

I agree with homecookin. It is probably easier to just use fake books.
Have folks take turns soloing and comping some licks in the background.
If the players are fairly advanced, then they can harmonize on the fly and come up with neat counter melodies and licks to fill in the "cracks". You could always write out some parts for when all the horns are playing at the same time.

I have experimented a bit with doing exactly what you are talking about and usually it ends up falling a bit flat(unless you take the time to actually arrange all the horn parts from scratch).

I have run across some "flexible" combo charts(alternate parts for different combination of horns) at the local sheet music store and on the internet. Some of those work well. Also, some nice combo charts you can buy online. Sometimes, depending on your money situation, you can find someone local to crank out some decent combo charts.

There is a combo near me that paid to have Dave Wheeler(over two decades) custom write all their arrangements. I want them to sell me their music library very badly when they decide to hang it up! They must have 150 or so custom arrangements(maybe not all by the pen/keyboard of Mr. Wheeler). I have subbed with them a few times and the charts are great.

I would definitely try to go trumpet, bone, sax as the majority of combo charts are written for that instrumentation. If you go with only one other horn, then definitely fake books(or from memory if you can). Take turns soloing and the the last time thru have the stronger improv player "fill" and the other horn play the melody. If you are about equal, just mix it up every song. It makes it interesting! I used to play gigs with a rhythm section and great sax player.
Sax player made me sound way better than I really was!

Good luck!

cheiden · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 4:18 pm Post subject:

Just remembered that my favorite arranger has a whole series of 3-horn arrangements available for pretty cheap ($15 each).

http://www.tomkubis.com/
Click on "small groups" and choose "3 horns" to see the various categories.

There are even audio samples so you can preview them.
_________________
"I'm an engineer, which means I think I know a whole bunch of stuff I really don't."
Charles J Heiden/So Cal
Bach Strad 180ML43*/43 Bb/Yamaha 731 Flugel/Benge 1X C/Kanstul 920 Picc/Conn 80A Cornet
Bach 3C rim on 1.5C underpart