Ella Fitzgerald

Blues In The Night

Blues In The Night has become one of the most well-recognized pop songs of the 1940s due to its appearances in media ranging from television commercials to classic Looney Tunes cartoons. This Marty Paich arrangement from Ella Fitzgerald's 1958 album Ella Swings Lightly does an excellent job of balancing intensity and intimacy throughout. The arrangement begins with a bombastic trumpet blast over top of a hard-riffing ensemble figure that sets up a dramatic downshift in volume for the vocalist's entrance at measure 5. The saxophones and trombone enter with a subdued counter line at measure 17 that adds depth and dimension without an overall increase in volume. Paich's typical arranging warmth is put on display when the full ensemble enters underneath the vocalist at measure 29. Observing the dynamic swells during this portion of the arrangement are of the utmost importance in order to create a sense of tension and release. The introductory riff returns at measure 45 in order to set up the final section of the melody. A brief stop-time feel in the ensemble at measure 47 adds a clever rhythmic element to the proceedings. The arrangement comes to a close with a brief rubato segment between the vocalist and pianist before the time is re-established for the final ensemble blast at measure 62. This arrangement is written for little big band including horn in F and tuba. However, alternate parts are included in the event that you don't have access to a horn player. These parts are either trumpet 3 or trombone 2. This publication has been prepared from the original set of parts used during the recording session - this is not a transcription.