Rainy City Blues

A medium-slow blues that leans lightly on Ellington and a bit heavier on New Orleans. In fact, the first chorus is stated by the trio of clarinet, muted trumpet and muted trombone that will be familiar to 'Mood Indigo' fans. This is a blues, however, and the music grows funkier as the plunger brass trio arrives in the second chorus. Both of those choruses are structured with two bars of ensemble melody alternating with two bars of tenor solo. This followed by 2 (or more) choruses of tenor solo backed only by the rhythm. A further chorus adds some pungent brass backgrounds that kick up the rhythmic ante a bit before 4 cup-muted trumpets take over for 12 bars of a riffing melody. The trombone solo is introduced like the previous tenor solo (alternating 2-bar phrases) but with the saxes this time. Two choruses of trombone solo (with rhythm) are followed by some juicy sax backgrounds leading into a final call-and-response type chorus. The only double required is clarinet in the lead alto part (to give that early Ellington color). Soprano sax may be substituted if desired. Lead trumpet only reaches a 'B' and all parts are well within the capabilities of a good high school ensemble. Optional vibes and guitar. Medium Difficult.