Staccato Swing – Ray Bryant

The title of this song describes it well, as it certainly swings a lot and the melody is mostly staccato, at least for the A section. Listening to our audio excerpt you'll hear that there's an introduction that sets up the melody. As to the melody, you can hear that it is pianistic in that it has a very wide range (two octaves plus a second); this means it's not easy for many horns played as is. On the repeat of the A section, the tenor sax part plays the melody which goes up to a high G, a step above the top of the "standard" saxophone range. The melody fits perfectly for the alto sax, or down an octave for baritone sax. Trombonists can play parts of the melody down an octave as indicated in our bass clef leadsheet. For trumpet, only the first note is written an octave higher. As a multiple-instrument melody in octaves performance, any instrument can switch octaves where it seems practical.

About the recorded quintet arrangement:
The melody takes on a special delightful character as it travels from trombone (in the intro, with tenor sax harmony) to piano to tenor sax (adding harmonized trombone) to trombone over tenor sax harmony, and finally back to piano (an octave higher) accompanied by the horns adding to the sustained harmonic line. Individual parts are available. The Concert Condensed Score is recommended for Bass and Drums.

The quintet arrangement features the piano on the melody for A1 and C (after a six-measure intro with the horns), with the horns taking over on A2 and B, harmonized all the way, and playing whole notes behind the piano melody at C.

Lead sheets are also available for playing this song in a quartet setting.