Recording: Stan Getz - The Brothers
Recorded on: April 8, 1949
Label: Prestige (PRLP 7022)
Concert Key: E-flat
Vocal Range: , to
Style: Swing (medium up)

Tenor Sax - Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Allen Eager, Brew Moore
Piano - Walter Bishop, Jr.
Bass - Gene Ramey
Drums - Charlie Perry

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Al Cohn - BattleGround

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A medium-up swinger with a “bop-to-cool” sound, Battleground was originally written for an octet with five tenor saxes but certainly works in a smaller lineup as well. The melody has that relatively simple, smooth sound characteristic of the “cool school,” punctuated with more bebop-style triplet lines in the first and second endings of the two A sections.

About the arrangement: Full Score and parts are available for the recorded five-tenor arrangement. The tenors are in harmony almost throughout, going to unison on the faster lines at the end of each A section. The five-part harmonies are mostly closed-position voicings with the fifth part doubling the melody an octave below, with more wide-spread shapes in the fifth and sixth measures. On the bridge, the fifth tenor plays a pedal point below the others—a true “tenor pedal” as the bass is still walking. The last two measures of the head feature a descending countermelody in the second, fourth and fifth parts, with the same rhythm as the melody.

Combined solo transcriptions are available for both master and alternate takes; click on the Solos tab for more details.

Al Cohn played, composed, and arranged for quite a few recordings with three or more tenor saxes in the front line. This Prestige album is not to be confused with the 1955 RCA Victor album “The Brothers!” which features a three-tenor septet with Cohn, Richie Kamuca and Bill Perkins. Another multi-tenor session with Cohn, Stan Getz, and Zoot Sims was recorded for Savoy a month after the Prestige session, in a four-horn octet also including Earl Swope on trombone and Jimmy Raney on guitar.

The alternate take of Battleground was first released in 1979 on a Stan Getz compilation, “Early Getz.”

Complete solo transcriptions are available for both master and alternate takes. Our clips here are from the master takes, including tenor sax solos by Allen Eager CLIP, Al Cohn CLIP, Zoot Sims CLIP, Stan Getz CLIP and Brew Moore CLIP; each plays 16 measures (half a chorus), in this order. These transcriptions are a masterclass in the “cool school,” showcasing the hallmarks of each player’s sound within this often subtle, subdued style. Note especially how simple and lyrical Zoot Sims’ lines are in both takes, contrasting with Stan Getz’ more bebop-style vocabulary that follows. Comparing the master and alternate takes is particularly interesting; you can really see how inventive all five soloists are, with no overlap in “licks” between the two takes. Soloists are indicated on the PDFs. The relatively short slur markings in these transcriptions may come as a surprise in such a smooth style. These saxophonists are indeed tonguing, but softly; all five take a very light approach to articulation, contrasting with the hard, clear-cut tonguing that defines many bebop and hard-bop players’ phrasing.

Battleground – Al Cohn

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