Big People – Roland Alexander

One of Roland Alexander's earlier compositions, Big People has mostly II-V7 based harmonies but uses them in an unusual way. The melody starts with a bebop-ish "call" with a fanfare-like "response" in a four-measure phrase that's repeated twice. Though the A section melody suggests an F major tonality, there are no F chords here. The B section continues the bebop-ish material through modulations to A♭ and G♭, and is only five measures long leading to a C section more firmly in the key of G♭. This section has a more lyrical melody (again, a four-measure phrase repeated twice), with a 12/8 Latin groove. The D section is the same as the A section, but leads directly to an E section almost the same as the C section; the overall form is thus ABCAC'. The E section differs from the C section slightly in the changes; it swings throughout, and the melodic rhythm is slightly different.

This quintet arrangement has a lot of counterpoint between the two horns. The alto sax and trumpet trade off in two-measure sections of the melody on the A section, playing simple countermelodies when not on the melody. The trumpet takes the B section, with mostly fills in the alto, while the alto plays most of the C melody (and all of E); the trumpet part in these sections also fills in behind the longer melody notes. Because there is so much counterpoint, our rhythm section parts are two-staved condensed scores with the two horn parts; notable rhythm section figures are notated below the lower staff.

Check out other compositions from the "Kojo Time" album.