[honkywonk]

Say you have a big band that needs to work on tuning more ... is there any chart which is particularly good for tuning? I'm picturing a chart that is slow, has horn soli's, section by section, where they can hear each other and especially where they can hear how their horn fits into a chord or a progression. If I can find the right chart to warm up with then it would save time instead of trying a chart, hearing something wrong, stopping the band, isolating one section, making them play alone, and then moving on until the next problem is discovered.

Are there any "chorale" type charts that are good for hearing and tuning, but which still sound jazzy and not too "junior" level. Something that adult amateur players wouldn't feel is demeaning to play.

 

[hakukani]

Li'l Darlin'-Neal Hefti

 

[StanVI]

Absolutely, Lil Darlin.

 

[sirspinbad]

...i respectfully disagree..... playing slow and swingin hard is just as hard as burnin uptempo,if not harder.... Lil Darlin is a perfect example of an overly butchered classic....

some nice medium tempo swing to get everybody in the mood....I left My Heart in S.F for example then get down to business


I hate to see a band thats not 100 tight start out rehearsals uptempo ,no dynamics....not grooving together.........
........but then there's too far in the other direction as well.....

 

[hakukani]

You don't have to play it like Basie, at 45 bpm, in rehearsal.

 

[Nevillesax]

How about "Tuning Up" by Toshiko Akiyoshi? :bluewink:

 

[StanVI]

The reason lil darlin works so well, at a slower tempo, is it helps a band learn to play together, listen to each and other, and hopefully play in tune. As Hakukani said, you can play at different tempos. I used it at the beginning of each semester, it really sped up the process.

 

[RS]

The bari part on Lil Darlin is torture. Like lifting weights with my lip.

 

[Agent27]

Lil' Darlin' was the first thing I thought of too. Butch Miles, who was the drummer for the Basie band for 30 years, teaches at my alma mater. He does clinics supported by a big band and uses Lil' Darlin' as an example of how not to overplay. He'd play the chart and then challenge anyone to say he played anything other than quarter notes in his right hand.

I always liked starting with Moten Swing. Great chart. Not slow, not fast. And played with the right dynamics can make the hair on the back of your neck stand up.

 

[RS]

Moten Swing. Now you're talkin. Corner Pocket is another good one for limbering up without having to break a sweat.

 

[honkywonk]

That's great to know. Moten Swing is already in our book (though we haven't played it yet) and Corner Pocket is there too ... it's on our "to do" list to get it into shape for performance.

I just located Lil Darlin' so it'll go in the book. No need to kill the bari player or anything, but it sounds like playing it part way through would be good for warmup/tuning.

 

[Dr G]

The test isn't going to be playing it but leading the musicians to be more aware. I've heard so many sections play stuff where I'm wondering "How can you not hear what's going on?" Easy answer: Everyone's playing, no one's listening.

G'luck.

There is some good stuff in this regard in the book "Inner Game of Music" - highly recommended.

 

[GT]

Yeah, Lil Darlin' will surely force you to listen to each other. One of my favorite warm ups was Poor Butterfly.