Bye Bye Blackbird
Our arrangement of Bye Bye Blackbird is a high-energy, up-tempo swing tune that features a jazz vocalist singing the melody, then scatting a chorus, then trading 4’s with the orchestra. The orchestra swings 4 bars of a jazz lick (fully notated for them), then the singer responds with 4 bars of an improvised scat solo. Players love this chart.
Title: Bye Bye Blackbird
Composer: Music by Mort Dixon. Lyrics by Ray Henderson. Arranged by Tim Berens
Description: This arrangement is an up-tempo swing setting of Bye Bye Blackbird that features a jazz vocalist with an alto range and the ability to improvise a scat solo.
The piece begins with a powerful introduction, then the vocalist sings the first chorus accompanied by just bass. More instruments gradually join over the first chorus. The second chorus is an improvised scat solo by the vocalist. Optional repeats around the second chorus allow the soloist to perform multiple choruses.
In the third chorus, the vocalist trades with the guitarist, or any other player in your orchestra who can improvise. If nobody improvises in your orchestra, the vocalist sings the third chorus alone.
In the fourth chorus, the vocalist trades 4’s with the orchestra. The orchestra plays a fully notated four-bar lick, and the singer scats a response. This leads to a instrumental shout chorus, and the final chorus by the singer.
Instrumentation: 2222/4331/Timp+2/Drum Set/Electric Bass/Guitar/Piano/Harp/Alto Vocal Soloist/Strings
Length: 4:15
Rental Fee: $300.00 first performance. $100.00 per subsequent performance.
Video and Audio Recording by:
The Ohio Valley Symphony
Mandy Gaines, Vocalist
Tim Berens, Conductor