SwingDJs

I've been reading that one of the secrets of Benny Goodman's success was that he used a lot of top arrangers. Even now many of the names aren't really known outside jazz muso circles.

Who's your favourite?

Actually, I'd be more interested in hearing about the most swinging 1990's & 2000's jazz arrangers.

They're the ones we can still commission for more songs!

Dean Mora does some transcribing. I've been using a guy in NY named Harvey Tibbs. He played trombone with us at Lincoln Center. So far he's done "Keep on Jumping," " Jamaica Jam," "Harlem Jump," "Blow Top", and "All the Cats Join In." He's pretty reasonable.

[Edit] I realized you meant commission, as in orginals. Sorry

kitkat wrote:Actually, I'd be more interested in hearing about the most swinging 1990's & 2000's jazz arrangers.

They're the ones we can still commission for more songs!

David Berger!!! Love his arrangements!

Sorry Haydn for not replying to your original question.

Jesse

Haydn wrote:I've been reading that one of the secrets of Benny Goodman's success was that he used a lot of top arrangers. Even now many of the names aren't really known outside jazz music circles.

Who's your favourite?

Favorite of the BG arrangers? Or fave 30s arranger?

Both are really hard questions unless you have someone you totally fall over for.

There was so much talent out there back then.

Since no one will likely mention him, I'll shine of spotlight on Elton Hill and did some really good work for Gene Krupa in the early 40s. His' There'll Be Some Changes Made" is to me the best version ever. I cant think of the tune w/o hearing his chart and parts.

And however wrote the full chorus sax section for Tommy Dorsey's "I Don't Know Why" gets into heaven on a free pass for providing me with such listening pleasure for 32 bars.

One of my favourites is Sy Oliver. Both his work for other people and under his own name.

Campus Five wrote:[Edit] I realized you meant commission, as in orginals. Sorry

Actually, I didn't! I meant commission to arrange old songs we love but never get to hear anymore for modern bands! So you got it exactly right.

kitkat wrote:Actually, I didn't! I meant commission to arrange old songs we love but never get to hear anymore for modern bands! So you got it exactly right.

I guess it depends on whether you want new arrangements or transcriptions of old recordings. There are a lot of people that do the latter, and in the bands I know of (I play in a big band), most arrangements are transcribed that way, by listening to the original recordings.

I was talking about transcribing 20's, 30's and 40's stuff properly, which is a seperate art in itself. Guys who can do "Take-downs" are dime-a-dozen, but guys who properly understand those styles are a lot harder to find. And guys who can write their own arrangements that don't sound totally anachronicistic or alternatively chorny and cliche...well, do they even make those?