The Best Vibraphone Jazz Sheet Music
Contents
Looking for some quality vibraphone jazz sheet music? Look no further than our collection of the best vibraphone jazz sheet music around. From classics to modern tunes, we’ve got you covered.
Introduction
Vibraphone jazz is a genre of jazz music that is played on the vibraphone. This type of jazz often features intricate melodies and harmonies, and it can be quite beautiful to listen to. If you’re a fan of vibraphone jazz, or if you’re simply looking for some new and interesting sheet music to play, then you’ll want to check out the selections on this list.
There are all sorts of different vibraphone jazz pieces out there, so we’ve tried to include a bit of everything in this list. You’ll find pieces for solo vibraphone, as well as works that feature the instrument in a larger ensemble setting. We’ve also included a few different styles of vibraphone jazz, so there’s something for everyone.
So whether you’re a seasoned pro or a complete beginner, we hope you find something on this list that you’ll enjoy playing.
The Best Vibraphone Jazz Sheet Music
“Take the ‘A’ Train” by Duke Ellington
“Take the ‘A’ Train” is a 1942 composition by Duke Ellington that became a jazz standard. The piece is one of the most recorded jazz compositions of all time.
The song was first recorded by The Duke’s Men on February 15, 1941, and released as a 78rpm single by RCA Victor. The song was titled “Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop” at the time, and was credited to Ellington and Billy Strayhorn; Strayhorn’s name was added later. It did not do well commercially, selling only 800 copies.
The song was recorded again on May 21, 1941, by Cootie Williams and His Orchestra with Hilton Jefferson on tenor saxophone. This version was a big hit, reaching the number one position on Billboard’s Harlem Hit Parade for seven weeks. Williams’ arrangement is credited with popularizing the melody and making it more modern sounding.
The most famous recording of the song was done by Dizzy Gillespie in 1945 with his big band. It features solos by James Moody on alto saxophone and Milt Jackson on vibraphone. Gillespie’s arrangement helped to make the tune even more popular, and it has been recorded many times since then by some of the biggest names in jazz.
“Mood Indigo” by Duke Ellington
“Mood Indigo” is a 1930 song written by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard, with lyrics by Irving Mills. It was first performed by The Mills Brothers, and first recorded by Duke Ellington and his Washingtonians in December 1930.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) inducted “Mood Indigo” into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1973. The song is ranked as the fourth most recorded jazz standard of all time.
It has been recorded by Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Sarah Vaughan, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Woody Herman, Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, Django Reinhardt and many others.
“Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” by Duke Ellington
One of the most popular songs from the ’40s, “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” was written by Duke Ellington and was originally recorded by his orchestra in 1940. The song became a standard and has been recorded by many artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and Louis Armstrong.
“Satin Doll” by Duke Ellington
“Satin Doll” is a jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Billy Strayhorn. It was originally written for the band’s 1933 Cotton Club revue, where it was first performed by vocalist Ivie Anderson. It subsequently became one of the most popular songs in the Ellington repertoire, being played by the band in concert and on record throughout the 1930s and 1940s.
The song has been recorded by a number of artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Billie Holiday. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000.
The original 1933 version of “Satin Doll” was an uptempo Swing tune with a thirty-two bar chorus. The melody was built around two eight-bar phrases which were symmetrical in structure and contour. The AABA form of the melody gave way to a more complex ABACADA form in later renditions. The lyrics are written in a lighthearted and humorous style, making references to “pretty parents”, “young hearts”, and “sugar daddies”.
The first recorded version of “Satin Doll” was released by Duke Ellington and his orchestra on Victor Records in December 1933. The recording featured Ivie Anderson on vocals and reachednumber one on the Billboard Harlem Hit Parade chart in January 1934. The song became a signature tune for Anderson and she continued to perform it throughout her career.
In 1941, Billy Strayhorn arranged an instrumental version of “Satin Doll” for Ellington’s landmark recording session with Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Ray Nance, Wendell Culley, Jo Jones,and Harry Carney. This version of the song features some of the most famous solos in jazz history, including those by Webster, Nance, and Hawkins.
“Satin Doll” has been recorded by many other artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Oscar Peterson, Ahmad Jamal, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wes Montgomery, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone,, and Herbie Hancock.
“Caravan” by Duke Ellington
“Caravan” is a signature tune written by Duke Ellington in 1936. It is perhaps the best-known and most popular of all his compositions. It has been described as “one of the most enduring jazz standards of all time” and continues to be a favorite among jazz musicians and fans.
The tune was originally written for the saxophone section of Ellington’s orchestra, but it quickly became a hit with the public and was soon being played by other instruments, including the vibraphone. The vibraphone, or “vibes” for short, is a percussion instrument that produces a soft, mellow sound. It is often used in jazz music to provide a rich, tonal accompaniment.
“Caravan” has been recorded by many vibraphonists over the years, but one of the most famous recordings is by Milt Jackson. Jackson’s version, which was recorded in 1958, is considered to be one of the finest examples of vibraphone Jazz ever recorded.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best vibraphone jazz sheet music is the kind that you enjoy playing. There is a wide variety of music available, so take some time to explore different styles and repertoire. If you find yourself struggling with a particular piece, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a teacher or fellow musician. With a little practice, you’ll be playing the vibraphone like a pro in no time!
