Crackin'

Crackin'is an exciting and challenging medium tempo shuffle (132+=BPM) for big band, based on the jazz blues progression, in B-flat, featuring the jazz organ (a synthesizer that has an organ sound/patch will work), tenor sax, and electric bass. This chart challenges the entire saxophone and brass section with soli, and tutti sections. Featured solos are organ, tenor, and the electric bass. The concept of this chart is based on the raw sound of the jazz blues shuffle with the screaming Leslie speakers that are usually hooked up to the Hammond B-3 organ. If your group does not have an organ or synthesizer there is the option of having the electric guitar used instead. I have done both and it works well either way. The organ starts with a screaming organ solo in a hard-hitting shuffle groove with backgrounds and fills from the brass and the woodwinds. Immediately following the organ solo a very challenging saxophone soli enters in stop time, followed by the brass doing the same thing as the saxophones into the solo section. A shout chorus follows the solos and the piece ends with a vamp for the organ. Trumpet highest note E Flat 5.5/4/4/ G/organor electric piano or acoustic piano synthesizer/electric bass/D. Medium Difficult.