Jump Caprice

Big Band (Solo clarinet with 5/4/3/4)

Williams wrote Camel Hop and Roll 'Em for Benny Goodman while she was still with Andy Kirk's band, and in late 1946, Williams started writing for him again. At the time, he had his own radio show with pianist Victor Borge, and in 1947, he would begin a new recording contract with Capitol Records. Goodman recorded Williams's Lonely Moments and Whistle Blues. She also wrote this arrangement of Jump Caprice; however, it was not played. It is probable that this piece was a bit too hip for him, although by 1948, Mary Lou would write several boppish arrangements for a Goodman small group with Benny's protege Stan Hasselgard (the group also included tenor saxophonist Wardell Gray). This is a straight forward blues with lots of altered harmonies typical of the bop style of the forties. It can be opened up for solos.