Big Band Standards

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   Hi all! This is my first post on the forum and I'm sort of migratory bird from saxontheweb.comI'm a Baritone saxophonist, been playing for about 3 years and going to college in a couple months. I feel like there are a plethora of people that call themselves intermediate but are well within the beginner category. At least in my opinion, I think an intermediate level player should be able to hang with other cats and make it through a gig comfortably. I would say I have just recently reached that level, but I absolutely know I have a ton more learning to do!
Which is actually the purpose of this post. My question is what are the biggest Big Band Jazz Standards that would be good to start learning over the summer to improve my big band chart reading ability, a very often used skill in college I've heard.
Some albums I've thought of in this vein are;
- Basie Straight Ahead
- The Atomic Mr. Basie
- Masterpieces by Ellington
- Gunslinging Birds - Mingus Big Band
Do yall have any more suggestions? I'm sort of looking for full albums but if you have specific songs or really just think Woody Herman as an artist deserves study or something, let me know! Thank you guysssss! :D

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InsaneEvilLogan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Forum Newbie Joined: 07 May 2024 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote InsaneEvilLogan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Big Band Standards Posted: 07 May 2024 at 9:35am
	Hi all! This is my first post on the forum and I'm sort of migratory bird from saxontheweb.com I'm a Baritone saxophonist, been playing for about 3 years and going to college in a couple months. I feel like there are a plethora of people that call themselves intermediate but are well within the beginner category. At least in my opinion, I think an intermediate level player should be able to hang with other cats and make it through a gig comfortably. I would say I have just recently reached that level, but I absolutely know I have a ton more learning to do! Which is actually the purpose of this post. My question is what are the biggest Big Band Jazz Standards that would be good to start learning over the summer to improve my big band chart reading ability, a very often used skill in college I've heard. Some albums I've thought of in this vein are; - Basie Straight Ahead - The Atomic Mr. Basie - Masterpieces by Ellington - Gunslinging Birds - Mingus Big Band Do yall have any more suggestions? I'm sort of looking for full albums but if you have specific songs or really just think Woody Herman as an artist deserves study or something, let me know! Thank you guysssss! :D

js Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Forum Admin Group Site admin Joined: 22 Dec 2010 Location: Memphis Status: Offline Points: 35143	Post Options Post Reply Quote js Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Posted: 07 May 2024 at 9:41am
	I would check with the band leader at the school you are going to, he probably has things to recommend. You covered the classic with Ellington, Basie and Mingus. Dizzy Gillespie Big Band is another classic. You might want to look into something current like Wynton Marsalis and Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Having said all that, my experience playing in big bands is somewhat limited, I'm a keyboard player and played some big band music in college, but nothing since then. When I was in school, college big bands were very much into Thad Jones and Mel Lewis. Edited by js - 07 May 2024 at 9:59am