[TPIN] Last Chords

[Orion Development Corp - D. Arndt]

I received the same admonishment from a trumpet player named Rocco Benni, 
when I first started splitting the lead book at the Valley Forge Music Fair, 
in Devon PA, years ago (I was all of 19 or 20 years old at the time).

I opened up on a nice fat high G at the end of some chart, which happened to 
be the 5th in the chord, and I thought it sounded great, of course.  Rocco 
turned to me and said, "nice note, but if the arranger wanted a 5th on top 
he would have written it - better to play the tonic that was written on the 
page".

I always took that to heart - especially since Rocco was notable for his 
upper register, but used it as needed, not "at will".

- Arndt


On Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:13:36 -0400, Rich Szabo wrote 
> >In a message dated 8/2/2007 10:07:43 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, 
> >baissie at yahoo.com writes: 
> > 
> >OK  guys. I have to ask. WHY? 
> > 
> >I'm  assuming the lead player is not just playing some obnoxious sharp 11 
> >because  it's the highest note they can squeal. But if the lead 
> >player takes the 
> >4th  part up an octave and the 2nd plays the lead note, and the 3rd...   
etc, 
> >AND of course it sounds good... why not? The arrangement was written   
for a 
> >band or for a level of player. If you're not that band and you're not   
that 
> >level... IOW, if the arranger had known you could play a high F# 
> >then  maybe they 
> >would have written it. So why not play it if it sound good? 
> > 
> >...Steve 
> ><<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< 
> >Simple - because the arranger KNEW what he or she wanted on that last   
chord. 
> >  It is not up to you to second guess that arranger.  That 
> > being  said, if the 
> >LEADER wants the chord changed to something higher and re-voices  it, 
that is 
> >a different story. It is HIS band and he bought the chart. 
> >Mike Vax 
> 
> ================================================================ 
> 
> I have to agree with Vax on this. Here is an actual it happened to me 
> story which changed my perspective on this.... 
> 
> Buddy Childers and I were splitting the lead book on the Billy May 
> band.  On one particular chart I was playing lead on I took the last 
> note up and screamed my butt off. Buddy turned to me and went bat 
> s**t!!!!! He screamed at me and said "never to do that again!  If the 
> arranger wanted that note he would have written it. Play the ink!!! "