Ella Fitzgerald, Billy May

Get Happy

Taken from Ella's 'Harold Arlen Songbook' album, this transcription of Billy May's original arrangement is a snarling swing chart, balancing punch and up-tempo power with soulful gospel interludes. The tempo alternates between 200 and 70 beats per minute in the opening 32 measures before settling on 200 for the remainder of the chart, and we have scored the sax solo onto the Alto 1 part. The original solo is written out, though your player can improvise from the chords provided, if preferred. The brass ranges are quite high, with lead Trumpet to Eb and lead Bone to C, and there is a lot of unison work in both Trumpet and Sax sections, so good intonation and nimble fingers are needed. There are no sax doubles and the vocal part is written 'as sung' by Ella. The vocal key is Bb throughout.