Woody Herman

Hallelujah Time

This is a great up-tempo swinger, written by Oscar Peterson and to our knowledge only ever performed by the Woody Herman bands. It starts with a solo hi-hat opening with offbeat tutti accompanying phrases, leading into the first chorus of saxes voiced in thirds, a brass middle 8, and re-statement of the sax theme. From then on it is a rip-roaring two saxophone (alto 2 and tenor 1) solo chase with occasional punchy brass figures backing the soloists. The solo space gets ever compacted, going from 16 to 8,4 and then 2 bar interchange sequences, until just when it feels that they will collide, the band is back with the opening chorus, into a frenzied Coda and finish. Brilliant. Needless to say, if you have a couple of sax players to show off, this is the vehicle.