Benny Goodman

Limehouse Blues

This fine Benny Goodman chart was arranged by Spud Murphy in 1935, though Goodman never made a studio recording of it. Our transcription is taken from a live Let's Dance NBC radio broadcast. The chart was originally scored for 5 reeds (CAATT), five brass (3 Trp 2 Trb) and 4 rhythm. We have written our transcription in such a way that the BGO sound will be authentic. The 4th Trumpet and 3rd & 4th Trombone parts are optional and the chart will work with 5, 6, 7 or 8 brass voices. The Murphy chart called for a lot of doubling in the reeds, including Bass Clarinet and the now rarely used Alto Clarinet. We recognise that this combination might be a challenge today, so we have scored the reeds as follows: Clarinet, Alto 1 (doubles Clarinet), Alto 2 - your Baritone player - (doubles Bass Clarinet, with cue notes for Baritone), Tenor 1 (doubling Clarinet) and Tenor 2 (doubling Alto Clarinet, with cue notes for Tenor). So, you will need three of your reed team to double Clarinets. The opening Trombone soli is scored for a full 4 piece section, with the 3rd & 4th voices cued to the Alto 2 and Tenor 2 parts (as it would have originally have been written for the Goodman band). Performance notes are included on the cover of the printed arrangement pack. This is an extremely rare chart, and a must-have for all Benny Goodman lovers.