Ted Heath

London Suite - Whitechapel

The London Suite was written by Thomas 'Fats' Waller during his 1939 European tour. It is his musical interpretation of six London districts and the suite was arranged for and recorded by the Ted Heath band in 1947, then re-recorded in 1953/4. Whitechapel is scored at a slower tempo ballad-feel chart that switches between straight and swing feels. It is a broody, even dark piece that evokes the London of Dickens and the dreadful deeds of Jack the Ripper. There are cameo solos for Trumpet and Baritone and both Altos double on Clarinet. Taken down from the 1947 recording this is not a hard chart to play, though your lead Trombone needs to be able to reach high D.