The Opener

The Opener, written by James Morrison, an Australian jazz trumpet virtuoso, is an up tempo 'rhythm changes' trumpet feature with a short 16 bar drum solo. There can be other soloists added depending on what your band wants to do. It is an exciting chart and a definite crowd pleaser. By the name of the title you can tell it was written as an opener for any jazz concert who has a hot trumpet soloist. When I heard it, it was originally a small group chart, so I asked James Morrison if I could arrange it for big band, so here it is. The chart has no melody but uses a call and response setting with horns playing a two bar riff and the trumpet soloist responding with a two bar fill, repeated several times over rhythm changes. This is really an exciting chart so it requires the trumpet soloist to have good high chops and a good imagination for improvisation. Soloist: 2nd trumpet, drum solo (other soloist can be added). Trumpet highest note Eb5 (two octaves and a minor 3rd above middle C). 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, (the fourth being a bass trombone), 2 altos, 2 tenors, 1 baritone sax. Rhythm: piano, bass, and drums (guitar optional). No doubles.