Review

Burton Lane
Old Devil Moon:

Arranged by Ingo Luis

b-flat trumpet, flugelhorn, horn, tenor trombone and bass trombone (tuba optional)

Hamburg, , Germany
Publisher: Tezak Music Publishing
Date of Publication: 1986

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

The 1947 musical, Finigan's Rainbow, with songs by Burton Lane and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, featured That Old Devil Moon as well as other memorable tunes. The song has remained a favorite of jazz singers and instrumentalists, particularly J.J. Johnson, for decades. This arrangement for brass quintet, by Ingo Luis, is dedicated to the "Brasspack Quintet of Cologne." It demonstrates Mr. Luis' clearly capable talents in this idiom.

Written for b-flat trumpet, flugelhorn, horn, tenor trombone and bass trombone (tuba optional), this spirited arrangement features trombone throughout. It moves quickly from a Rubato introduction to an upbeat Afro-Cuban accompaniment of the melody and onward through improvised sections, modulations, unison and chordal voicings of the tune. Jazz influences include scoops and bends, "ad lib" solo changes (with optional written solo), and syncopated rhythms. Swing feel is indicated in the score and first trumpet part though not in the other parts. Technical demands include stylistic sensibility, balance and transition between unison statements and accompaniments and extensive high range in the first trumpet (written e2) and trombone part (d2).

This arrangement is quite effective for accomplished quintets and works well as a vehicle for featuring a capable trombonist. It is especially valuable to improvisers, though the optional written solo provides a worthy substitute.  Typesetting appears hand-drawn but all of the parts are legible and well presented. This is a challenging and rewarding sample from the American musical songbook.

-Bradley J. Payne
Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra