Review

Duke Ellington
It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing:

Arranged by David Kosmyna


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Publisher: BVD Press
Date of Publication: 2010

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (1899-1974) is widely considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of American music. His music spanned multiple genres including jazz, popular, classical, and religious and cinema. It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing, written in 1931, was among his first great successes and introduced the word “Swing” into the musical lexicon. Arranger David Kosmyna is currently trumpet professor at Ohio Northern University. He has achieved considerable success as both performer and arranger and is a specialist in early jazz music. This arrangement follows the traditional arrangement of two B-flat trumpets, F horn, trombone in bass clef and tuba. The tuba part could be played on bass trombone, though it should probably only be attempted by a player possessing good technique and a strong low register. Though written for the professional working brass quintet, advanced student and amateur groups will find this arrangement playable and practical. Score and parts are printed in jazz font on good quality paper and are easy to read, though at least one time change could perhaps have been annotated a bit more explicitly. Performers and audiences alike will enjoy this famous standard with its catchy tune and rhythms.

-Wayne Groves
Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes